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Changing schedule mid week

DM13

New member
Ok so let’s say someone is scheduled off all week except Tuesday and Saturday.

While the sub is delivering their Tuesday route, the regular for their primary calls in sick.

Supervisor informs the sub Tuesday afternoon that the regular can’t make it in on Wednesday. But the sub isn’t available on Wednesday because of set plans. 

Can the supervisor just write them in anyways and AWOL them when they don’t show up on Wednesday? I know you contract savvy peeps got all the answers. 

Edit: it might not be relevant but the office this sub works at is grossly understaffed. 2 RCAs for 6 routes
 
Mgmt can place an RCA on schedule ahead of that day that the RCA is needed. If it were the "morning of", then the RCA could ignore the phone & go about their day. If an RCA needs a specific day off whether they are normally scheduled or not, they should put in a leave slip to "CYA" in case the Reg calls in or gets injured prior to (like this case) and mgmt would note LWOP on the schedule for that day.
 
DM13 -- "Edit: it might not be relevant but the office this sub works at is grossly understaffed. 2 RCAs for 6 routes."

--  Let's make the sub shortage relevant.

--  Formula Office?

-- Is the Matrix up to date?

--  Is the office all LLV, all POV, or a mix?

--  What is the route classification of the 6 routes in the office?

--  Which routes have a sub assigned?

--  How many regular carriers without subs have submitted the 120-Day Notice to acquire a sub?

--  IF the office has at least 2 K-routes without subs and the 120-Day Notice has come and gone without subs being hired, show manglement a copy of Step 4 ( R-31 ) from 3/6/2014.   in part -- If management is unsuccessful in filling a leave replacement on a K-route during this time period [ 120 days ], a part-time flexible ( PTF ) rural carrier position WILL BE ESTABLISHED, provided the PTF will be assigned at least two ( 2 ) K-route primary leave replacement assignments.  It is understood that one of those assignments may be their current route.

--  On the other hand, two subs for 6 routes COULD be handled if the regulars opted to have different relief days.
 
I’m going to have to figure out most of this the next time I work. 

Im blissfully unaware of what a formula office is. This whole situation has shown me that I need to be on the up and up with all of this. 

The rural side has 7 routes. One is an aux. The only LLV route on the rural side is the aux. The rest is POV. We have 3 RCAs but one is holding down the aux route, which is evaluated at just over 4 hours + express and second trips for the 6 real routes. 

From what I understand, no K route regulars have filed any paperwork to get their subs. 

My primary route isn’t a K route, the only other available RCA is a primary for a K route. I’ll get more detailed info the next time I work.

I believe that there’s 4 K routes, I know for a fact that 3 of them are. At least one of them works 6 days a week, usually more than one.

When I started there were 5 RCAs total, 4 available because one was holding down the aux route.

 Here’s where it gets interesting:

One of the original 5 RCAs quit not long before one of the regulars retired.

When they retired we only had 3 RCAs left. One of which holds down the aux route. 

The other RCA not working the aux route was allowed to be available for only half the week. Thursday through Saturday. This wasn’t an issue for management. This person ended up resigning roughly 6 months ago. 

Since then, we’ve hired 3 RCAs. The first one didn’t work out, she wasn’t improving at all from her first day and she was let go. 

Of the other 2, one still works on the rural side. The other one was solicited by management to become a CCA once their training was over. There was never any meaningful attempt to replace his position on the rural side...

It seems I have no recourse when it comes to lack of RCA help until the k route regulars fill out the appropriate paperwork but I doubt they would, they like overtime. 

But would I have recourse in regards to my one day of availability being treated as an AWOL when another RCA was allowed to be unavailable half the week every week? 

Again, sorry for my lack of answers to your questions. I’m screwing myself over by not being informed about those things. 
 
Dm13 -- "But would I have recourse in regards to my one day of availability being treated as an AWOL when another RCA was allowed to be unavailable half the week every week? "

--  If your absence leads to a LOW or charge of being AWOL ( either possible without having submitted a 3971 -- Request for or Notification of Absence ), be sure to grieve it.   That will bring an office steward, or if none, the Assistant District Representative, into the process.

--  The Assistant District Representative for your local area can be found at the www.nrlca.org home page.   Don't have to be a union member to find / use some of the info on the home page.   For the representative, scroll down the page.   Info on the left side of the page -- click on "Find Your District Representative".   Will need to know your ZIP code and AREA. 

--  If needed the ADR may be able to use "disparate" treatment citing one RCA allowed limited work days, there by making it an issue for manglement.

"I’m screwing myself over by not being informed about those things. "

--  Manglement's worst nightmare is a well-informed rural carrier, does not matter if it's an RCA or regular.    

--  With the 2018 Count getting closer, time to hit the Mail Count Guide because what ever you can add to the route(s) you work may help your own pay check.

--  If the regulars with out subs are not willing to submit a 120-Day Notice, not much can be done to help with the sub shortage in your office, aside from manglement actually hiring someone or the regulars volunteering to spread out relief days.

--  Having an RCA on an AUX creates further problems, but that is another matter.
 
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