New RCA in orientation, upstate NY

[handsomprisoner11]

Hey all, I've almost finished my orientation and have my shadow day scheduled. During orientation I couldn't help but notice that I felt the RCAs got the s**** end of the stick. No annual accrued, less hours then CCA and slower path to become a regular. Also possibility that I have to use my own car? I was never told that was part of the deal when contacting the postmaster at my PO.

Any thoughts or comments would help, feeling a bit skeptical as I've waited 3 years for the hiring phone call. Thanks!

 

[oi veh.]

Welcome.

You got it. The vehicle portion should have covered in the job announcement to which you applied.

If you are starting in a large office with not a lot of subs, you'll work quite a bit.

If there are a lot of retirement age folks, you'll make regular in a few years.

You may want to consider applying city or clerk side.

Also, would you mind too awful much editing your post for language? Thanks a bunch.

 

[C$$]

I think this thread sort of lays out RCA vs CCA
Accepted RCA position then offered a CCA position.

But in a nutshell:
1) Yes, CCAs have better benefits and career progression
2) Hours just depend on where you are. Some RCAs get 50+ a week
3) Yes, you are expected to have your own vehicle (POV -> privately owned vehicle). However, some offices have LLVs for every route. So less of an issue, but they could still send you to another office where you need a POV.

RCA has its perks though. We are (usually) less micromanaged on the rural side.

 

[drakeME]

I really wanted to be a CCA and walk a route when I was looking for work, but there were no openings in town, just RCA, so that's where I landed. I would not have taken the job however if I had to supply my own vehicle, given I was only promised a day a week to start. If they were not up front about that, shame on them....but I'd think if you'd been coveting the job for years, you might've done a tad more research on your own also?

There are pros and cons to both...biggest pro for us is getting paid by evaluation vs hourly IMO.

Also might want to find out if it's a formula PTF office - if so you might have an intermediate route to advance to. I got promoted to PTF about a year ago...not great benefits mind you, but much better than nothing.

In any case, GL with whatever road you follow.

 

[handsomprisoner11]

Welcome.

You got it. The vehicle portion should have covered in the job announcement to which you applied.

If you are starting in a large office with not a lot of subs, you'll work quite a bit.

If there are a lot of retirement age folks, you'll make regular in a few years.

You may want to consider applying city or clerk side.

Also, would you mind too awful much editing your post for language? Thanks a bunch.

Sorry for the language, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice and quick response. Are you able to just apply to other positions for that P.O while working there? Or would that be considered a bid.

 

[handsomprisoner11]

I think this thread sort of lays out RCA vs CCA
Accepted RCA position then offered a CCA position.

But in a nutshell:
1) Yes, CCAs have better benefits and career progression
2) Hours just depend on where you are. Some RCAs get 50+ a week
3) Yes, you are expected to have your own vehicle (POV -> privately owned vehicle). However, some offices have LLVs for every route. So less of an issue, but they could still send you to another office where you need a POV.

RCA has its perks though. We are (usually) less micromanaged on the rural side.

Thanks for the quick response, appreciate your advice.

 

[handsomprisoner11]

I really wanted to be a CCA and walk a route when I was looking for work, but there were no openings in town, just RCA, so that's where I landed. I would not have taken the job however if I had to supply my own vehicle, given I was only promised a day a week to start. If they were not up front about that, shame on them....but I'd think if you'd been coveting the job for years, you might've done a tad more research on your own also?

There are pros and cons to both...biggest pro for us is getting paid by evaluation vs hourly IMO.

Also might want to find out if it's a formula PTF office - if so you might have an intermediate route to advance to. I got promoted to PTF about a year ago...not great benefits mind you, but much better than nothing.

In any case, GL with whatever road you follow.

Thanks for the quick response. I did my research but I didn’t realize the complexity and the difference between the crafts. Also the usps lingo (annual, crafts etc) I’ll give them a call tomorrow. Any questions in particular you advise me to ask?

 

[drakeME]

Changing from RCA to another job in the P.O. down the road definitely possible, but certainly not right away. Nothing happens right away in the PO. You'd have to bid for another job when it's open.

CCA hours maybe more, maybe less, depending on office make up and how many subs each has.

Clarify about vehicle if that's a deal breaker, no need to waste extra time. Find out how many routes don't have subs - the greater the number, the more hours you can expect out the gate (assuming you make the cut.)

And lingo? Goodness...I'm in my 3rd year here and much of the lingo is still greek to me!

 

[flash]

I could be wrong, but you are in a limbo period, as soon as you set foot in a PO and are assigned to a route, your choices become limited. You have a 90 day probation (working days, not calendar days) and can’t transfer until after.... as craft, you either jump ship immediately or you must resign and get rehired... ask a lot of questions on your shadow day and keep in mind your “trainer” may or may not be happy/willing to answer or even know the answer. Good luck

 

[Skierstmoritz]

Thanks for the quick response. I did my research but I didn’t realize the complexity and the difference between the crafts. Also the usps lingo (annual, crafts etc) I’ll give them a call tomorrow. Any questions in particular you advise me to ask?

Absolutely find out about the vehicle! Some offices are all llvs and you might not need a personal vehicle. Llvs are government vehicles. Good luck!

 

[gotstamps]

Changing from RCA to another job in the P.O. down the road definitely possible, but certainly not right away. Nothing happens right away in the PO. You'd have to bid for another job when it's open.

CCA hours maybe more, maybe less, depending on office make up and how many subs each has.

Clarify about vehicle if that's a deal breaker, no need to waste extra time. Find out how many routes don't have subs - the greater the number, the more hours you can expect out the gate (assuming you make the cut.)

And lingo? Goodness...I'm in my 3rd year here and much of the lingo is still greek to me!

RCAs cannot “bid“ for other jobs in the PO. Their only path is to Regular Carrier. Some offices utilize a mid-position allied PTF but not all offices can do this.
If you want to move to a different Craft, you will still need to apply but you do have a foot in the door so that’s a plus.

@handsome-
CCAs don’t necessarily move up faster than RCAs. City Craft does not have the massive growth of territory that Rural Craft does. It just depends on the office & location. In my office, the RCAs move up in 2-5 years to either PTF and/or Regular. The CCAs don’t move up so fast here & tend to quit, transfer, or apply to RCA.
Good Luck

 

[handsomprisoner11]

I really wanted to be a CCA and walk a route when I was looking for work, but there were no openings in town, just RCA, so that's where I landed. I would not have taken the job however if I had to supply my own vehicle, given I was only promised a day a week to start. If they were not up front about that, shame on them....but I'd think if you'd been coveting the job for years, you might've done a tad more research on your own also?

There are pros and cons to both...biggest pro for us is getting paid by evaluation vs hourly IMO.

Also might want to find out if it's a formula PTF office - if so you might have an intermediate route to advance to. I got promoted to PTF about a year ago...not great benefits mind you, but much better than nothing.

In any case, GL with whatever road you follow.

So I contacted the PM today and asked a few questions. He was short with me but as far as the PFT goes he said "they pop up all the time". Not quite sure what that means! any thoughts?

 

[handsomprisoner11]

Absolutely find out about the vehicle! Some offices are all llvs and you might not need a personal vehicle. Llvs are government vehicles. Good luck!

Called the PM today, he said no to the POV. phew.....but does that mean it can be brought up whenever? how does that work? If you know. Thanks

 

[drakeME]

RCAs cannot “bid“ for other jobs in the PO. Their only path is to Regular Carrier.

Maybe bid isn't the right term, but you can change crafts... one of our former RCAs moved to a clerk position because he didn't like being cold in the winter (oh we love to bash him for this still! )

So I contacted the PM today and asked a few questions. He was short with me but as far as the PFT goes he said "they pop up all the time". Not quite sure what that means! any thoughts?

No idea! It's a straight forward question really...does the office have rural PTFs or not?

 

[btdtret]

handsomprisoner11 -- "Called the PM today, he said no to the POV. phew.....but does that mean it can be brought up whenever? how does that work?"

-- Yes, having a route capable vehicle could be brought up in the future.

-- Without going into possible scenarios, if a postal-provided vehicle is not available for a route to which one is assigned, a rural carrier may be requested, BUT NOT REQUIRED to provide a vehicle.

-- In such case, you may be sitting in the office until another LLV returns from a route if manglement can't borrow one from another office.

-- LLV are no longer being made and some continue to be lost due to accidents and vehicle fires.

-- Also other post offices can reach out to "grab" unscheduled RCA's to work at their office. Without a route capable vehicle, that could cut down on chances to work at other post offices without LLV's.

"He was short with me but as far as the PFT goes he said "they pop up all the time". Not quite sure what that means! any thoughts?"

-- "PFT" -- no idea.

-- The closest term could be "PTF", which stands for a Part-Time Flexible position. And they don't "pop up" all the time.

-- Okay -- the PM has been "short" with you and may have "stretched" the truth about "PFT" or "PTF". That could be 2 strikes against the PM.

-- Can I ask what you have been doing during the 3 years you have been waiting for the hiring phone call?

 

[handsomprisoner11]

handsomprisoner11 -- "Called the PM today, he said no to the POV. phew.....but does that mean it can be brought up whenever? how does that work?"

-- Yes, having a route capable vehicle could be brought up in the future.

-- Without going into possible scenarios, if a postal-provided vehicle is not available for a route to which one is assigned, a rural carrier may be requested, BUT NOT REQUIRED to provide a vehicle.

-- In such case, you may be sitting in the office until another LLV returns from a route if manglement can't borrow one from another office.

-- LLV are no longer being made and some continue to be lost due to accidents and vehicle fires.

-- Also other post offices can reach out to "grab" unscheduled RCA's to work at their office. Without a route capable vehicle, that could cut down on chances to work at other post offices without LLV's.

"He was short with me but as far as the PFT goes he said "they pop up all the time". Not quite sure what that means! any thoughts?"

-- "PFT" -- no idea.

-- The closest term could be "PTF", which stands for a Part-Time Flexible position. And they don't "pop up" all the time.

-- Okay -- the PM has been "short" with you and may have "stretched" the truth about "PFT" or "PTF". That could be 2 strikes against the PM.

-- Can I ask what you have been doing during the 3 years you have been waiting for the hiring phone call?

I'm reciting what he said to me, "pop up" was his terminology in response to my question about PTF routes.

 

[btdtret]

handsomprisoner11 -- "I'm reciting what he said to me, "pop up" was his terminology in response to my question about PTF routes."

-- If a PTF position is established, it shall be posted at the post office including stations and branches, for all substitute rural carriers and RCA's that have completed their probationary period.

-- The RCA probationary period is 90 work-days or one calendar year.

-- It will be a while before you would be able to bid.

 

[handsomprisoner11]

I

handsomprisoner11 -- "I'm reciting what he said to me, "pop up" was his terminology in response to my question about PTF routes."

-- If a PTF position is established, it shall be posted at the post office including stations and branches, for all substitute rural carriers and RCA's that have completed their probationary period.

-- The RCA probationary period is 90 work-days or one calendar year.

-- It will be a while before you would be able to bid.

I figured that much. Thanks.

 

[hockey94]

If your PO does not require you getting a vehicle, do not waste your money on one. This job might not work out and you will have purchased a route vehicle for nothing ! Good Luck !!!

 

[Haychica]

I think this thread sort of lays out RCA vs CCA
Accepted RCA position then offered a CCA position.

But in a nutshell:
1) Yes, CCAs have better benefits and career progression
2) Hours just depend on where you are. Some RCAs get 50+ a week
3) Yes, you are expected to have your own vehicle (POV -> privately owned vehicle). However, some offices have LLVs for every route. So less of an issue, but they could still send you to another office where you need a POV.

RCA has its perks though. We are (usually) less micromanaged on the rural side.

Perks?..plural?...you only named one..and THAT is soon to be extinct...