Filing first grievance, help advice?
- Thread starter littlesew&sew
- Start date
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
Still waiting. Vacant route isn't posted. PM gone on vacation for 2 weeks and then off on detail for a year. Union rep has received grievance packet. I am ticked off and just fed up with the whole situation.
I am not the primary RCA for the vacant route. The primary RCA for the vacant route doesn't want to work 5 days a week any longer due to having another job outside the PO. So I now get to cover the route I should be the regular carrier on 4 days a week and I get to cover my primary route on Saturday until this finally gets straightened out.
I am not the primary RCA for the vacant route. The primary RCA for the vacant route doesn't want to work 5 days a week any longer due to having another job outside the PO. So I now get to cover the route I should be the regular carrier on 4 days a week and I get to cover my primary route on Saturday until this finally gets straightened out.
Jules Pontiac
Active member
There is nothing more you can do other than wait and have faith
It is always a pain in the arse dealing with a government beauracracy, but when that paycheck does finally come and you are paid for all this time as if you had been a regular and you get the annual/sick leave credited to your account that you would have earned it will put a smile on your face (and lift a weight off)
This is the strength of our union.EVERYTHING necessary to make it right is IN WRITING and DOCUMENTED
there should be no he said/she said
It will be made right eventually
It is always a pain in the arse dealing with a government beauracracy, but when that paycheck does finally come and you are paid for all this time as if you had been a regular and you get the annual/sick leave credited to your account that you would have earned it will put a smile on your face (and lift a weight off)
This is the strength of our union.EVERYTHING necessary to make it right is IN WRITING and DOCUMENTED
there should be no he said/she said
It will be made right eventually
I have filed 3 in my job as RCA in the last 11 years, all involved accidents. First thing, if you are ever brought in for a PDI, always have a union rep there. Insist on one. or don't say a word.
I am also going regular as one retired July 20,2018. Job was posted within 30 days, it goes off bidding tomorrow. I have been told it wont go full 10 days to be awarded and everyone can expect to shift Sept 1. Your situation sounds like mangement is really bad.Dont worry too much, it might take the assholes awhile but you will got it all back. The union does make agreements with the devil at times but I for one have seen the good they can do when the USPS trys to screw ya big time.
Good luck!
I am also going regular as one retired July 20,2018. Job was posted within 30 days, it goes off bidding tomorrow. I have been told it wont go full 10 days to be awarded and everyone can expect to shift Sept 1. Your situation sounds like mangement is really bad.Dont worry too much, it might take the assholes awhile but you will got it all back. The union does make agreements with the devil at times but I for one have seen the good they can do when the USPS trys to screw ya big time.
Good luck!
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
Thanks Jules Pontiac. It's just frustrating waiting on something that is so clearly spelled out in the contract.
I do have a small concern that since I am one of the lucky ones that is a higher paid RCA but I have the fabulous benefit of being on Table 2 when I finally get the route. My concern is that I may actually owe the PO if I work the route too much before I finally get it!
I do have a small concern that since I am one of the lucky ones that is a higher paid RCA but I have the fabulous benefit of being on Table 2 when I finally get the route. My concern is that I may actually owe the PO if I work the route too much before I finally get it!
Jules Pontiac
Active member
I know that is a very real possibility and this would be my advice if it does occur as what is good for the goose is good for.......
#1 Grieve any letter of demand and argue that it exists ONLY because they did not do their job and should be rescinded
They cannot do anything further to collect the "debt" until the grievance is settled
If your union rep is worth his/her salt
(and you were unable to convince your supervisor) he will fail to reach an agreement at the step 1 formal hearing and send it on to step 2.
Once it leaves your office these things have a way of taking a long time to get settled.
Also make sure that you/your union person are not agreeable to any settlement regarding the "debt" until you have been "made whole" in every other regard. This means new form 50 making you a regular on file/your seniority date is correct/any annual/sick leave due has been credited to your account.
All quite reasonable as the only reason the whole situation exists is because THEY failed to do their job
#2 If/when a settlement is reached AND the settlement says you owe them money then agree to make payments on it.There is a set percentage they will accept but make paying them back take as long as possible because they are not about to charge you interest
Best of luck!
#1 Grieve any letter of demand and argue that it exists ONLY because they did not do their job and should be rescinded
They cannot do anything further to collect the "debt" until the grievance is settled
If your union rep is worth his/her salt
(and you were unable to convince your supervisor) he will fail to reach an agreement at the step 1 formal hearing and send it on to step 2.
Once it leaves your office these things have a way of taking a long time to get settled.
Also make sure that you/your union person are not agreeable to any settlement regarding the "debt" until you have been "made whole" in every other regard. This means new form 50 making you a regular on file/your seniority date is correct/any annual/sick leave due has been credited to your account.
All quite reasonable as the only reason the whole situation exists is because THEY failed to do their job
#2 If/when a settlement is reached AND the settlement says you owe them money then agree to make payments on it.There is a set percentage they will accept but make paying them back take as long as possible because they are not about to charge you interest
Best of luck!
D.B.Cooper
Active member
<blockquote data-postid="35706" data-userid="1733"><div class="wpforo-post-quote-author"><strong>Posted by: littlesew&sew</strong></div>Thanks Jules Pontiac. It's just frustrating waiting on something that is so clearly spelled out in the contract.I do have a small concern that since I am one of the lucky ones that is a higher paid RCA but I have the fabulous benefit of being on Table 2 when I finally get the route. My concern is that I may actually owe the PO if I work the route too much before I finally get it!</blockquote>Ha, you're one of those that got the higher pay as an RCA (Table 3) that ended up on Table 2 as a Regular...Grieve that as well, while you're at it... cite the Joey Johnson letter that stated how "unfair" this situation is... when you got a letter from the Director of Labor Relations saying it is wrong... what else do you need??? ?
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
Finally!! The route posted yesterday, and the bid closes on the 8th. 60 days after the carrier resigned.
Union rep said that whoever gets the route will be entitled to either a full backdating of everything or just a corrected retirement computation date. I haven't had a chance to speak with her yet about it, but I don't see why anyone would choose just the corrected retirement computation date. Am I missing something here? I would want a full backdate of everything.
Union rep said that whoever gets the route will be entitled to either a full backdating of everything or just a corrected retirement computation date. I haven't had a chance to speak with her yet about it, but I don't see why anyone would choose just the corrected retirement computation date. Am I missing something here? I would want a full backdate of everything.
BeatsAll-IEverSeen
Well-known member
<blockquote data-userid="1733" data-postid="36194"><div class="wpforo-post-quote-author"><strong>Posted by: littlesew&sew</strong></div>Finally!! The route posted yesterday, and the bid closes on the 8th. 60 days after the carrier resigned.Union rep said that whoever gets the route will be entitled to either a full backdating of everything or just a corrected retirement computation date. I haven't had a chance to speak with her yet about it, but I don't see why anyone would choose just the corrected retirement computation date. Am I missing something here? I would want a full backdate of everything.</blockquote>The carrier is given the choice because, as I explained upthread, retroactively converting you to career status will trigger a letter of demand for the benefits. The Union is not going to sign a settlement that forces a carrier into a debt; hence the choice is given.
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
Thanks. That makes sense as to creating a letter of demand for backdating benefits. I read right past that in your first post.
I won't be choosing any of the insurance coverage offered by the PO. My husband carries our health insurance. I have my own life insurance.
I won't be choosing any of the insurance coverage offered by the PO. My husband carries our health insurance. I have my own life insurance.
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
So the bid closed on the 8th. I was notified that I got the vacant route on Wednesday, the 12th. I still don't have a date that I convert to regular. PM said that it will probably be October. I reminded her that they only have 21 days from the date of the awarded to place me on the route. Her response was that it's out of her control.
Why did I actually think that any portion of the process would actually occur on schedule?
Why did I actually think that any portion of the process would actually occur on schedule?
littlesew&sew -- "So the bid closed on the 8th. I was notified that I got the vacant route on Wednesday, the 12th."
-- Congratulations on making regular. You've may have previously visited ruralinfo.net to check out the "Rural Carrier User Guide" and "Rural Carrier Tip Guide". If not, do so.
-- 21 days to be placed on the route makes it about 3 October, a Wednesday, which creates a problem for the PM as carriers should be in place on the 1st Saturday of a pay period.
"Her response was that it's out of her control."
-- Might as well inform your Assistant District Representative of the PM response as well as fill in a grievance form.
-- As long as you are on the route as of Saturday, 29 September 2018, you won't need that grievance form.
-- Placing you on the route may be out of her control, but there should be a grievance form in her hand if you are not within 21 days.
-- If notification could be done in 4 days, what is the reason for the "delay" in placement?
-- Congratulations on making regular. You've may have previously visited ruralinfo.net to check out the "Rural Carrier User Guide" and "Rural Carrier Tip Guide". If not, do so.
-- 21 days to be placed on the route makes it about 3 October, a Wednesday, which creates a problem for the PM as carriers should be in place on the 1st Saturday of a pay period.
"Her response was that it's out of her control."
-- Might as well inform your Assistant District Representative of the PM response as well as fill in a grievance form.
-- As long as you are on the route as of Saturday, 29 September 2018, you won't need that grievance form.
-- Placing you on the route may be out of her control, but there should be a grievance form in her hand if you are not within 21 days.
-- If notification could be done in 4 days, what is the reason for the "delay" in placement?
Jules Pontiac
Active member
"if notification could be done in 4 days what is the reason for the "delay" in placement?"
The reason is that their two choices to comply are tomorrow and the 29th and we all no that irregardless of the issue TOMORROW IS TOO SOON
Congrats LS&S! Keep us informed as to progress on getting you "made whole" please
The reason is that their two choices to comply are tomorrow and the 29th and we all no that irregardless of the issue TOMORROW IS TOO SOON
Congrats LS&S! Keep us informed as to progress on getting you "made whole" please
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
I wasn't really given a reason why they are choosing to delay placing me on the route. I was just told that the 29th would be too soon for it to happen.
From the date of the previous carrier's resignation, Sept 8th was the full 72 days. And now it's looking like I will will still be an RCA until October 13th. There really should be a major penalty for management screwing up this bad!
From the date of the previous carrier's resignation, Sept 8th was the full 72 days. And now it's looking like I will will still be an RCA until October 13th. There really should be a major penalty for management screwing up this bad!
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
To finish out this story, I was converted to a regular carrier Sept 29th. A gentle reminder to management that being notified that I won the bid started the 21-day deadline for putting me on the route got things moving.
As far as my original grievance for the route not being posted within 30 days, I signed paperwork requesting everything be backdated to Sept 1. The 72 days was up on Sept 8, but since conversion to regular has to occur at the beginning of the pay period Sept 1 was the correct date.
I will update in this thread again if I receive a letter of demand. I am expecting at least to be required to pay something because tsp contribution and being a table 2 regular but I was a higher paid RCA.
As far as my original grievance for the route not being posted within 30 days, I signed paperwork requesting everything be backdated to Sept 1. The 72 days was up on Sept 8, but since conversion to regular has to occur at the beginning of the pay period Sept 1 was the correct date.
I will update in this thread again if I receive a letter of demand. I am expecting at least to be required to pay something because tsp contribution and being a table 2 regular but I was a higher paid RCA.
Rt2mailman
Well-known member
You don't want to go past the end of the year to pay back any letter of demand.If you do you will receive another LOD, requesting more $ to pay for tax monies the USPS has paid out to IRS,state/city taxes for your higher income which they are not allowed to get back from those agencies.
