Being phone available

[lindseyrca]

anyone know the actual contract regarding being called in in the morning?  Depending on who has been in charge I’ve heard phone available until 915 and 930 and I’ve heard you’re only obligated to your primary route, you’re secondary route, or whatever route.  It’s never really been an issue as I’ve only refused to come in one time and that was because I had a chance to make $7000 and I wasn’t passing that up.  It’s only annoying because the PM thinks no one ever sleeps and has called as early as 550am and he thinks we’re perpetually available and sometimes calls as late as noon expecting me to come in so I don’t even answer the phone unless I’m sitting around doing nothing.  

 

[btdtret]

lindseyrca -- "<strong>anyone know the actual contract regarding being called in in the morning?  "</strong>

--  It's a "catch-22" situation as RCA's are not supposed to be "on call" or waiting by the phone to be called in.

--  If manglement says you are "on call", the quickest way to end that practice is to come in the next day and ask for a green card so you can log the hours you waited at home to be called, but were not.

--  However, on page 50 of the contract, being "unavailable" repeatedly is grounds for removal.

--  If the office has a steward, or if not, contact the Assistant District Representative to work out some kind of "reasonable" time frame with manglement to be used in the morning to call RCA's.

-- Unexpected situations arise that can't be planned for - theoretically.

-- PS -- learn all the post office phone numbers so you can decide if you want to answer the phone.

 

[D.B.Cooper]

I NEVER answer my home phone... whatever somebody is calling about has to be important enuf for them to leave me a message... and after listening to the message, if I think it's important enuf, then I call them back...  <img title="Confused" alt="Confused" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-confused.gif" />

 

[Ihatesnow]

D.B... Sorry but it's bothering me lol enuf is enough

 

[trashistan]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>btdtret said </strong>

--  It's a "catch-22" situation as RCA's are not supposed to be "on call" or waiting by the phone to be called in.


</blockquote>
What do you mean by this?

 

[Rt2mailman]

Rca's are supposed to be available to their scheduled times that they are to work. The USPS has a differing opinion on this, but has lost (or given up) when there has been grievances concerning morning calls. If an Rca continually doesn't answer morning calls from their Pm, they will get some trouble about it, but the worst that can legally happen is that Rca will lose out on a lot of work. Most work for Rca's comes from scheduled (in advance) work. If the Pm is waiting to call an Rca at the last minute even though they knew days earlier, that is their problem. Most Rca's don't mind being called to work a day or two in advance, but morning calls are usually not liked, unless money is needed more than an inconvenient morning phone call.

 

[lindseyrca]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Rt2mailman said </strong>
Rca's are supposed to be available to their scheduled times that they are to work. The USPS has a differing opinion on this, but has lost (or given up) when there has been grievances concerning morning calls. If an Rca continually doesn't answer morning calls from their Pm, they will get some trouble about it, but the worst that can legally happen is that Rca will lose out on a lot of work. Most work for Rca's comes from scheduled (in advance) work. If the Pm is waiting to call an Rca at the last minute even though they knew days earlier, that is their problem. Most Rca's don't mind being called to work a day or two in advance, but morning calls are usually not liked, unless money is needed more than an inconvenient morning phone call.  </blockquote>
See that’s my issue.  We have kids and my spouse works Monday’s and Wednesday’s making those days a real hardship to get childcare last minute and sometimes figure out who can be at our house for the older kids to come home.  Plus who can support yourself let alone a family on RCA pay so if I’m not scheduled I’m usually planning to go out and make money other ways.  It is really hard to plan your life around the chance of getting called in every day.  And the PM begins and ends his availability talks with saying he already spoke with our district union rep and says he’s on board 

 

[gotstamps]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>lindseyrca said </strong>

See that’s my issue.  We have kids and my spouse works Monday’s and Wednesday’s making those days a real hardship to get childcare last minute and sometimes figure out who can be at our house for the older kids to come home.  Plus who can support yourself let alone a family on RCA pay so if I’m not scheduled I’m usually planning to go out and make money other ways.  It is really hard to plan your life around the chance of getting called in every day.  And the PM begins and ends his availability talks with saying he already spoke with our district union rep and says he’s on board   </blockquote>
That last part is likely a lie. My PM likes to fib a bit & tried to say something pertaining to already speaking to the Labor Board & she was sending the grievance to step 2 insinuating NO step 1 discussion needed. I went to the DR immediately & she called her out on it. She had not spoken to the Labor Board (it was a contract violation) & accused me of turning her words around. I won that one easy-peasy. 

 

[Rt2mailman]

Liseyrca, Ask your Pm to whom did he speak and what was their rank in the union and contact information. Joe Blow is probably not a good answer, but it will come to his mind first.

 

[LouSainus]

You are not an on call employee. You are required to be <em>available</em> to be scheduled that is you cant refuse to work a certain day ect. Being scheduled is something that happens in advance not the day of. Most RCAs want the extra work so they will answer in the morning.

 

[Ihatesnow]

It all depends on your office, i wasn't around for it but the last PM before I got there would come to your house and knock on your door until you answered if your car was there. My current PM will call and if you don't answer she will then text, plead and beg for me to come in and then move on to the next person after 5 minutes

 

[lindseyrca]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Ihatesnow said </strong>
It all depends on your office, i wasn't around for it but the last PM before I got there would come to your house and knock on your door until you answered if your car was there. My current PM will call and if you don't answer she will then text, plead and beg for me to come in and then move on to the next person after 5 minutes  </blockquote>
That’s a good way to get the police come and talk about trespassing