RCA abuse

[Bee]

Unbelievablely weak decision.
RCA completes 3rd day of training.
Runs primary one day.
Next day assigned to case & carry another route AND carry parcels for other routes.
Sunday, Monday Amazon.

And mgmt loudly professes they are not the reason RCA's quit.

Yes union notified, steward called district rep.....silence......

Waste, fraud & abuse should be immediate reason for removal of every manager / acting manager that supports & enforces these weak processes

 

[blamethesub]

Wow, did this RCA quit or just curl up into a ball in the corner? I know offices are short on subs, but that's just ridiculous to throw so much at someone brand new.

 

[Bee]

Wow, did this RCA quit or just curl up into a ball in the corner? I know offices are short on subs, but that's just ridiculous to throw so much at someone brand new.

She hasn't quit yet and will be a good carrier. However, after her 1st 12 hour day of abuse alone, she did request union info stating she needed to talk to someone. It was a stressful day for her.
I provided union info, but, have no hope they will help.

 

[btdtret]

Bee -- Let the new RCA know about the Employee Assistance Program ( EAP ) - ASAP!

-- Good grief! Less than a week on the job and in need of EAP. Does not speak well of manglement. ( nothing new! )

-- Start documenting. If the RCA quits, forward the documentation to the NRLCA and the PMG.

-- Even if the RCA hangs in there, still forward the information. Let's see if the PMG is REALLY concerned about what happens at the local level.

 

[rhdriver]

This certainly seems to depend on the office. In my office a new sub went through the "Academy," then started training with Regular carrier for going on TWO WEEKS, casing with reg, taking partial runs each day, hasn't done the WHOLE ROUTE YET!! I mean, I'm all for helping a sub have plenty of time to figure all the crap out, as much as someone can in two weeks, but....

I've seen quite the opposite of the above scenario. We've had subs who are so babied, they GET help instead of BEING the help. Somewhere there has to be a happy medium.

Oh, wait, this is PO Land, where nothing makes sense. EVER.

 

[crosseyedmary]

In my 14 years of experience as an RCA, not even the union cares much about us. ?

 

[Itstillfun]

Our rcas are treated terrible. They belittle and mock them. They being clerk's supervisor s and the worst....our own Union stew it makes me feel awful.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Lower than whale on the ocean floor.... ?

On the bright side tho... sitting here bemoaning these injustices on this forum, beats slepping the mail on the day after Columbus Day.... ?

 

[Itstillfun]

Lower than whale on the ocean floor.... ?

On the bright side tho... sitting here bemoaning these injustices on this forum, beats slepping the mail on the day after Columbus Day.... ?

Tuesday always K.

 

[eunomios]

Fortunately I was hired into a smallish, sub staffed office where my only responsibility was the primary route. I was able to try Amazon, and working at other offices once I was confident enough. It was months before I was needed to work the AUX, and almost a year before I was needed to work another K route.

RCAs have much more expected of them than PSE/CCA(s) with a disparity in compensation.

 

[JFT]

It kind of makes me wonder why I’m staying RCA. I’m killing my body every time I work and I get no benefits aside from healthcare and every other postal worker even other non career employees do. I’m actively perusing other options because I don’t want to continue to be the red headed step child of the PO.

 

[csparks]

It kind of makes me wonder why I’m staying RCA. I’m killing my body every time I work and I get no benefits aside from healthcare and every other postal worker even other non career employees do. I’m actively perusing other options because I don’t want to continue to be the red headed step child of the PO.

I think that's wise. Trying to think of what areas PO experience might get a foot in the door. UPS being the obvious choice. Kinda sucks to start over, but those guys are going to be around and expanding while USPS is imploding, IMO. Always thought a medical courier deal wouldn't be bad.

 

[Waynorth]

It was llv training then a hotel and academy for 5 days i believe maybe 4 but in 7 years I was only trained on the first route I was assigned too the rest of the rural routes in my office I was told to follow the mail or the day before I drove the route in my personal vehicle with a route map in hand I agree training and treatment of RCA's is terrible though.

 

[Gotrope]

When I first started, I had 2 days of orientation. At orientation I was told to go sit against a wall at the plant and stay there for 8 hours each day. I was told," you're a rural. We have no idea what that is...I'm sure they'll explain it when you get to your office." So I sat on a chair next to the time clock for 16 horrible hours. There was no academy at this time.
Showed up at my office for training and was immediately thrown on walking city swings for two weeks because they were short staffed. I worked city routes for a month before they ever let me near the rural side. Finally got to train on a rural route, which happened to also be a walking route?, and then was told to come in a 4 am and clerk until 8 am, do my assigned whatever rural route( no training on new rts) and come back to carry a city swing or two.
Not going to lie. I thought at the time, this is the most inefficient, mismanaged, corrupt company I've ever seen. Sadly, I look back and those were the good days.
Management was actually capable of scheduling and carrying routes, working the stamp counter, dispatching trucks. Yes, nepotism ruled the day even back then, but they wouldn't promote anyone who couldn't physically carry the mail at the end of the day. I have heard of some current unicorn offices were all employees work together well. I've never seen on though. And I've been to hundreds of offices.

 

[The_Postal_Void]

RCAs really are the backbone of the rural craft yet I see then get treated worse and worse. Not only from management but unfortunately, even by regular carriers that I've seen.

These days the RCA position is a whole new animal. Time spent as an RCA now is certainly not equal to how RCA put their time in from decades back. (Amazon package volume, working holidays and Sundays, no days off for months)

With that said, I want to avoid all the usual retorts. Instead, I want to encourage everyone to promote a team mentality. We are all expected to carry out the same responsibilities. RCAs have even extra on top of that.

Push through and support each other. Take an interest in learning people's names and don't call everyone a generic label like "subs". Let RCAs know when they are getting taken advantage of. There is a lot to learn contract-wise so step in and advise them on what you've learned throughout the years.

 

[Sandygirl]

RCAs really are the backbone of the rural craft yet I see then get treated worse and worse. Not only from management but unfortunately, even by regular carriers that I've seen.

These days the RCA position is a whole new animal. Time spent as an RCA now is certainly not equal to how RCA put their time in from decades back. (Amazon package volume, working holidays and Sundays, no days off for months)

With that said, I want to avoid all the usual retorts. Instead, I want to encourage everyone to promote a team mentality. We are all expected to carry out the same responsibilities. RCAs have even extra on top of that.

Push through and support each other. Take an interest in learning people's names and don't call everyone a generic label like "subs". Let RCAs know when they are getting taken advantage of. There is a lot to learn contract-wise so step in and advise them on what you've learned throughout the years.

Important points, kudos!!!!

 

[The_Postal_Void]

Important points, kudos!!!!

Awesome.

I was an RCA. You were an RCA. We were all RCAs. We gave up our plans and obligations routinely just because somebody else was in need.

Let's not let all this goodwill go in vain.

 

[Sandygirl]

Awesome.

I was an RCA. You were an RCA. We were all RCAs. We gave up our plans and obligations routinely just because somebody else was in need.

Let's not let all this goodwill go in vain.

I am still an RCA, but I have a great regular who makes our gig true teamwork, I try very hard to help every newbie because I got that help so that I would not fail.... I still remember how frustrating it was to learn so much so quickly..... thank goodness my small office has truly good, good people to push me through....

 

[The_Postal_Void]

Oh, my bad. Taking my comment to heart, I need to get to know you better. I didn't realize you were an RCA.

Sandygirl, How can your life be made easier from someone previously put in your exact same position?

 

[CommonSense]

Unbelievablely weak decision.
RCA completes 3rd day of training.
Runs primary one day.
Next day assigned to case & carry another route AND carry parcels for other routes.
Sunday, Monday Amazon.

And mgmt loudly professes they are not the reason RCA's quit.

Yes union notified, steward called district rep.....silence......

Waste, fraud & abuse should be immediate reason for removal of every manager / acting manager that supports & enforces these weak processes

Shocking, but not surprising treatment - unfortunately.