? as to who should be assigned a route

[swmh]

I am primary on R1 and 2nd on R2 (keeping simple). regular on R2 is on vacation. I am the only person in office with R2 on my string (POV route no one wants). Since our only PTF is holding down another Route, shouldn't I be able to work all 9 days the regular from R2 is on leave? . Actually 8, since I had to Run R1 last Sat.
Reason I ask is because mgmnt made me do Amazon Sun, and gave R2 Thurs to another RCA. Granted she is senior to me, however, her string does not include R2. Their claim is that I would work more than 7 days in a row ( that rule is applied only when it benefits them) and would not even matter if I had been allowed Sun off, and either of 2 other RCAs doing keys had delivered amazon in my place

 

[EthelAnne]

First of all, that PTF should not be working a route full time in your office. They should continue to work their assigned string and an RCA should be serving that route full time in the regular's absence. I know that's not the question you asked, just letting you know.

For citations to prove you are entitled to the hours, I would start with the Order of Consideration here: https://www.nrlca.org/Documents/WebContent/e0d1eeb7-fe15-404e-b317-9f8678e4fe59-03082023-Order of Consideration (O-6) .pdf

And here's the Matrix Training Module, which explains how the matrix works: https://www.nrlca.org/Documents/WebContent/b2e2694f-53ce-4a3f-933c-3cc4ce4e5991-04272022-NRLCA Training Module (M-32).pdf

So to answer your question, if the route is assigned to you in any position on the matrix you are entitled to work those hours when you are available. On your primary assignment, you are entitled to work up to the route's evaluation before another employee. That doesn't apply to the two additional routes you may be assigned on the matrix. Management can schedule another employee on those routes to avoid paying you OT. (Again, this info can be found on the Order of Consideration).

If this route did not have anyone assigned to it on the matrix, then the senior RCA would be entitled to work the route before anyone else.

All that other stuff about working whatever number of days in a row is noise and nonsense. There is no requirement in the rural contract that RCAs get any days off, there is no "rule." The procedures for Sunday and Holiday Delivery do require that RCAs working full time on a vacant route become the LAST OPTION to work Sundays and Holidays, that is, they only work if everyone else is already scheduled. Here's the citation for that: https://www.nrlca.org/Documents/WebContent/4b525445-2cd9-446a-86ca-f0615a8adbe1-07092021-5-24-16, MOU, Sunday-Holiday Parcel Delivery Work List (S-106).pdf

People make stuff up all the time which is why it's so important to know the contract and your rights.

If you can't get your supervisor to schedule correctly in your office, file the grievance and contact your local representative.

 

[gotstamps]

If a route is on your Matrix as a Secondary, only a PTF can be scheduled over you on that route.
Article 30.2.D covers the Order of Consideration. There is no requirement for mgmt to schedule the PTF anywhere in particular but mgmt should have them run their String routes first. Again, no requirement.
There is no 7-Day rule. Mgmt is brainwashed into thinking that it’s a requirement but it’s not true.

File your grievance and let the Steward work it out.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Last I remember an RCA is not entitled to O/T. The 1 exception is an RCA holding down their primary route, then the RCA is entitled to the routes evaluated hours. Otherwise management may use another RCA to prevent or reduce O/T hours. Is it possible the O/P's hours were the issue?

 

[EthelAnne]

Last I remember an RCA is not entitled to O/T. The 1 exception is an RCA holding down their primary route, then the RCA is entitled to the routes evaluated hours. Otherwise management may use another RCA to prevent or reduce O/T hours. Is it possible the O/P's hours were the issue?

It’s definitely possible, but that’s not the info OP provided. It could be the senior carrier worked the route to avoid OT and OP interpreted that to mean they were not allowed to work 7 days in a row.

As is often the case, what a grievant (or potential grievant) thinks happened may not be what actually happened, and there was poor understanding or communication along the way.

 

[swmh]

Last I remember an RCA is not entitled to O/T. The 1 exception is an RCA holding down their primary route, then the RCA is entitled to the routes evaluated hours. Otherwise management may use another RCA to prevent or reduce O/T hours. Is it possible the O/P's hours were the issue?

this was done partially to reduce OT hours, however the situation would not have arisen had i not been forced to work Amazon Sunday, especially with at least 3 other RCAs available. Ironically, I will most likely end up with 1 hr OT more due to how long Amazon took, but my real issue is losing the 94 mi EMA