This is a BIG reason why RCA's are getting harder and harder to find/keep...people just dont have the $ to get a RHD for a guarantee of just one day a week. Many years ago I started out in a bench seat vehicle and it eventually will catch up with your body. Not only that, but to me it is just not safe...yet, like you I did what I had to do at the time.
What would you like to see change in the new contract?
- Thread starter ATCBigE
- Start date
Shoot, almost 5 years in as reg (table 2) I still can’t justify the cost of a RHD. Almost 5 years in (I’m no spring chicken anymore) I’m feeling the “straddle the hump syndrome”, and my hips, shoulders, wrists, neck and back tell me about it daily!
Interesting……
But I’m guessing our union will fold, and agree upon past contract negotiations….. we’re nothing but the red headed step children of the usps……
Why won’t OUR union put transparency like this out to us? And they wonder why we keep dropping like flies…… HELLO NRLCA! COMINUCATE WITH US!
One wage table, closely resembling table 2?
I’m not familiar with their tables, but I know our craft won’t want table 2.
Lmao, and back pay? When? How long after ratification? Will there be intrest penalties for not immediately being implemented?
All carrier work force! Is this NOT what rurals need also? Wouldn’t this (semi) fix our work force inability? Will we ask for this as well? Don, are you reading? I didn’t think so…..
dblogan3829
Active member
Just wait until you're 17 years in.
You should consider a conversion pedal and wheel. Will cost about 2 grand but far more feasible then RHD. Just do conversion on one vehicle that you use the most. Most of the kits can be used for other vehicles down the road with a few adjustments.
I only have pedals for my ranger can reach steering wheel with no issues shoulder wise. I still straddle the hump on explorer. Huge difference by end of day when I have to use explorer vs ranger.
I understand what the current rules are. I was responding to an original thread about what we'd like to see changed. When regulars are complaining about not getting time off for lack of subs, when management complains they can't hire enough subs, when subs are leaving once they realize that sometimes they have to work years and years for benefits ... Subs are subs, changing and being flexible to run multiple routes and working longer days and 6 days a week ... so in order to keep them and recruit them, why not allow them to earn retirement benefits especially if they are working full-time hours even though they aren't labeled as full-time or career. We just had a sub leave and go to work in a retail position because of this reason. We loose about 1/3 of our subs when they see how long it takes to get benefits. Even for the subs that may not get that many hours, they can perhaps earn a pro-rated amount toward retirement just like the recently added annual leave earnings.
They will never fight for all career workforce! Too many spiteful people that say well "I had to do it so why shouldn't they have to suffer also."
You might be surprised depending on office area. Around here majority have woken up and realized PTF is the only way they get relief days and possible vacation.
U caught my attention
Well-known member
Where can I read about this?
History of rural free delivery and info on nrlca media page history
DB.Cooper
Well-known member
When I was a kid.... there were all sorts of little "PO's" in my area.... most were in like little gas station/mini grocery stores.... you could go in and buy a pound of sliced ham from the store keep at the deli counter, then tell him you needed a stamp or to mail a letter, and he'd take of his butcher's apron, and put on a little bill hat, and go in to the little "PO" in the corner of the store, and you'd go to the little window there and he'd sell you a stamp, or take your letter or whatever.... kinda like Hooterville....
We had a place like that in north Dakota. We had a house there for years, great old historic governor place. The town had around 300 people. The post office was an inside portion of a gas station/market/deli/bar/ real estate office. All in a 25x20 buildingWhen I was a kid.... there were all sorts of little "PO's" in my area.... most were in like little gas station/mini grocery stores.... you could go in and buy a pound of sliced ham from the store keep at the deli counter, then tell him you needed a stamp or to mail a letter, and he'd take of his butcher's apron, and put on a little bill hat, and go in to the little "PO" in the corner of the store, and you'd go to the little window there and he'd sell you a stamp, or take your letter or whatever.... kinda like Hooterville....
fabulous service. They had 5 stars on yelpAll Saints Day
Member
Since a shortage of personnel has become an big issue in a lot of areas, and rural routes are sometimes having to be worked by non rural carries here are a few ideas that may help:
Allow regulars to volunteer not only in their office but nearby offices that are in dire need of help. I know there is an MOU that states regulars can volunteer to work on other routes within their office. They should go ahead and solidify in the next contract as well as allowing regulars to volunteer to work on routes in other offices. This might help the shortage problem in some offices as well as helping out carriers that are hurting from massive drops in salary earn some extra income. This would be mutually beneficial to both the USPS and the rural carriers.
Another thing that may help fill positions that have been vacant for a while is an expansion of the bidding on vacant routes once they’ve been passed up by an entire district. There should be a process implemented where if a route is up for bid district wide and no one in the district bids on it, it should then be posted region wide. Give some RCAs and regulars in a nearby area the chance to bid on it. It may be closer to where they live or where they want to live especially if the route is right on the border of the district. If no one in the region bids on it then post it nation wide. There are regular routes in my district that get reposted over and over because no one wants them. So I’m assuming they have no RCAs in that office and maybe CCAs or management are carrying the routes. Why not give rural carriers outside of the district an opportunity to bid?
This one is the least likely to ever happen but if the USPS would allow regulars to revert to an RCA-like position but still maintain whatever their step pay is you may have some regulars that want to move to another office that is shorthanded in another city or state but there is no transfer available. And resigning and starting over as an RCA would be too big of drop in income. If someone has been a carrier for several years, they’ve proven they can do the job. If an office is badly in need of help, has zero RCAs and unable to retain new hires, why not allow someone who is a current employee fill a much needed position if they volunteer to do so?
Allow regulars to volunteer not only in their office but nearby offices that are in dire need of help. I know there is an MOU that states regulars can volunteer to work on other routes within their office. They should go ahead and solidify in the next contract as well as allowing regulars to volunteer to work on routes in other offices. This might help the shortage problem in some offices as well as helping out carriers that are hurting from massive drops in salary earn some extra income. This would be mutually beneficial to both the USPS and the rural carriers.
Another thing that may help fill positions that have been vacant for a while is an expansion of the bidding on vacant routes once they’ve been passed up by an entire district. There should be a process implemented where if a route is up for bid district wide and no one in the district bids on it, it should then be posted region wide. Give some RCAs and regulars in a nearby area the chance to bid on it. It may be closer to where they live or where they want to live especially if the route is right on the border of the district. If no one in the region bids on it then post it nation wide. There are regular routes in my district that get reposted over and over because no one wants them. So I’m assuming they have no RCAs in that office and maybe CCAs or management are carrying the routes. Why not give rural carriers outside of the district an opportunity to bid?
This one is the least likely to ever happen but if the USPS would allow regulars to revert to an RCA-like position but still maintain whatever their step pay is you may have some regulars that want to move to another office that is shorthanded in another city or state but there is no transfer available. And resigning and starting over as an RCA would be too big of drop in income. If someone has been a carrier for several years, they’ve proven they can do the job. If an office is badly in need of help, has zero RCAs and unable to retain new hires, why not allow someone who is a current employee fill a much needed position if they volunteer to do so?
MadDog
Well-known member
It's getting to the point where the USPS needs to mull the idea of signing bonuses like the military. Something like a $5000 bonus paid if you make it a full year.
