Even flow of mail

[Haygrrl]

I 100% agree with what you said @Old Fart.

I personally believe our only power is in our performance.
We as a craft have never been taught how to
use that power to work to our benefit.
We have never been shown how certain performance is in our long term best interest and why. We are encouraged to "beat evaluation" That methodology does not serve us long term and doesn't even make sense when there is know way to know what current evaluation is. Technically every week is a new evaluation and the system cant tell us what it is......so what exactly are we beating? We should have had soooooo much additional OT during covid, but we didnt because we were too busy beating 2018 evaluations.
. Is how we perform in our best interest?

No. I've been saying this since rrecs, we're basically still working landline mentality, while being paid cell phone speed...
Rrecs changed the whole game, we have to change ours

 

[oi veh.]

beating the eval mentality is what is putting those of us who do the job exactly how RRECs guidelines dictate under the scope.

our insect overlords cannot seem to grasp that load and EOS times are ACTUAL.

and a lot of rurals still have that hurry up and go mindset which is not only hurting their routes, but also those of us who know how to build our evals.

 

[nlsal209]

Same
So Monday is like a day after a holiday
Tuesday leftover junk still can be heavier
Wed nothing
Thurs nothing
Friday nothing
Saturday ULINES!!!!! A lot of stuff.

The coverage factor was created under the assumptions that there would be no alterations made to the mail flow by the parties. Clearly one side is manipulating it now. That should make the coverage factor be void if union would fight it.

My route:

Monday: Heavy
Tuesday: Nothing
Wednesday: Above nothing
Thursday: Nothing
Friday: Above nothing
Saturday: Surprise me!

 

[gotstamps]

It's in the contract about steady and even flow of mail....

What I AM SAYING IS THIS. If my pay is based on the coverage and mail I get each day, why is our union ok with us not getting stuff but once a week then rest of the week is garbage. I have ZERO issue with coverage factor being part of RRECS. The only issue I have is that coverage should be 100% because I still have to drive by boxes and some of them slow down to get outgoing mail. So example, if coverage is 88%, you could the other 12% at lesser rate (That is the only part of coverage factor I disagree with it). My issue is watching my so called coverage just tanking in 2 years. You would think that since it is part of our pay, that the union would be wanting more steady flow of mail instead of this BS of dump it all in 1 day and destroy the coverage. I mean in last 2 years, I have almost lost 2 hours ALONE because of coverage factor. 13% curb and 21% CBU.

The flow of mail is getting worse and worse each day. It is to the point in my office, I literally could not work Tuesday and Thursday and I wouldn't even notice the difference.

I went back to the Contract language under “Even Flow Of Mail”.

Article 30.1.A simply says “ The employer shall make every effort to maintain consistent processing of mail.”

This does NOT say anything about keeping mail flow “even” nor does it say it is supposed to be “steady”. It actually forces mgmt to keep the mail processing consistently regardless of how much mail is available to process. It doesn’t allow the PO to hold mail in order to “level” it across the week.
This rule is even in the M-38 #221.2 from 1980. The M-38 is mgmt’s rules on how to manage the Rural Craft. When they attempted “Load Leveling”, they violated their own handbook.
I didn’t mind it as did other Rural Carriers but to hold back mail from customers is wrong; especially for those customers that are waiting for that 1 all-important piece that could be life-changing.

 

[ATCBigE]

I went back to the Contract language under “Even Flow Of Mail”.

Article 30.1.A simply says “ The employer shall make every extort to maintain consistent processing of mail.”

This does NOT say anything about keeping mail flow “even” nor does it say it is supposed to be “steady”. It actually forces mgmt to keep the mail processing consistently regardless of how much mail is available to process. It doesn’t allow the PO to hold mail in order to “level” it across the week.
This rule is even in the M-38 #221.2 from 1980. The M-38 is mgmt’s rules on how to manage the Rural Craft. When they attempted “Load Leveling”, they violated their own handbook.
I didn’t mind it as did other Rural Carriers but to hold back mail from customers is wrong; especially for those customers that are waiting for that 1 all-important piece that could be life-changing.

Depends on how you interpret it.

To me that mean constant flow of mail. Is consistent processing getting flats that are 2-3 weeks late from when they are supposed to be delivered???? That's not. I understand if things are day or two but constantly getting flats are week late, 2 weeks late then all sudden 5 ft of flats in 1 day????

Also once again some vague !$$ language and things can get swept under a rug.

 

[alwinn]

Article 30.1.A simply says “ The employer shall make every extort to maintain consistent processing of mail.”

I think you mean "effort" not "extort", but regardless, 'consistent processing of mail' is vague. Which is why when you combine it with PO-603 151.1 "...Schedules must be realistic, based upon the receipt and availability of mail, the route evaluation, and other related service considerations..." and PO-603 152.2 "Maintain the schedule for leaving ... A Maximum of 20 minutes' delay in leaving time is permitted if approved ..."

So, if they load you up and refuse to curtail items as granted them by PO-603 132.1 "Mail must not be curtailed unless specifically authorized by your postmaster or supervisor." then they have to give you permission to delay leaving. And they are only supposed to authorize a maximum of 20 minutes. They can make exceptions, but force them into actively making that decision every time. They can't claim ignorance if you bring it up every time it happens and force them to actively make the decision each time to keep you from departing your route on time.

Add in, PO-603 152.4 "Serve the route expeditiously and, as far as practicable, regulate travel to arrive at boxes at about the same time each day."

If you are arriving at vastly different times through the week at the same box, management has the responsibility to adjust this. Which brings in the M-38 221.2 "A manager should perform and organize work to determine any irregularity in work schedules and/or the flow of mail ..."

If you are having irregular delivery service, then management is responsible for resolving this 'irregularity' in the flow of mail. There isn't just one rule to follow. It's about combining the rules to paint the picture to management about it. And force them into making decisions, which they absolutely hate to have to do.

 

[gotstamps]

I think you mean "effort" not "extort", but regardless, 'consistent processing of mail' is vague. Which is why when you combine it with PO-603 151.1 "...Schedules must be realistic, based upon the receipt and availability of mail, the route evaluation, and other related service considerations..." and PO-603 152.2 "Maintain the schedule for leaving ... A Maximum of 20 minutes' delay in leaving time is permitted if approved ..."

So, if they load you up and refuse to curtail items as granted them by PO-603 132.1 "Mail must not be curtailed unless specifically authorized by your postmaster or supervisor." then they have to give you permission to delay leaving. And they are only supposed to authorize a maximum of 20 minutes. They can make exceptions, but force them into actively making that decision every time. They can't claim ignorance if you bring it up every time it happens and force them to actively make the decision each time to keep you from departing your route on time.

Add in, PO-603 152.4 "Serve the route expeditiously and, as far as practicable, regulate travel to arrive at boxes at about the same time each day."

If you are arriving at vastly different times through the week at the same box, management has the responsibility to adjust this. Which brings in the M-38 221.2 "A manager should perform and organize work to determine any irregularity in work schedules and/or the flow of mail ..."

If you are having irregular delivery service, then management is responsible for resolving this 'irregularity' in the flow of mail. There isn't just one rule to follow. It's about combining the rules to paint the picture to management about it. And force them into making decisions, which they absolutely hate to have to do.

Corrected it. Stupid autocorrect.

 

[U caught my attention]

Lol! You all make me laugh with wanting load leveling. It would be nice if they could spread it out because of rrecs and route coverage. As rurals we see each days volume through to completion....no help and no end time. Unless in Christmas OT
They can dump or not dump. My customers know I will be late on Mondays or days after holiday. They also know my sub will be ridiculously early on his days and they need ro get outgoing mail and pick ups out there earlier. Some have to drive into the PO on the days he works because there is an approximate 2 hour difference between our expected window of delivery on route. They usually miss him. It isnt just volume but also performance that creates different windows of delivery for our customers.
The sacred 6 are our demonstrated ability. Be kind to yourselves and make sure you are mentally and physically working in a healthy and safe way.
We demonstrate our ability every single day.

This next is all hypothetical.....
Lol! Ai would likely schedule him on Mondays and days after the holiday if our employer even cared about keeping an anticipated window of delivery. Because we float with volume and have years and years of demonstrated ability. Ai could be utilized to enhance customer service. Your item should arrive between 6pm and 7pm. Dont they know where we are, how many stops we have left and the pace at which we deliver. Safety measure to show an alteration in delivery window on those increased volume days.

 

[ATCBigE]

Here once again explain this.

In 4 days I have had more presort flats than I have in the past 3 maybe 4 weeks combined. Is that consistent processing? I don't think so.

I get there will be some weeks heavier than others but still oif I average say 7 ft a week when I get nearly 25 ft of presort in 4 days something is wrong with that picture. I mean i get if say one week I get 12 ft and another 5 ft.

 

[blacksky]

From the m38

 

[coleen]

Wonder when union will address this BS???View attachment 15685

View attachment 15686


That's nearly 5 and half ft of presort in 1 day. How is this allowed??? Oh and good chunk of stuff said deliver by 11/12 to 11/18.

Yea that’s the least of our problems

 

[ATCBigE]

Yea that’s the least of our problems

I disagree when I have lost almost 2 hours in 2 years based on their "coverage factor"

 

[Shannonboy]

Wonder when union will address this BS???View attachment 15685

View attachment 15686


That's nearly 5 and half ft of presort in 1 day. How is this allowed??? Oh and good chunk of stuff said deliver by 11/12 to 11/18.

Uhhhhhh....Yeeaaahhhhhh.....
That'll be addressed NNNEEVVVEEERRR.
nrlca=Most WORTHLESS BUNCH OF PEOPLE I EVER MET....with a few, very few exceptions.