Can I be forced to use my own vehicle to run packages as an RCA ?

[Gyros6875]

 So essentially I work in all LLV office and I am on the matrix for 3 routes that use an LLV.  So from my understanding I can't be required to maintain a POV sutable for mail delivery or to use one to deliver mail in.

The issue came up yesterday (and will again during Christmas) where my supervisor was wanting me to run packages in the morning until the carriers needed the LLVs and then switch to using my personal car in the afternoon.

I do not want to do this because it would be horrible wear and tear on my new car.  Not to mention the fact it has a manual transmission and is a tiny hatchback.

So do I have any grounds to refuse doing this ?  My supervisor told me when I refused yesterday that it was a direct order and I could call my union Stewart or file a grievance later if I wanted but I had to go out and run packages in my car.  I ultimately didn't have to because I had never told my insurance that I would be using that car for rural delivery but that won't work for them wanting me to use it in the future. 

 

[Rt2mailman]

Ask the supervisor, since your car isn't adequate, if you could use his vehicle, he probably wasn't expecting his vehicle to be "needed" when he signed up for this job either. If 2 hours or more of help is needed on the other routes that you are "helping" on, that time should be going to the primary RCA and not one lower on the matrix unless the primary RCA is un-available.

Most RCA's use their own vehicles in these circumstances to gain work hours, but I think the managers would have a hard time issuing discipline for an RCA that refused to use his standard shift hatchback to haul parcels, because you would be making so many trips you would get nothing done but driving. Maybe you should "show" your manager that using your vehicle is not of great value for the USPS, and then you wouldn't be asked to do so again (you do get paid mileage for using your own vehicle). I once worked with an RCA that also drove a school bus and had a commercial drivers license, she refused to haul parcels in her vehicle because the weight would be over her car's limit and she could lose her license for that infraction.

 

[Gyros6875]

I was told that if I refused I would get in trouble for "not following a direct order" or something.  

As for using another RCA.  The others are either working a route (since people are out on medical leave) or have other jobs and are not available to come in and run parcels.  

And yeah it would be a bit silly using my car since I'm not even sure if some of those amazon packages would fit through the hatchback, and it would get overloaded if I put more than 3-400lbs in it.

 

[Charlie Brown]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Jacob6875 said </strong>
I was told that if I refused I would get in trouble for "not following a direct order" or something.  

As for using another RCA.  The others are either working a route (since people are out on medical leave) or have other jobs and are not available to come in and run parcels.  

</blockquote>
So you're going to get in trouble for not using your car but you have RCA's that "are not available" and not going to get in trouble?

Two ways to look at this, you can call your ADR and get this straitened out (disparate treatment) (you're made to work using your car and other RCA's don't have to do the same thing)(they don't even have to be available) If you do this don't expect to make any friends with those other RCA's. But that's what should be done.

Or, you can make sure you get any extraneous stuff out of your car, cover the interior with a few old blankets and take whatever hours you can get. If you do this don't speed, don't block your line of site and keep in mind it's not a race. Do the best job you can, safely.

 

[btdtret]

Jacob6875 -- "The issue came up yesterday (and will again during Christmas) where my supervisor was wanting me to run packages in the morning until the carriers needed the LLVs and then switch to using my personal car in the afternoon."

--  That was SOP at my first post office.

"I do not want to do this because it would be horrible wear and tear on my new car.  Not to mention the fact it has a manual transmission and is a tiny hatchback."

--  If you don't want the extra hours and money, tell the supervisor your vehicle is not insured for commercial use.

--  Get with the office steward, or if none, the Assistant District Representative to see if Step 4 ( L-101 ) is applicable in your situation.  In part...In the event of postal-provided vehicle is not available for a route to which one is assigned, a rural carrier may be requested, BUT NOT REQUIRED, to provide a vehicle.   [ in a bit of a stretch, the LLV provided is not available because the regular is using it ]  In any case, EMA is payable when a POV is used.

"Not to mention the fact it has a manual transmission and is a tiny hatchback."

--  While not the best of vehicles to be delivering parcels, there should be room of some parcels.   A manual transmission is a non-issue ( IMHO ).  

" My supervisor told me when I refused yesterday that it was a direct order and I could call my union Stewart or file a grievance later if I wanted but I had to go out and run packages in my car. "

--  Get with the ADR regarding that "direct order" be legitimate.

--  Also you could get a statement from your insurance company stating your vehicle is not insured for commercial / postal delivery usage.

"And yeah it would be a bit silly using my car since I’m not even sure if some of those amazon packages would fit through the hatchback, and it would get overloaded if I put more than 3-400lbs in it."

--  Well, if those large Amazon parcels don't fit, then you won't be delivering them.   Doubtful if the weight of parcels you'd be delivering in one trip would approach 300-400 pounds anyway.

"I was told that if I refused I would get in trouble for “not following a direct order” or something.  "

--  There are direct orders and there are direct orders.   Let the ADR jump in to decide which are legal ( reasonable ).

--  Going to the extreme -- what if the supervisor gives you a direct order to jump of the top of the post office.  What then?

Get the ADR involved in case the supervisor trieD to tell you to get a larger vehicle as in Step 4 ( V-2 ).

 

[Ihatesnow]

Want some probably bad advice? Go ahead and deliver and load as few packages as you can, cite safety reasons, don't want to stack too high so you can't see, go very slow, and make multiple trips if he wants you to continue doing it (he wont)

 

[EthelAnne]

You can be disciplined for anything. Whether the discipline will "stick" depends on whether you choose to grieve it or not. If you don't want to use your vehicle, tell your supervisor no and if discipline follows, grieve it. There's no requirement to provide a POV for mail delivery in an all LLV office.

 

[Howah44]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Ihatesnow said </strong>
Want some probably bad advice? Go ahead and deliver and load as few packages as you can, cite safety reasons, don't want to stack too high so you can't see, go very slow, and make multiple trips if he wants you to continue doing it (he wont)  </blockquote>
No, that is great advice.  Keep in mind this is the postal service, in many cases trying to save labor $$$ is NOT important.

 

What other company really has acceptable levels of OT on a weekly basis as with  the city side ??  I am not sure about clerks but they probably have it also.

 

[D.B.Cooper]

Have somebody start dropping you off at the PO, tell them you don't have a car... is it any of their business if you have a car or not???  It's an LLV office... <img title="Confused" alt="Confused" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-confused.gif" />

Uber to the PO... <img title="Laugh" alt="Laugh" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" />

Tell your stupidvisor if they wanna pay the Uber driver, you'd be happy to ride along and deliver the parcels...  <img title="Cool" alt="Cool" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-cool.gif" />

 

[Gyros6875]

So in talking to my boss today he says this shows I need to provide my own vehicle to use.  It's on page 18 of the contract.  Since I would be providing "auxiliary assistance" to the route I have to provide a vehicle. 

 

5. Auxiliary Assistance and Auxiliary Rural Carriers


Unless a USPS owned or leased vehicle is provided, a
leave replacement who is performing auxiliary assistance
or is employed as an auxiliary rural carrier shall
provide a vehicle and, in addition to compensation,
shall be paid an EMA on a per-mile or per-hour basis,
whichever is greater, based on the rate in effect under
Section 9.2.J.3. but not to exceed the amount provided
for in the special chart for the route stops and miles.
Any changes in the EMA pursuant to the provisions in
9.2.J.3. will result in an adjustment of 5 cents per hour
for each adjustment of one-half cent (0.5¢) per mile.

 

I just can't believe that it would be a job requirement for me to keep and maintain a personal vehicle that I could use for mail delivery even though I might only need to use it a few times per year.

 

[btdtret]

Jacob6875 --  I think you need to get the Assistant District Representative involved -- ASAP!!

--  You can thank the NRCLA for a swiss-cheese of a contract.

--  Another way to approach this is since you are providing "auxiliary" assistance, then you must be an auxiliary carrier.  Ask to be assigned an AUX route!

--  Mean while, tell manglement you haven't found a suitable vehicle -- yet.

 

[D.B.Cooper]

I don't get that the stupidvisor is okay with letting other RCAs be "not available" because they have another job, but then wants to hand you discipline because you don't want to tear up your car that is not really suited to delivering the mail and/or parcels... I'd say you should be talking to your steward and or ADR...

Ask the stupidvisor if you can borrow their car??? And offer to let them keep the EMA...  <img title="Surprised" alt="Surprised" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-surprised.gif" />

 

[Charlie Brown]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Jacob6875 said </strong>
So in talking to my boss today he says this shows I need to provide my own vehicle to use.  It's on page 18 of the contract.  Since I would be providing "auxiliary assistance" to the route I have to provide a vehicle. 

 

5. Auxiliary Assistance and Auxiliary Rural Carriers

Unless a USPS owned or leased vehicle is provided, a
leave replacement who is performing auxiliary assistance
or is employed as an auxiliary rural carrier shall
provide a vehicle and, in addition to compensation,
shall be paid an EMA on a per-mile or per-hour basis,
whichever is greater, based on the rate in effect under
Section 9.2.J.3. but not to exceed the amount provided
for in the special chart for the route stops and miles.
Any changes in the EMA pursuant to the provisions in
9.2.J.3. will result in an adjustment of 5 cents per hour
for each adjustment of one-half cent (0.5¢) per mile.

 

I just can't believe that it would be a job requirement for me to keep and maintain a personal vehicle that I could use for mail delivery even though I might only need to use it a few times per year.  </blockquote>
Tell your Sup. to turn to page 50 section M of the contract. "The following actions shall constitute just cause for removal, repeated unavailability for work" (I did paraphrase that a little bit rather than type the whole thing out)  I don't understand why you are being required to provide a vehicle when providing assistance and there are other RCA's not even being required to work? Mgmt. can NOT require you to do something that all of the other RCA's are not required to do. This is a grievance waiting to happen. It's called disparate treatment, you need to get the union involved, now. It doesn't matter if you're a member or not, they still have to represent you. If you're unsure who to call go to NRLCA.org  and click on departments and then steward operations. (you can access this without being a member) You want to find the ADR (asst. district rep.) for your area. You may still end up having to use your own vehicle but it has to be done fairly, not just by you.

 

[Aux01]

We had this question come up. We were told there were no vehicles available. Meanwhile we saw 2 LLV in the lot. We also asked why cant we use the SUV postal vehicles sitting there doing nothing. " OH we cant do that " is the reply from supervisors .. So there are postal vehicles available in our case but they must be reserved for staffers .

 

[btdtret]

Aux01 -- "Meanwhile we saw 2 LLV in the lot. We also asked why cant we use the SUV postal vehicles sitting there doing nothing. ” OH we cant do that ” is the reply from supervisors.


<span style="background-color: inherit">--  Have you documentation in your record indicating that you have been trained to operate an LLV?  That might be manglement's reason -- but doubtful! </span>

 

[Aux01]

Yes the RCAs are trained on LLV , they just were saving them for sales etc, they are brand new

 

[Zutsway]

Article 9.2.j.2Rural carriers shall furnish all necessary vehicle equipment for prompt handling of the mail unless the vehicle is furnished by the employer. The employer has the right to provide vehicles at its option to any route.