Amazon Sunday Question

22222 · Jul 1, 2020

Lynnie789 said:
Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it. I currently have a Plan A and a Plan B. If neither one is successful, then I'll resort to Plan C.

I am in the process now of transferring to a non-Amazon office. However, as my current PM pointed out, this doesn't get me out of the Amazon Sunday dilemma.

I have worked Amazon Sundays in my home office for a few years during the holidays. I worked alone as there was no other RCA. I delivered all those packages by myself in all kinds of weather, including an ice storm. I also worked on the funeral day, by myself, delivering packages all day and half the evening. I worked more than 21 days in a row, following the PM's orders. I've been there and done that....and I don't want to go there again.

My health is fine. I have no wish to make this a second career or to work full time as a regular carrier.

Once again, thank you for all the information. I learned a lot.

If your new office is a spoke for the hub then you will probably have to work. Is it Sunday that you don't want to work or you want to work less days. You may get less work at your new po. But without Amazon it might be a better atmosphere.

Voglio-il mio · Jul 2, 2020

Ihatesnow said:
Youre in a crappy office. Ours, we have 2 retirees that only want to work 1 day a week (most often they get it), 1 guy who goes on religious missions for 6 months, and worst of all... Someone hasn't worked in 9 months, has a full time 6 day a week job, just saving his spot in case he wants to go reg. Never mind, our office is crappy too, just a different texture

Someone hasn't worked in 9 months, has a full time 6 day a week job, just saving his spot in case he wants to go reg.

This needs to be addressed, time limits should be applied, lets say for example " must work at least once every 30 days"!

Lynnie789 · Jul 3, 2020

Been mulling this over...for me it has to do with the list. I signed the list and said NO. In my world, NO means NO. If the USPS is not willing to honor someone's NO on the list, then why bother to have a list at all? Why give the RCA an illusion of having a choice? In this age of the "Me Too" movement, it seems like the USPS should honor and respect someone's wish to decline.

If the USPS can't find enough people to work their Amazon Sundays then they should ask themselves why? And fix the problem on their end to make the job more appealing to people. "Forcing" or "mandating" someone to work is not the answer.

gotstamps · Jul 4, 2020

Lynnie789 said:
Been mulling this over...for me it has to do with the list. I signed the list and said NO. In my world, NO means NO. If the USPS is not willing to honor someone's NO on the list, then why bother to have a list at all? Why give the RCA an illusion of having a choice? In this age of the "Me Too" movement, it seems like the USPS should honor and respect someone's wish to decline.

If the USPS can't find enough people to work their Amazon Sundays then they should ask themselves why? And fix the problem on their end to make the job more appealing to people. "Forcing" or "mandating" someone to work is not the answer.

Maybe I have a reason I don't want to work on Sundays. It's not really their business. Maybe I don't want to drive 35 miles at the crack of dawn to get there on time. Maybe, after working six days a week for several weeks, I don't want to work the seventh day. Maybe I don't ever visit that city for a reason. There are many reasons why I marked NO. I shouldn't have to explain any of them. My NO should be honored. Period.

Sorry but the Sunday Rules state that those RCAs & PTFs on the “no” list may still be utilized in rotation alphabetically after the “yes” list RCAs & PTFs. In the Postal World, No means “don’t really want to but will if mandated”.
Not even Regular Carriers that do not sign the RDWL are guaranteed that they won’t ever be utilized On their Day Off.
It is what it is.

Lynnie789 · Jul 4, 2020

So in the Postal World, No doesn't really mean No, it means Yes. Good thing the Real World doesn't live in the Postal World.

Which brings me back to my original point. Why have a list where you are given the illusion of a choice? Why pretend you have a choice when you really don't? Why isn't this posted in the RCA job postings? I just checked. The only thing it says that comes close is "Work is available usually on Saturdays, then on an as needed basis to cover the absence of the carrier." There is nothing mentioned about working Sundays anywhere in the description. And on Sundays, I am certainly not covering the absence of any carrier. Applicants should know what they are in for right at the beginning.

Maybe after a couple days rest I'll see this differently. But I don't think so. Happy 4th everyone!

Deer Smearer · Jul 4, 2020

Lynnie789 said:
So in the Postal World, No doesn't really mean No, it means Yes. Good thing the Real World doesn't live in the Postal World.

Which brings me back to my original thought. Why have a list where you are given the illusion of a choice? Why pretend you have a choice when you really don't? Why isn't this posted in the RCA job postings? I just checked. The only thing it says that comes close is "Work is available usually on Saturdays, then on an as needed basis to cover the absence of the carrier." There is nothing mentioned about working Sundays anywhere in the description. And on Sundays, I am certainly not covering the absence of any carrier. Applicants should know what they are in for right at the beginning.

Maybe after a couple days rest I'll see this differently. But I don't think so. Happy 4th everyone!

Try to think of it like this.

You're actually not signing no you don't want to work. You're signing no you don't want to volunteer to work.

too many yrs left · Jul 4, 2020

Yes, USPS is certainly not alone in this. Whether it's a fast food operation, a grocery store, or a hospital, I don't think you'll find any company who has to operate nights or weekends to allow everyone just to say "no" they are not going to work and get away with it. That is the Real World.

Jiminy Christmas · Jul 4, 2020

Lynnie789 said:
So in the Postal World, No doesn't really mean No, it means Yes. Good thing the Real World doesn't live in the Postal World.

Which brings me back to my original point. Why have a list where you are given the illusion of a choice? Why pretend you have a choice when you really don't? Why isn't this posted in the RCA job postings? I just checked. The only thing it says that comes close is "Work is available usually on Saturdays, then on an as needed basis to cover the absence of the carrier." There is nothing mentioned about working Sundays anywhere in the description. And on Sundays, I am certainly not covering the absence of any carrier. Applicants should know what they are in for right at the beginning.

Maybe after a couple days rest I'll see this differently. But I don't think so. Happy 4th everyone!

Where are you checking at? I've always known it to say " RCAs must be available to work on an as needed basis."

That's what I've always know it to say for at least the last 2 years. And I was told from the get go that I would just about always be working Saturday and Sunday and Holidays.

gotstamps · Jul 5, 2020

Boxholder said:
Makes me wonder if Lynnie got snookered. In my part of the world the only time you sign anything for Amazon is if you want to be YES. Not signing anything puts you on that rotational deal.

That is the incorrect way. Not surprised, though. Mgmt is supposed to list all subs & notate the 74s & Pre-74s. All must check Yes or No. All offices send their list to the a Hub after the 2-week posting & 2 lists are formed in Alphabetical order.
Took awhile to get my Hub & Spokes to follow the rules. All the PMs just figured they’d do as they want so long as it got delivered. Think they looked at the Implementation Guidelines & said “Naw... that’s too complicated. We’ll just do it our way. Nobody will notice.” Yep, no one noticed until the Spokes realized there was supposed to be a rotation. ?

csparks · Jul 6, 2020

Hey yall.
Apologies, but I am forgetful, and cannot keep straight the things I've read, and accurate circumstances. I'm curious to confirm if there are those out there that have been:
Forced to work Amazon Sunday, and at non-OT
Forced to work Easter Sunday, and whether it was non OT.
Forced to work in excess of 6 days in a row without OT

I'm sure all this is very dependent on the 40 hour thing, etc.

Luckily, around here that stuff is not an issue. Between this and the "Sunday Premium" thread, just trying to get a handle on how 19th Century USPS still is with employees, subs in particular.

gotstamps · Jul 7, 2020

csparks said:
Hey yall.
Apologies, but I am forgetful, and cannot keep straight the things I've read, and accurate circumstances. I'm curious to confirm if there are those out there that have been:
Forced to work Amazon Sunday, and at non-OT
Forced to work Easter Sunday, and whether it was non OT.
Forced to work in excess of 6 days in a row without OT

I'm sure all this is very dependent on the 40 hour thing, etc.

Luckily, around here that stuff is not an issue. Between this and the "Sunday Premium" thread, just trying to get a handle on how 19th Century USPS still is with employees, subs in particular.

There is no OT for working any Sunday for Rural Craft except for Regular Carriers when an MOU is active. Since Sunday is the 2nd day of the week, 6-day doesn’t apply either.