RCA and Schedule

[BttrFlyDee]

Sooo, if I am not scheduled in the schedule, and make a doctor’s appt, and get called in last minute, am I “required” to work?
PM and toxic supervisor say that they can write me up if I do not come in.

Over Christmas, I worked 22 days straight. On my scheduled day off was called in. I went in. But PM’s favorite RCA’s had at least one day off a week throughout the season. Again, called in today on my scheduled day off, and I have a doctor’s appt that I will be charged an office visit if cancelled. Told I MUST WORK!

Feel like I signed up as a slave! Most of the RCA’s and PSE’s are looking for other work because of the horrible toxic management in this office. So sad... I thought this was my last job... but, aggressively looking to get out!

 

[Rt2mailman]

Sounds like your managers need to pay for your Doctor visit that they caused you to miss and be charged for. You are right to go in as they "Say" then file if they don't let you off to make your appointment. You are a scheduled employee, not on call, on call employees make $ for being on call even if they don't work. When you go in explain that they will be asked to pay for your appointment they caused you to miss. If they don't make arrangements to allow you to go to that appointment, file and ask for that $. Make a copy of the schedule asap if you don't already gave one.

 

[BttrFlyDee]

Sounds like your managers need to pay for your Doctor visit that they caused you to miss and be charged for. You are right to go in as they "Say" then file if they don't let you off to make your appointment. You are a scheduled employee, not on call, on call employees make $ for being on call even if they don't work. When you go in explain that they will be asked to pay for your appointment they caused you to miss. If they don't make arrangements to allow you to go to that appointment, file and ask for that $. Make a copy of the schedule asap if you don't already gave one.

I take pictures of the schedule and all my time sheets/green cards. I need to learn how to reconcile my time. I know they owe me money. Most of the RCA’s are in the same boat. Most are too new to know the rules. And PM and Supervisor takes advantage of it. ?

 

[Morty]

If you don’t want to work, don’t answer the phone. Answering tends to make you available, regardless of the reason.

Totally. And next day when asked, say I was at a Dr appointment, here's my note. Always get a note regardless of need or not.

 

[Tammy]

RCA's are suppose to be available everyday until a certain time to be called in if needed. Our office is 10 am. It should be posted in your office. Repeated unavailability could result in discipline

 

[Voglio-il mio]

RCA's are suppose to be available everyday until a certain time to be called in if needed. Our office is 10 am. It should be posted in your office. Repeated unavailability could result in discipline

You have been fed a line of BS, you will find that nowhere. You are expected to be at work as scheduled, and if available when called. You also have obligation to cover your primary route only when scheduled or available on short notice. That is why RCA's have a matrix and are trained on multiple routes.

 

[Tammy]

That is also why the contract states that rca's can be fired for unavailability? I have been a carrier for 25 years it has always been that way, unless with the new contract (that is nowhere to be seen) it has changed. If I could take a picture In the office I would show you the memorandum.

 

[Tammy]

Current language by usps

 

[Postal-xam@58]

I am glad someone has this in writing, I know 10 looonnnggg years as a sub I was continually told by lots of people that I didn’t have to answer the phone. But I did because my boss told me to, I have never been fired from a job and I was not ready to start with the post office. I put up with a lot of things in those years. But I made it through. I literally hate the way subs are treated, but I don’t have the power to change it. And I also know a lot of you are going to disagree with me, but I can’t change that either.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

Current language by usps

A person perspective on reading this article just confirms their interpretations as I read it enforces my statement and confirms my analyses.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Rca's are not on call employees! Yes the contract does say "repeated unavailability can be cause for dismissal" but that is all it says about this.

Read the last sentence of this settled at step 3 grievance.

 

[The_Postal_Void]

Being unavailable and not being able to get in touch with you are two totally separate things.

Refusing to work is something that needs to be communicated from you to them.

In short, let an answering machine/service screen your calls on your day off and evaluate whether you should call them back based on your needs/obligations.

 

[Rt2mailman]

What Tammy has posted is NOT in nor part of any contract agreed upon by our union and the USPS. Also nowhere in our contract does it say we must be able to carry 70 lbs., just lift...

 

[btdtret]

Tammy et al -- "RCA's are suppose to be available everyday until a certain time to be called in if needed. Our office is 10 am. It should be posted in your office. Repeated unavailability could result in discipline."

-- Somewhere along the way, the carriers and manglement worked out what would be known as a LMOU ( legal for city carriers and possibly clerks, but not rural carriers. )

-- IMHO -- 10 am is a bit late, but if that works for your office, good for the office and RCA's..

-- Granted:

- Publication 181 does say in print: "and be available for on-call employment." Unfortunately there is no such wording the USPS-NRLCA National Agreement ( unless it was snuck into the 2018-2021 contract -- which could be anywhere but in the hands of the membership )

- Article 30.2.M -- Discipline Procedure does indicate: repeated unavailability for work shall be one of the reasons for removal from office. But does not specify what "repeated unavailability" means.

"Rt2mailman" types faster!


BttrFlyDee --

As "T-P-V" posted, let an answering machine be your "call screener". Need or want the work -- pick up. Made other plans based upon not being on the schedule when you departed the office, don't answer.

"Over Christmas, I worked 22 days straight. On my scheduled day off was called in. I went in. But PM’s favorite RCA’s had at least one day off a week throughout the season. "

-- If you have copies of the work schedules, you may want to contact your Assistant District Representative about a "disparate" treatment grievance. Not to worry as the ADR can request them.

 

[RDruckus]

Can the RCAs get paid for all that "on call" time, waiting by the phone?
After all, management was dumb enough to put it in writing!

Sounds like a nice class action grievance to me.

 

[btdtret]

RDruckus et al -- "Can the RCAs get paid for all that "on call" time, waiting by the phone? "

-- That is one way to bring that to a halt.

-- If not paid, then file a grievance.

-- Also asking manglement to help pay for the monthly cell phone bill also ends it.

 

[Wilco183]

@btdtret - "Somewhere along the way, the carriers and manglement worked out what would be known as a LMOU ( legal for city carriers and possibly clerks, but not rural carriers. )"

Lol...that would be possible, yet crazy if the Steward and/or carriers worked out a policy like this.

Speaking of City, the union that most resembles one puts out a CCA Rights & Benefits Handbook that explicitly tells CCAs that they are not "on call". Yes, we are tangelos and oranges, but both contracts are vague on the subject. Hello...national!

 

[The_Postal_Void]

Exactly. And please show me where I am required to even carry a cell phone when I am away from my house for a full day when not working. I frequently have to figure out where I left my phone. I'm not a part of this zombie culture that thinks they have to be staring at their phone 24/7. Nobody pays me to carry it wherever I go so I don't. Hard for younger people to understand I suppose but not long ago we lived life without them and we didn't die.

We also managed to navigate without GPS. I think we might be wizards or something.

 

[Tammy]

If you also read any job announcement for rcas it states that the hours vary and rcas must be available on an as needed basis.

 

[Charlie Brown]

If you also read any job announcement for rcas it states that the hours vary and rcas must be available on an as needed basis.

And if you read the actual contract that governs the RCA's it only says repeated unavailability can be cause for dismissal. You can also read that settled grievance that make it very clear RCA's are not on call. Mgmt. has had a sweetheart deal in your office, apparently for a long time. I'll admit that way, way back when I was an academy instructor we used to tell the new hires that they should be available until 9AM. Your Mgmt. isn't right now and I wasn't right then. I'm sure you understand that Mgmt. will do whatever they can to make their jobs easier even when they're putting the screws to the lowest paid, no benefits employee in the office. Until the carriers in your office learn the contract, their rights and elect a local steward Mgmt. will keep being a bully. As long as it benefits them.