Fresh RCA: How long before being able to apply for another office?

[Gojira81]

Hello all! I'm a fresh RCA (have 3 days of training, then the 3 days of OTJ training to do yet).

The office I'm currently with is great and I'm looking forward to the position, but the office that serves much closer to me (and the route that serves my actual residence area, so I know the entire area like the back of my hand) has a main carrier who is retiring now. Bad timing, right? The office with the retiring carrier is also technically in another district and state, where I reside.

All the carriers in my current working office are all in their 40s or so, tops, so there's really no outlook for getting permanent there any time soon at all. I guess y'all probably see where I'm going with this...

Is there any way at all I can somehow apply for that main carrier's route given my current position? Or do I have a period where I can't leave my current office for another, even if it's a logical move? I tried logging into LiteBlue and looking around but nothing really comes up for me as far as any other positions to bid on/transfer to (I guess since I'm so new yet?).

Thanks in advance! Definitely appreciate all the knowledge I've gained from coming on here already.

 

[EthelAnne]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Gojira81 said </strong>

Is there any way at all I can somehow apply for that main carrier's route given my current position?  I tried logging into LiteBlue and looking around but nothing really comes up for me as far as any other positions to bid on/transfer to (I guess since I'm so new yet?).
Thanks in advance! Definitely appreciate all the knowledge I've gained from coming on here already.  </blockquote>
No. You cannot bid on a regular route ("apply for that main carrier's route") until you complete one year of service, and you (usually) would not be eligible to bid on that route unless you were assigned to that office. And, to answer your next question, you need to complete your probation (90 worked days or 1 year) before you can transfer to another office. I suppose you could resign and apply at that other office (if there is an opening) but the route would be filled before you became eligible to bid on it.

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Gojira81 said </strong>
I tried logging into LiteBlue and looking around but nothing really comes up for me as far as any other positions to bid on/transfer to (I guess since I'm so new yet?).
Thanks in advance! Definitely appreciate all the knowledge I've gained from coming on here already.  </blockquote>
You won't be able to access any of the career positions on LiteBlue (eCareer) until you are a career employee, such as a regular rural carrier. As an RCA, you're what's called "non-career." The only positions that you'll be able to apply for are the same ones anyone else off the street could apply for.

 

[dhoward541]

Sweetie: you just need to survive the 1st year (or 90 days, whichever comes 1st) that will give you a lot of insight into where you stand in that office. 

Go to union meetings and talk to carriers in nearby offices to see if there's a situation where a sub will be in a good position to go regular in the next few years. 

Never believe:

the carrier who makes promises for you to move to their route. 

the RCA that says they will pass on a regular route. 

or the PM that says whatever you want to hear to get you to transfer & never transfer to an office that hasn't let you work in it first. 

Learn your rights for yourself. 

 

[btdtret]

Gojira81 -- Check page 48 of the new contract for info on transferring.

One catch -- there has to be an RCA vacancy in the new post office.

Check page 25 of the new contract regarding bidding -- you will need one year of continuous service to bid.

Study up on the e-bidding process on-line at liteblue as it is the only way to bid.  Be sure to get a print-out of your bid confirmation.

 

[Gojira81]

Thanks so much for the information, everybody! It's greatly appreciated, if disheartening. I suppose it's just horrible timing (an RCA position opened up at that office after I'd already went through the job agreement process at my current office). Ah, man. What can ya' do? I'll suck it up and push through the year, I reckon. Thanks again, all!

 

[olewhatshername]

The RCA assigned to the Route I am assigned to -----13 years.....the other RCA that works in the office 15 years......it may be a long wait.....Good luck and stay safe.

And like mentioned above........trust yourself and don't believe everything people (PM's) tell you.  Do your homework and read the 603 and the contract.

 

[dhoward541]

I suppose it’s just horrible timing (an RCA position opened up at that office after I’d already went through the job agreement process at my current office). Ah, man. What can ya’ do? I’ll suck it up and push through the year, I reckon. Thanks again, all!

Even if you had went to that office; you wouldn't be able to bid; if there were no eligible RCA's to bid on the route, it will go to a district wide posting; but without your probation being completed you still wouldn't be able to bid.  

You're going to have to put in a year before you can do anything. 

 

[heyman1104]

Technically, you cannot transfer to another office yet. However, it doesn't hurt to try. Your current PM can block it, but often times they realize that you're going to leave one way or the other and will just let you transfer. I've seen it happen.

No, you can't bid on any regular routes until you have been in the PO for a year.

Don't transfer to some place based on someone's promises. You don't know what their motives are.

 

[btdtret]

Gojira81 -- Being "brand" new, there are a lot of "ropes" to learn in becoming a useful RCA.   Besides your assigned route, there are the post office procedures to learn.  Once you get comfortable with your route, which could and probably will, take some time, let the office you want to transfer to know you may be available to "farm" yourself out for work in that office.  It will let you "test drive" that office to see if you really want to work there - even if it is closer to home.  Just remember, your first duty is to your assigned office.  Keep your post master in the loop to do scheduling.

Do you currently have a vehicle that is capable to run your route?   Not every office has all LLV-routes.