Aux route for RCA is a joke (RANT)

[btdtret]

ATCBigE -- "It isn't a requirement though if you work a LLV route to have a POV. They can't force him to get POV."

-- Wasn't anything mentioned to the offending RCA during the Academy or during the office interview ( if there still is one ) about having to have a POV?

-- Not providing a POV only works IF in an all LLV / FFV / Metris office. However with the ability to farm out RCA's, one could end up working in another office on a route requiring a POV.

-- In the meantime, direct manglement's attention to Section 12 of the PO-603 under Basic Carrier Responsibilities:

- Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following items 12.e: Providing and maintaining a vehicle ( if a USPS-owned/leased vehicle is not provided )...

-- Then there is Section 141.1 -- Vehicle Equipment -- You are responsible for furnishing all vehicle equipment necessary for safe and prompt handling of the mail, unless a USPS-owned/leased vehicle is assigned to the route. ( if one has to furnish all equipment necessary, apparently providing the vehicle goes without saying! )

-- Along the same lines, there is Section 141.2 of the PO-603: Your personal vehicle must be large enough to accommodated the normal mail volume and constructed to protect the mail from loss of damage.

-- Moving on. There is Article 9.2.J.2. Vehicle Equipment of the contract.

- Rural carrier shall furnish all necessary vehicle equipment for prompt handling of the mail unless the vehicle is furnished by the Employer.

-- There is a Step 4 ( which will remain unspecified to keep the NRLCA at bay ) which basically says a rural carrier is responsible for providing a vehicle for the assigned route.

-- The APWU has a MOU which states: No craft employee represented by the APWU may be coerced into furnishing a vehicle or carrying passengers without the employee's consent. The NALC uses the APWU's MOU to apply to CCA's.

 

[csparks]

I'm wondering about the whole RCA/POV thing, just out of curiosity, not as a ping-pong argument.

I'd imagine there are a whole lot of RCAs that have never run a POV route, and have no idea how to deliver in a POV? For instance, they theoretically hire you to sub for a particular route. If its a LLV route, they probably don't pursue asking a candidate about POV, because that falls under the "If a USPS owned/leased vehicle is not provided" thing. Thats the perfect world where you sub for a route, like the job description says.

If that is the case there would be tons of subs with nothing in the way of a POV and no such experience. What to do when there POV routes are unfilled? Force a sub into doing something they've no experience in and no vehicle that USPS has ever looked over? Fire them? (can't do that)

Just another ongoing conundrum with this poorly thought out organization.

 

[Worve]

Was told and it’s in writing in academy and by PM POV are a requirement for rca position unless every rural route has an llv or other gov vehicle In your home office. Maybe it’s just my district/area because most routes are POV within 50 miles. Beyond that no clue no experience on those offices.

 

[ATCBigE]

Even in an all gov office, an RCA can still be directed to provide aux assistance or parcel/express runs that may require them to use their own vehicle.

Yes but I can drive my POS to deliver packages, I don't need my mail car to do that. That is what the guy that doesn't have a mail car does too.

 

[MiddleOfNowhere]

i know that there have been very many rca candidates come through our office, that have not been hired for a llv route, because they did not have a pov. it would allow them to only be available for 1 route or the aux route, while not being able to run 7 other routes. need the help, while they need the work, but no vehicle was a deal killer.

 

[EthelAnne]

I read through this thread and I know the OP is being encouraged to file a grievance, but just chiming in here to make sure your remedy includes being "made whole" that is, demand all the AL/SL you've lost by working another route.

It's been said here but it bears repeating: You must complete your AUX route before providing assistance on other routes. I had this exact same issue (except--believe it or not!--in order to keep him earning all his leave, management had the carrier sign in on the 4240 of the aux route, even though he never touched a piece of mail on that route and instead worked an entirely different route each day!).

After the grievance, management had to come up with someone else to run the other route, while the aux carrier only helped out and never did the full route again. Management will figure it out. Good luck.

 

[ATCBigE]

I read through this thread and I know the OP is being encouraged to file a grievance, but just chiming in here to make sure your remedy includes being "made whole" that is, demand all the AL/SL you've lost by working another route.

It's been said here but it bears repeating: You must complete your AUX route before providing assistance on other routes. I had this exact same issue (except--believe it or not!--in order to keep him earning all his leave, management had the carrier sign in on the 4240 of the aux route, even though he never touched a piece of mail on that route and instead worked an entirely different route each day!).

After the grievance, management had to come up with someone else to run the other route, while the aux carrier only helped out and never did the full route again. Management will figure it out. Good luck.

THIS ^^^^

I have ZERO issues working other routes, but where my issue lies is 2 fold. #1 Not earning the leave time is bogus and I have been on the route 6 months and haven't even earned 3 days yet. #2 The constant issue that I bring up to this issue and nothing happens. EXAMPLE: Monday, They agree for carrier to have a X day. Well Wednesday they started Metris training next week. Well they took a different carrier to training on Monday, so now I am working the X day. I told them that can't happen.

The extra money is nice (800-900 pay period just working my aux) which was why I didn't do and still haven't.

 

[DB.Cooper]

This also is huge complaint of mine.

We work like regular and should get those benefits.

Many RCAs work 40 or more hours a week with no benefits..... should be against the law.... most employers couldn't get away with such sweat shop policies.... ?‍?

 

[Worve]

You forgot the best part. When a lot of us do work over 40, we can actually lose money... Never heard of that before I started working here.

Yup learned that the hard way. I now go normal pace if scheduled 3 days I always get forced to work another office atleast once a week. If scheduled 4+ days I put on my city side hat and milk it like a dairy farmer All week.

 

[ATCBigE]

Many RCAs work 40 or more hours a week with no benefits..... should be against the law.... most employers couldn't get away with such sweat shop policies.... ?‍?

I agree.

If RCA works over xx hours a week, they should earn leave.

 

[DB.Cooper]

I agree.

If RCA works over xx hours a week, they should earn leave.

As a Reg, I get THOUSANDS of extra $$$ DOLLARS per year in USPS TSP matching money.... why aren't RCAs eligible to participate in TSP???? ?‍?

But, wth.... nobody really gives a crap about RCAs, other than, can I get a day off.... don't hold your breath waiting for the NRLCA to do something for you....

 

[ATCBigE]

As a Reg, I get THOUSANDS of extra $$$ DOLLARS per year in USPS TSP matching money.... why aren't RCAs eligible to participate in TSP???? ?‍?

But, wth.... nobody really gives a crap about RCAs, other than, can I get a day off.... don't hold your breath waiting for the NRLCA to do something for you....

I ain't holding my breath for anything. After the last few months, I am considering looking around at other jobs. They just have to fit in with my other job which is only reason I am still at the post office (besides the health insurance too)

 

[DB.Cooper]

I ain't holding my breath for anything. After the last few months, I am considering looking around at other jobs. They just have to fit in with my other job which is only reason I am still at the post office (besides the health insurance too)

With the cuts made to Regular Carriers, via Table 2 wage cuts and so forth.... were I early in my USPS days, I'd be looking for better opportunities and brighter outlooks elsewhere.... I'm closing in on retirement now, so I guess I'll stick it out.... js... much easier when looking at months, rather than years....

 

[ATCBigE]

New Hypothetical Situation:


Supposedly they may try to pivot a route onto myself and another RCA. The only reason they are doing this I believe is because this carrier doesn't want to work his Saturday. I don't believe this is allowed either since I thought pivoting routes on rural side was only for emergency and not because he wants his Saturday.

Can anyone tell me if I am right in thinking this is against the contract too? I believe it would be especially if it is used and abused.

 

[ATCBigE]

Is this what your looking for?

Order of consideration

7. Management may, on some occasions, split a route or
schedule an RCA to serve a regular route and an auxiliary route.
(NOTE: The NRLCA position is that the term “on some occasions”
does NOT include scheduling multiple assignments or splitting
routes on a repeated or on-going basis.)

The emergency situations part is also in section 7 but mainly just deals with the 12 hour rule.

Yep. That works. I knew there was something in there about so if they happen to dump this on me, I'll be filing.

 

[ATCBigE]

Is this what your looking for?

Order of consideration

7. Management may, on some occasions, split a route or
schedule an RCA to serve a regular route and an auxiliary route.
(NOTE: The NRLCA position is that the term “on some occasions”
does NOT include scheduling multiple assignments or splitting
routes on a repeated or on-going basis.)

The emergency situations part is also in section 7 but mainly just deals with the 12 hour rule.

Well found out I can't do anything about this. Called the union and they said as long as you don't work over 12 hours, they can pivot that route all the time because P.O. don't want to pay x day to person.

This little thing is like a guideline and not contractual obligation or something. I was like then why have stuff like this if it doesn't mean anything.