Gotta get this off my chest

[NewbRCA]

Hey everyone I just have to vent and this will most likely be all over the place haha
So I started at the PO back in January. There are new things that I am still learning on my own.
My “route” (using that in quotations because I found out recently from eOPF that it’s not even the route I should’ve been assigned to) is an all apartment with over 1200+ mailboxes. The reg gets done fast so it’s basically expected of me to get done fast, too. He trained me for about 4 days and took that next week off. When I’m on that route, the PO blows up my phone rushing me back to the office. I’ve been told that as long as we got there before 6 we’d be okay. Yesterday they called around 4:30ish badgering me and asking why I didn’t call for help. The last time I called and asked for help, I was told to “stay positive” and that I’d get done in time. That was when I was splitting a street route with someone else. Also, even though I had been mentioning to my rude ass supe that I needed street route training they were still putting me on them anyway. And my PM even said that I shouldn’t have even been on street routes without training.
Since I have gotten there I’ve been treated poorly. I didn’t have high expectations of that but there’s only so much a person can tolerate of getting demeaned on an almost daily basis. I’m not a quitter but for an office with a low retention rate, why would you treat someone that actually comes whenever called like shit?? Doesn’t make sense. There’s so much more to the story but I’ll spare y’all ?
I’ve been keeping my office union rep updated and she’s talking a class action. I really don’t want that kind of trouble and I’m not even past my 90 days yet.
Anyone else dealt with this much drama when they started at the PO?

 

[Punkie5]

This drama is called “one life to live”, it doesn’t get better, it will get worse. If you can’t deal and play, do yourself a favor and get out and choose a better place to work. Life is short, your job is a great deal of your life.....just sayin.

 

[NewbRCA]

Oh, I’ve been dealing with it. I’m still there ha

 

[btdtret]

NewbRCA -- "My “route” (using that in quotations because I found out recently from eOPF that it’s not even the route I should’ve been assigned to)"

-- What is listed on your Form 50, assuming you have received the form? Line 41 - Rural Carrier Route - Route number to which assigned.

-- Manglement assigns routes, so maybe you were needed on another route other than the one assigned.

-- Have your office steward take a look at your Form 50.

" an all apartment with over 1200+ mailboxes. The reg gets done fast so it’s basically expected of me to get done fast, too. "

-- That is all on manglement if they expect you to run the route in the same time as a regular who has been probably doing it for years, instead of weeks like you.

" the PO blows up my phone rushing me back to the office."

-- Phones and scanners are supposed to be used only for "emergency" situations.

-- See if your office steward can explain that to manglement.

"Since I have gotten there I’ve been treated poorly. I didn’t have high expectations of that but there’s only so much a person can tolerate of getting demeaned on an almost daily basis. "

-- Time to take a real assessment of the job. Do you REALLY need the job? Any other employment possibilities in your area?

" I’m not a quitter but for an office with a low retention rate, why would you treat someone that actually comes whenever called like shit?? Doesn’t make sense."

-- As you have seen, "common sense" and the USPS to do not go together.

" There’s so much more to the story but I’ll spare y’all.."

-- No real need. Most can fill in the blanks from postings of other RCA's, both new and long-term.

"I’ve been keeping my office union rep updated and she’s talking a class action."

-- That might help, but probably won't change manglement mentality any time soon.

-- You've gotten a look "behind the curtain" and the view is not pretty.

-- You haven't had that much time invested, so you could walk away while telling manglement ( politely or otherwise ), "Thank you for the opportunity, but I don't feel comfortable working in such a hostile environment." ( or words to that effect ) Put your feelings in a letter and send a copy to District, NRLCA HQ and the Postmaster General -- if you feel like it.

-- No one will be calling you a "quitter" if you choose to leave because you value your self esteem and sanity. Probably there are a lot who wish they could leave, but have too much time invested or it is literally the "only job in town".

 

[NewbRCA]

The route on my form 50 says 55. When I had my shadow day, it was kinda like she just threw me anywhere because she had asked another carrier who needed a sub. I understand that regulars need their subs. They deserve them.

Also, them telling me yesterday that their goal was to have everyone back at 5 o’clock didn’t match up with them telling us we had to be back by the time the outgoing truck came. I’ve never heard that before. The route I was assigned to is a J route but my form says K and H? There’s been some things I just haven’t asked questions about and looked to finding the answers online because they have attitudes.
I was mainly wondering about the assigned route thing because others that I’ve asked said they trained on the route that was on their ps50. With how things have been I just thought I was getting screwed yet again

 

[DB.Cooper]

I was an RCA for about 5 years, and they went to switch my route and discovered I'd been assigned to a different route that I never worked for my 1st 5 years... so, I'm not sure it makes a helluva lot of diff... you can basically work anywhere as a RCA...

 

[blamethesub]

I really hate it when managers push a new sub to perform at the same pace as the experienced regular. They know full well that it's simply not possible, but they just can't seem to help themselves.

Unfortunately, drama seems to come with this job. Some offices have a lot, some not so much, but it's everywhere.

You would be assigned as the primary to the route on your form 50, but I have heard of offices that train new people on other routes first. Usually a smaller or less intimidating route to get your feet wet before throwing you on the "big" one. Perhaps your office thinks the apartment route with no curb delivery is a good learner route. Either way, you can be utilized on routes other than your primary if that's what is needed.

As for getting back by 5:00 pm. The truck may leave later than that, but many districts have required getting carriers off the street by 5:00 because there has been pressure to keep us from working in the dark. Carriers have been shot while trying to deliver to the front door in the dark. Wondering if this policy will change when we have longer daylight hours. No matter what the time is, do not feel pressured to rush. The life you save is your own.

You are not supposed to be contacted by phone on the route unless it's an emergency. The PM can see on his computer where you are, and can determine if you will get back on time or if he needs to send someone out to help or to pick up your outgoing mail. Turn your phone off, or don't answer it. Better yet, "forget" to take it with you, and leave it at your case. They can listen to it ring in the office when they call you. Might be a good opportunity to put an appropriate ring tone on it. Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It comes to mind. It really helps to find fun ways to poke the jerks right back without them even realizing it. It keeps us sorta sane.

At this point, I think you have three choices.

1. Quit.
2. Stay until you finish probation, then transfer to another office nearby with less drama.
3. Stay where you are. Don't let them steamroll you. Know that you won't always be the newbie, and they will move on to another target eventually. If you like the job, just not the management, this might be an option.

It does seem from your posts though, that your office is very disorganized. This is not likely to change, especially if it remains sub short. Keep the long term in mind when you decide. Best of luck to you, and keep coming here for answers to your questions.

 

[Rt2mailman]

It does matter where you are assigned . If a regular goes out on an injury on the route you are assigned to you are now full time until that regular comes back. NewRCA, sorry to tell you, your primary assignment was changed at the last minute because another RCA wanted the route that you were originally assigned. It may have been done contractually, but usually is not. After any regular carrier change in any office the matrix (assignment of Rca's on particular routes) may be changed, "is open". When a primary opening on any route is not filled, any RCA may choose it as their primary position according to seniority, up to 1 month after the regular carrier change was made. The "new RCA" gets whatever primary assignment is left. In your case the 1200 box apartment route.

 

[callofthewild]

I don't know what is wrong here you have had since January ..........and that statement in full of disbelief and sarcasm......NewbRCA......I can tell you without reservation........this dumb ass PM/Stupidvisor who is harassing you to get back in break neck speed couldn't do the job. I have seen RCA's who have had 28 full and part days of training, who couldn't do the job, seen RCA's who after 4 years couldn't make Evaluated time and have a current RCA that on a heavy day after being on the Route almost 2 years that needs hours of help to get back before the truck. still yet.....so you are still on or just barely out of being paid actual time and they expect you to get back as fast as the Regular......horse hockey.

Please don't hurry and do a sloppy job or worst yet hurt yourself....believe me you are just a number to the Postal Service and they don't care if you hurt yourself.

As far as Drama.....the Postal Service is full of it and there is no way to avoid it. The thing you have control of is.....whether you buy into the Drama or not.....just say NO. It is a NO win situation and you will just be upset and miserable if you buy in.

 

[Morty]

Sounds normal ?

 

[NewbRCA]

I don't know what is wrong here you have had since January ..........and that statement in full of disbelief and sarcasm......NewbRCA......I can tell you without reservation........this dumb ass PM/Stupidvisor who is harassing you to get back in break neck speed couldn't do the job. I have seen RCA's who have had 28 full and part days of training, who couldn't do the job, seen RCA's who after 4 years couldn't make Evaluated time and have a current RCA that on a heavy day after being on the Route almost 2 years that needs hours of help to get back before the truck. still yet.....so you are still on or just barely out of being paid actual time and they expect you to get back as fast as the Regular......horse hockey.

Please don't hurry and do a sloppy job or worst yet hurt yourself....believe me you are just a number to the Postal Service and they don't care if you hurt yourself.

As far as Drama.....the Postal Service is full of it and there is no way to avoid it. The thing you have control of is.....whether you buy into the Drama or not.....just say NO. It is a NO win situation and you will just be upset and miserable if you buy in.

Thank you.. now I don’t feel like I’ve been reaching this whole time. ?

 

[NewbRCA]

It does matter where you are assigned . If a regular goes out on an injury on the route you are assigned to you are now full time until that regular comes back. NewRCA, sorry to tell you, your primary assignment was changed at the last minute because another RCA wanted the route that you were originally assigned. It may have been done contractually, but usually is not. After any regular carrier change in any office the matrix (assignment of Rca's on particular routes) may be changed, "is open". When a primary opening on any route is not filled, any RCA may choose it as their primary position according to seniority, up to 1 month after the regular carrier change was made. The "new RCA" gets whatever primary assignment is left. In your case the 1200 box apartment route.

Thank you I didn’t know that

 

[NewbRCA]

I really hate it when managers push a new sub to perform at the same pace as the experienced regular. They know full well that it's simply not possible, but they just can't seem to help themselves.

Unfortunately, drama seems to come with this job. Some offices have a lot, some not so much, but it's everywhere.

You would be assigned as the primary to the route on your form 50, but I have heard of offices that train new people on other routes first. Usually a smaller or less intimidating route to get your feet wet before throwing you on the "big" one. Perhaps your office thinks the apartment route with no curb delivery is a good learner route. Either way, you can be utilized on routes other than your primary if that's what is needed.

As for getting back by 5:00 pm. The truck may leave later than that, but many districts have required getting carriers off the street by 5:00 because there has been pressure to keep us from working in the dark. Carriers have been shot while trying to deliver to the front door in the dark. Wondering if this policy will change when we have longer daylight hours. No matter what the time is, do not feel pressured to rush. The life you save is your own.

You are not supposed to be contacted by phone on the route unless it's an emergency. The PM can see on his computer where you are, and can determine if you will get back on time or if he needs to send someone out to help or to pick up your outgoing mail. Turn your phone off, or don't answer it. Better yet, "forget" to take it with you, and leave it at your case. They can listen to it ring in the office when they call you. Might be a good opportunity to put an appropriate ring tone on it. Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It comes to mind. It really helps to find fun ways to poke the jerks right back without them even realizing it. It keeps us sorta sane.

At this point, I think you have three choices.

1. Quit.
2. Stay until you finish probation, then transfer to another office nearby with less drama.
3. Stay where you are. Don't let them steamroll you. Know that you won't always be the newbie, and they will move on to another target eventually. If you like the job, just not the management, this might be an option.

It does seem from your posts though, that your office is very disorganized. This is not likely to change, especially if it remains sub short. Keep the long term in mind when you decide. Best of luck to you, and keep coming here for answers to your questions.

It is.. apparently that supe started back last November and has never been a carrier. ?

 

[gotstamps]

It does matter where you are assigned . If a regular goes out on an injury on the route you are assigned to you are now full time until that regular comes back. NewRCA, sorry to tell you, your primary assignment was changed at the last minute because another RCA wanted the route that you were originally assigned. It may have been done contractually, but usually is not. After any regular carrier change in any office the matrix (assignment of Rca's on particular routes) may be changed, "is open". When a primary opening on any route is not filled, any RCA may choose it as their primary position according to seniority, up to 1 month after the regular carrier change was made. The "new RCA" gets whatever primary assignment is left. In your case the 1200 box apartment route.

The route assignment on the RCA form 50 does not really matter except when in a Leave-Earning status. RCA primary changes are not always made online and only matter when a new form 50 needs to be submitted for a designation change.
When a Primary opening comes available due to an RCA quitting or moving up, OR a substantial change of status on a Rural Route without a Primary, that route is to be immediately offered to all current RCAs for that office. If no RCA chooses to change to that Primary position, it goes to the register & is an unassigned route. Mgmt may NOT fill that Primary position with a trainee or place on a PTF string without offering it to the RCAs first.

 

[Rt2mailman]

If the open primary was open for more than 30 days with no other regular or Rca changes , that unfilled primary route goes to the newbie. The other Rca's had their chance at it and can't switch just because they feel like it, or because they will be losing some work due to the newbie. If this wasnt the case every Rca would switch just before a new Rca came on if their regular had used their annual up already. Primary changes to vacant primary Rca positions aren't supposed to happen after 30 days if no other regular, Rca, or substantial route changes were made.

 

[oldandtired]

Hey everyone I just have to vent and this will most likely be all over the place haha
So I started at the PO back in January. There are new things that I am still learning on my own.
My “route” (using that in quotations because I found out recently from eOPF that it’s not even the route I should’ve been assigned to) is an all apartment with over 1200+ mailboxes. The reg gets done fast so it’s basically expected of me to get done fast, too. He trained me for about 4 days and took that next week off. When I’m on that route, the PO blows up my phone rushing me back to the office. I’ve been told that as long as we got there before 6 we’d be okay. Yesterday they called around 4:30ish badgering me and asking why I didn’t call for help. The last time I called and asked for help, I was told to “stay positive” and that I’d get done in time. That was when I was splitting a street route with someone else. Also, even though I had been mentioning to my rude ass supe that I needed street route training they were still putting me on them anyway. And my PM even said that I shouldn’t have even been on street routes without training.
Since I have gotten there I’ve been treated poorly. I didn’t have high expectations of that but there’s only so much a person can tolerate of getting demeaned on an almost daily basis. I’m not a quitter but for an office with a low retention rate, why would you treat someone that actually comes whenever called like shit?? Doesn’t make sense. There’s so much more to the story but I’ll spare y’all ?
I’ve been keeping my office union rep updated and she’s talking a class action. I really don’t want that kind of trouble and I’m not even past my 90 days yet.
Anyone else dealt with this much drama when they started at the PO?

The “drama” is a never ending battle ! It doesn’t go away even if you mind your business and do your job . There is no end to the abuse that the morons in power get away with ! Do yourself a favor and run as fast as you can away from the Postoffice ,it doesn’t get better !

 

[gotstamps]

If the open primary was open for more than 30 days with no other regular or Rca changes , that unfilled primary route goes to the newbie. The other Rca's had their chance at it and can't switch just because they feel like it, or because they will be losing some work due to the newbie. If this wasnt the case every Rca would switch just before a new Rca came on if their regular had used their annual up already. Primary changes to vacant primary Rca positions aren't supposed to happen after 30 days if no other regular, Rca, or substantial route changes were made.

Nothing was said that an RCA could change whenever they want but they can change more often in larger offices where the turnover is higher or in a fast-growing office. Changing the Form 50 every time they switch is a waste of time unless dealing with a Leave-earning situation.
There is also no 30-day rule and if mgmt neglects to allow bidding for a recently vacated Primary position, the RCAs could have a grievance. It’s not a free-for-all but there are some offices that will keep putting the bidding off “until next Saturday” then suddenly fills that position with a new-hire.
The wording is that when there is a vacancy in the “Leave Replacement ranks, it will be offered at the time of the initial vacancy.” It is not always known when that ACTUAL vacancy occurs if mgmt delays firing a repeated no-show or in a similar situation. This especially happens in larger offices that are Formula or in a APO/RMPO situation.

 

[DB.Cooper]

I'd find it surprising that the mngt geekazoids are switching job slots and Form 50's every time a RCA changes routes... if they do, then I'd say that's just another sign they have too much time on their hands, and not enuf legitimate work to do... ?‍