Do exceptionally better qualified RCAs ever get awarded routes before seniority?

[ROMEACRESFARM]

Hi, here's the scenario, RCA is hired to cover a route that has an absent carrier, RCA transfers as soon as another route opens but now route is becoming vacant and new RCA just got her year in so she has bidding rights. Another carrier is going to bid that route and new RCA has not been able to keep the route current and consistently misdelivers mail and complains constantly. The route that will become available is a double number nightmare that only a well seasoned carrier/RCA will be able to be accurate. Does the better qualified ever win a bid over office seniority? 

 

[olewhatshername]

NO

 

[MiddleOfNowhere]

when this was asked a while back, i was told, that never in the history of this being in the contract, has someone with less seniority, been awarded a route, for being "better qualified".

 

[Joe Reeser]

Theoretically? Sure.

But it ain't never gonna happen.

 

[ROMEACRESFARM]

Hmm, sounds like a new topic for Nationals this year for seniority to begin after 1 yr served. That way any RCAs transferring in with a minimum of 1 yr of experience shall have a jump on newly hired employees if there is an office turnover of 2 or more RCAs within the year. It Wouldn't be an issue after they have their yr and others are hired or transfer in, they would maintain office seniority.

 

[noluv4llv]

So you think just because you are god's gift to RCA's you get to swoop in and take any route away from someone who already works in that office? Not only are you giving yourself so much credit that you feel only an "exceptionally qualified" person like you can do this route but then you also get your digs in on the new RCA. Nice.

 

[oi veh.]

I'm trying to understand your question, Rome.

The "new" RCA has a year, is going to bid, but isn't exactly the most stellar carrier.

Another RCA who has been in the office longer is also going to bid, correct?

The other RCA will win the bid (unless a regular is also bidding) over the "new" RCA because of seniority.

Or did I read the question wrong?

 

[Joe Reeser]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>noluv4llv said </strong>
So you think just because you are god's gift to RCA's you get to swoop in and take any route away from someone who already works in that office? </blockquote>
I don't see where you get that out of the OP.

 

[EthelAnne]

I'm with @Oi veh on this--I can't really figure out the question being asked, but I guess it's "Can an RCA with less seniority ever win a bid over an RCA with more seniority?" 

No.

Because if that were possible, every crooked PM in the country would hire their black sheep brother-in-law right before a route becomes vacant and declare he was "more qualified" than the existing RCAs in the office.

Seniority sucks, until you're the next one in line. Then it's pretty good.

 

[noluv4llv]

Joe Reeser - The god's gift to RCA's was because the title says "exceptionally qualified" and as for swooping in to take the route away, I read it as he/she was the person who transferred and thinks they should get the route based on their exceptional work performance. After re-reading it, I am not really sure what they are meaning. I just get tired of some RCA's attitudes and how impatient they are. We all work really hard and we all know this job is not easy and I wish people would be more positive instead of belittling others.

 

[btdtret]

EthelAnne et al -- "“Can an RCA with less seniority ever win a bid over an RCA with more seniority?” 

--  I'd have to say yes -- in the rare scenario in which the senior RCA bid incorrectly, while the less senior RCA did bid correctly.

 

[btdtret]

ROMEACRESFARM --  What exactly  is a "double number nightmare"?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>btdtret said </strong>
EthelAnne et al -- "“Can an RCA with less seniority ever win a bid over an RCA with more seniority?” 

--  I'd have to say yes -- in the rare scenario in which the senior RCA bid incorrectly, while the less senior RCA did bid correctly.  

</blockquote>
Yes but in that case the senior RCA bid incorrectly and therefore was not awarded the route and the junior one got it but not because he/she was smarter or was the best or fastest, but rather they bid it correctly.

 

[olewhatshername]

Rome....please come on and clear up this posting.

I have reread your original post several times and don't know which person you are in the scenario.  Many on this site (me included) have  seen so many underhanded things done to employees by less than competent supervisors and Postmasters or Supervisors/Postmaster that are NOT working in the best interest of all employees or even in the best interest of the Postal Service ...... it is hard not to jump to conclusions.  I am not defending how I feel or how anyone else feels; but if you have worked anytime at all for the Postal Service it is just the way we have come to deal with the unfairness and in some situations to keep our sanity.  

Some take to this Rural Mail Carrying job like a duck to water.....the majority do not.  I have found that people tend to over think this job and make it harder than it needs to be.  My motto is "one box at a time".......you do the best you can "one box at a time"....don't think 20 miles and 200 boxes down the route.  First box....build on it.....before you know it the route is done.  This job is enjoyable to me.....because I never look at the entire route thus defeating a carrier before they even start.

As far as the DOUBLE NUMBERED NIGHTMARE quote........I have a route like this.........it is when you had Route numbers such as Route One Box One and you go to a 911 format.......in my case it has been over 12 years and the entire route isn't numbered yet.  The lazy do nothing Postmasters we have had will not take the time to send the letters to customers to change their route numbers to 911 addresses.  The customer after receiving the letter have 18 months to change their address on all incoming mail and parcels.  Given this time line......it will be 15 years before all the addresses are changed......which is totally ridiculous.  Anyone that does the route to which I am assigned needs to know at least 1100 addresses.  I have tried to make it as easy as possible.....making a master 911 address index....linking route addresses to 911 addresses and also giving direction to the house.  We all have a vested interest in making all RCA's exceptional.

 

[Shafted]

25 years ago I had a nightmare route I delivered, not yet converted to 911, that had boxes numbered box 237aab, 237aabb, and so on and so forth.  Every time the route had grown, they just added more suffix letters after the box number.  Mix that in with the entire area being comprised of about 7 or 8 big families.  To be polite I will just say that the gene pool in this town was "lacking".  The old regular carrier, and PM were the only employees, and sorted the mail based on the drama, and living arrangements of these said families.  It was more than ridiculous.  

 

[stonehenge98]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>noluv4llv said </strong>
So you think just because you are god's gift to RCA's you get to swoop in and take any route away from someone who already works in that office? Not only are you giving yourself so much credit that you feel only an "exceptionally qualified" person like you can do this route but then you also get your digs in on the new RCA. Nice.  

</blockquote>
little harsh, I think... for one, you're assuming they're talking about themselves. Granted, not a completely outlandish assumption, but there are plenty of times people ask for or about other people in their office. Secondly, maybe it's just the "exceptionally better qualified" wording that got your knickers in a bunch, but we ALL know of that horrible, idiotic, "why haven't they been fired yet" moron that has a little seniority over an amazing RCA and thought the one that does more work and busts their butt to do the job correctly deserves it more than the useless buffoon who just happened to apply first. Plus, it is in the contract about jumping seniority (even <em>says</em> "substantially better qualified"), so yeah, legitimate question.

 

[noluv4llv]

I am not saying it was a outlandish question but the underlying tone of the post was definitely saying that they are a better RCA than the one who should get a route first. If routes were awarded to the hardest working RCA's or the ones who have worked the most than that defeats the whole point of seniority. I know plenty of RCA's (myself included) who are older and do not feel the need to chase after work and there are newer RCA's who are going to as many offices as they can and working 6-7 days a week and think that because they have been here 6 months and work anywhere they are entitled to a regular position. I have never wanted a regular position, I enjoy my days off so I can watch my grandkids but if a route became available I would like the choice to turn it down and not be skipped because a 22 year old thinks they are better suited for it. Those who call themselves exceptional and feel they are better than someone else are usually the ones who make the most errors but are so arrogant that they only see the bad in others, never themselves. 

 

[stonehenge98]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>noluv4llv said </strong>
I am not saying it was a outlandish question but the underlying tone of the post was definitely saying that they are a better RCA than the one who should get a route first. <strong>If routes were awarded to the hardest working RCA's or the ones who have worked the most than that defeats the whole point of seniority.</strong> I know plenty of RCA's (myself included) who are older and do not feel the need to chase after work and there are newer RCA's who are going to as many offices as they can and working 6-7 days a week and think that because they have been here 6 months and work anywhere they are entitled to a regular position. I have never wanted a regular position, I enjoy my days off so I can watch my grandkids but if a route became available I would like the choice to turn it down and not be skipped <strong>because a 22 year old thinks they are better suited for it. Those who call themselves exceptional and feel they are better than someone else are usually the ones who make the most errors but are so arrogant that they only see the bad in others, never themselves.</strong></blockquote>
Again, there IS an option to skip seniority, and I think the original question was just asking if that part in the contract (where it SAYS "substantially better qualified") has ever been used. Maybe the original question didn't need to include the parts about how bad the higher RCA is, but still, you're reading way too much into it with "underlying tones" and all that nonsense. There are bad RCAs, there are good RCAs... this one (or somebody else in OP's office) may be an awesome RCA and they are wondering if the possibility of jumping a bum is real or not. You don't know them, so how are you going to throw in all this crap about "god's gift" and "so arrogant"? Come on.

 

[Sherie]

5 different post offices, and I've never seen it happen.  There is wording in the contract that, yes, a substantially better qualified RCA can win a route over a more senior sub, but like I said, I've never seen it happen.  And I sure wouldn't want to be the RCA that usurps another, and I sure wouldn't want to work with anyone who did that do another person.