HAVE to take FSS and dps to streets.

[Guin]

 Our manager called all RCAS and PTFS in for a meeting yesterday morning and at said meeting explained to us that we are no longer allowed to case our DPS or FSS. This wasn't coming from my office but from the district is the claim, naturally we were all up in arms over it since most of us like to case one of the two. I was later contacted by the manager that day and told that if we are going to go over 40hours for the week only then are we not allowed to case our mail. 

Regardless, I was told the reasoning behind this was because they didn't want us to go into overtime which for my office is a complete joke. Our parcels and mail volume seems like it is permanently stuck at pre-Christmas time levels causing very few of us to be able to get back within our evaluated times. And not being able to case our mail makes most of us much slower, so I'm not sure where the logic in this is coming from --if there is any. 

So aside from being majorly frustrated and needing to vent my question is can they do this? I should also add that the regulars in my office are unaffected this ONLY pertains to substitute carriers.

 

[btdtret]

Guin -- "[ Manager ]  explained to us [ RCA's ]  that we are no longer allowed to case our DPS or FSS.

--  Where to begin!!

--  For starters, contact your Assistant District Representative regarding the announcement and also for disparate [ different ]  treatment because the announcement does not apply to regulars.

--  PO-603's Section 226 --  At your option, you may choose to case DPS mail in accordance with Section 15 - Schedules.

--  Section 15 - Schedules.   If manglement wants to push section 152.2 - Leaving Schedules, where the carrier should be leaving at the time posted on the 4240 or with manglement's permission, within an additional 20 minutes, then there are some hoops involved for manglement to require taking DPS Letters to the street - such as not meeting the customer's anticipated delivery window ( which is BS - IMHO - as mail and parcel volume vary daily , so unlikely that a carrier is delivering near the same time each and every day ), not making dispatch, exceeding the overall weekly route evaluation on a consistent basis. ( not really applying to an RCA unless covering a route for a regular who is expected to be out for a long time ).

--  The "Galligan" Letter ( Step 4 -- C-14 ), dated 26 NOV 2003 originally was issued for the Rural Carrier Christmas No-Overtime Period, but should apply year round.  In part .. The carrier may be required to take DPS directly to the street if it is anticipated that they will be unable to meet the overall evaluation of the route <strong>FOR THE WEEK</strong> ( no mention of daily evaluation ), and during the Christmas period this would place the carrier in an overtime situation.   Galligan notes that taking DPS [letters] to the street should be made on a <strong>CASE-By-CASE </strong> ( in other words, no office blanket policy ).   Galligan also notes that takes DPS to the street may not minimize total actual work hours if the carrier normally cases the DPS and will not perform efficiently on the street.

--  If forced to take DPS to the street, be THOROUGH and METHODICAL.  Don't rush.   If mis-deliveries are made and customers call in, refer manglement to their new "Take DPS to the street" policy.

--  You could tell manglement that RCA's ( and probably regulars ) are going over eval or into OT because the evaluations no longer resemble what is currently happening regarding mail and parcel volume when the route was last counted.    No 2017 count is having a big effect.   But probably best to save that argument for another day.

--  You should not be casing FSS [ DPS Flats ] ( unless you have a POV route )  because in the USPS letter dated 20 March 2015, the USPS declared it had met is obligation to provide 15,000 right-hand drive postal-owned or leaved vehicles as required by MOU #13.  All rural carriers on routes with assigned Employer provided vehicles will be instructed to cease casing and strapping out DPS flats effective 30 March 2015.

-- Good luck.

 

[Guin]

Ah! Excellent! Thank you do much for the reply btdtret! One of my co-workers informed me not to long ago today that we will be grieving it. 

I'm not sure how the heck management in my office could get us to leave the office at our scheduled leaving times, it just isn't possible for us. Our mail might be ready but often times we are waiting for the clerks to finish throwing parcels usually they aren't done until 9:15ish, which is WHY we case our mail because otherwise we would be standing around twiddling our thumbs for an hour or more. 

As for the casing of FSS, our office seems to think that it's ok to case it so probably best not to say anything since it benefits us carriers lol.

 

[oi veh.]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Guin said </strong>
 
I'm not sure how the heck management in my office could get us to leave the office at our scheduled leaving times, it just isn't possible for us. Our mail might be ready but often times <strong>we are waiting for the clerks to finish throwing parcels usually they aren't done until 9:15ish</strong>, which is WHY we case our mail <strong>because otherwise we would be standing around twiddling our thumbs for an hour or more</strong>. 
 

</blockquote>
Stop casing and start filing wait time.

Watch how fast your clerks get done with packages.

Your regulars never figured this out?  I'd be danged and dipped if I'd be waiting for clerks to be done.

Now, someone will say, "Oh, but then management will change your starting time!"  Well, what have you got to lose?  You are getting out late anyway because of slow moving clerks.  And this is the way you fight that:  Let them.  Work your full evaluation, take your 30 minute lunch and let management take mail to the plant a few times because of your new start time, you are now missing dispatch.

They'll change your start time back.

The PO is a psyop.  The trick is to beat them at their own game.

 

[EthelAnne]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Oi veh. said </strong>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Guin said </strong>
 
I'm not sure how the heck management in my office could get us to leave the office at our scheduled leaving times, it just isn't possible for us. Our mail might be ready but often times <strong>we are waiting for the clerks to finish throwing parcels usually they aren't done until 9:15ish</strong>, which is WHY we case our mail <strong>because otherwise we would be standing around twiddling our thumbs for an hour or more</strong>. 
 
</blockquote>

Stop casing and start filing wait time.

Watch how fast your clerks get done with packages.

Your regulars never figured this out?  I'd be danged and dipped if I'd be waiting for clerks to be done.

Now, someone will say, "Oh, but then management will change your starting time!"  Well, what have you got to lose?  You are getting out late anyway because of slow moving clerks.  And this is the way you fight that:  Let them.  Work your full evaluation, take your 30 minute lunch and let management take mail to the plant a few times because of your new start time, you are now missing dispatch.

They'll change your start time back.

The PO is a psyop.  The trick is to beat them at their own game.   </blockquote>
Yes, yes, yes! I deal with a bunch of nervous nellies who are constantly worried about being forced to take DPS to the street, or start times being pushed back--half of the carriers barely make dispatch now, how on earth could they push our start time back??? Forcing a carrier to take DPS to the street is no guarantee they'll be faster; very often it makes them slower! It's all empty threats.

We haven't had a problem yet waiting for mail, but we came close today. They've cut the clerk hours so now we only have one clerk sorting mail in the morning and I had a steady stream of visitors to my case this morning in a tizzy worrying about what to do if they got done casing before the clerk finished sorting parcels. 

 

[btdtret]

EtheLAnne -- " had a steady stream of visitors to my case this morning in a tizzy worrying about what to do if they got done casing before the clerk finished sorting parcels. "

--  For starters, ask those in a "tizzy":

--  Edit Book up to date?

--  Have they X-ed out COA's on the Pink Cards?

--  When was the last time they dusted the top of their case and lights ( even though custodians are supposed to do that ) or dusted vacant slots in the case?

--  If hold mail is kept at the case, does it need straightening up?

--  Is the route map up to date?

--  Have you taken your 30-minute lunch break?

--  Did you do the vehicle inspection yet?

--  Have you helped the new RCA?

--  Or the regular on the new route?

--  Reviewed the PO-603 or the new contract lately?

--  In case manglement allows carriers to keep forms at the case, any forms you need to stock up on?

--  Do something, just don't let manglement see you sitting around!

--  Or tell manglement that your 4240 time to leave for the street has passed -- should I go to the street now or wait for the clerk(s) to finish with parcels?

 

[Cangonow]

<strong><a class="spLink spProfilePage" title="" href="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/forum/profile/2275/">btdtret</a> said..." You should not be casing FSS [ DPS Flats ] ( unless you have a POV route )  because in the USPS letter dated 20 March 2015, the USPS declared it had met is obligation to provide 15,000 right-hand drive postal-owned or leaved vehicles as required by MOU #13.  All rural carriers on routes with assigned Employer provided vehicles will be instructed to cease casing and strapping out DPS flats effective 30 March 2015.</strong>...." <span style="color: #ff0000">Check out MOU #25</span>...The parties agree that until such time as the revised Evaluated Compensation System is implemented, carriers on rural routes that have assigned Employer provided vehicles and receive delivery point sequence (DPS) flats may, at their option, case and strap out DPS flats with other mail in accordance with Handbook PO-603, Section 15, Schedules. Casing of DPS flats at the carrier’s option will not affect or modify mail count procedures or the application of the DPS flats time standard. Additionally, management may require these carriers to take DPS flats directly to the street without casing in certain situations, such as, leaving so late as to cause significant delays in the customer’s anticipated delivery window; being unable to return to the office in order to meet the primary dispatch; or exceeding, on a consistent basis, the overall weekly evaluation of the route.

 

[heyman1104]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Guin said </strong>
Ah! Excellent! Thank you do much for the reply btdtret! One of my co-workers informed me not to long ago today that we will be grieving it. 

I'm not sure how the heck management in my office could get us to leave the office at our scheduled leaving times, it just isn't possible for us. Our mail might be ready but often times we are waiting for the clerks to finish throwing parcels usually they aren't done until 9:15ish, which is WHY we case our mail because otherwise we would be standing around twiddling our thumbs for an hour or more. 

As for the casing of FSS, our office seems to think that it's ok to case it so probably best not to say anything since it benefits us carriers lol.  </blockquote>
Yeah that's when I start casing DPS too. I figure that way I can at least criss cross the end of the route and go a little faster there, maybe make up some of that lost waiting time. Or I can go out and start checking my POVs fluids, tire pressure, or even clean it out.

 

[btdtret]

Cangonow -- The early version of the new contract that I down loaded didn't have MOU #25!   Thanx for getting me up to date.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Guin, all the threads above are great and should be very helpful to you but, the problem I see is why are the RCA's in your office allowing management to hold them to only 40 hours when working all week long? With the quantity of parcels we are receiving due to amazon how can anyone, on a K route, keep to under 40 hours while working all week without falsifying 4240's? If the routes you are talking about are (the average of 43-K +) more than 40 hour routes then you are losing money. While an RCA is working all week they are guaranteed at least the evaluation of the route not 40 hours. Many Rca's try to work under 40 hours to gain the evaluated pay, but to do that right now is either reckless or falsifying 4240's. I would file a grievance on being forced to to work under 40.

 

[Cangonow]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>btdtret said </strong>
Cangonow -- The early version of the new contract that I down loaded didn't have MOU #25!   Thanx for getting me up to date.  </blockquote>
No problem. Although I am disgusted and annoyed with most of the unions actions or lack of action, this MOU was very useful to our office who were being forced to take FSS to the street, even if it was a minimal amount. What I do love about our system is the freedom that we have to handle the mail as we wish. When that freedom is taken away I feel as if we might as well go hourly. I now case FSS most days but on really heavy days I take it to the street. I rip the union enough but in this case...job well done!

 

[gotstamps]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Rt2mailman said </strong>
Guin, all the threads above are great and should be very helpful to you but, the problem I see is why are the RCA's in your office allowing management to hold them to only 40 hours when working all week long? With the quantity of parcels we are receiving due to amazon how can anyone, on a K route, keep to under 40 hours while working all week without falsifying 4240's? If the routes you are talking about are (the average of 43-K +) more than 40 hour routes then you are losing money. While an RCA is working all week they are guaranteed at least the evaluation of the route not 40 hours. Many Rca's try to work under 40 hours to gain the evaluated pay, but to do that right now is either reckless or falsifying 4240's. I would file a grievance on being forced to to work under 40.  </blockquote>
Not all offices have issues with subs or Regs making the weekly eval. In areas where Amazon hires their own drivers or uses Uber, the parcel load hasn't changed since last  national count. The numbers our office is running at is right on course with last year at this time. We saw a lot of POV drivers during Christmas delivering Amazons & not doing it safely, either. 

 

[Rt2mailman]

Is that the case in your office Guin? 

 

[Guin]

No, we aren't lucky enough (or maybe unlucky) to have amazon run its own parcels near my office. To get around having subs work over 40hours per week they spent the past maybe month and a half just hiring new rcas in the hopes that they stay. I actually have NEVER seen our sub roster with so many on it. The ironic part is that the more subs they seem to hire the more our regulars seem to want to take off. Piled on to how little our letter, flat and parcel volume has fallen it's getting extremely difficult to make evaluations in my office. To top it off my management is now going on about DAILY evaluated times not just weekly and they now announced that they are cutting our start time back by a half hour. This past weekend they began threatening that carriers who could not make daily (not weekly) evaluations would be "called into the office." I really don't understand how they could be putting so much pressure on their workers there are some routes in my office that are under evaluated and it's just not possible to make it back to the office within their times even on a halfway light day.

 

[oi veh.]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Guin said </strong>To top it off my management is now going on about DAILY evaluated times not just weekly and they now announced that they are cutting our start time back by a half hour. This past weekend they began threatening that carriers who could not make daily (not weekly) evaluations would be "called into the office."</blockquote>
What has your local stew done?

If none in office, what does your ADR have to say?

We are not held to daily evaluations.  Tell 'em to pound sand.

As to this:
<em>The ironic part is that the more subs they seem to hire the more our regulars seem to want to take off.

</em>I want you to just stop and think about that a minute. 

 

[Guin]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Oi veh. said </strong>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Guin said </strong>To top it off my management is now going on about DAILY evaluated times not just weekly and they now announced that they are cutting our start time back by a half hour. This past weekend they began threatening that carriers who could not make daily (not weekly) evaluations would be "called into the office."</blockquote>

What has your local stew done?
If none in office, what does your ADR have to say?
We are not held to daily evaluations.  Tell 'em to pound sand.
As to this:
<em>The ironic part is that the more subs they seem to hire the more our regulars seem to want to take off.
</em>I want you to just stop and think about that a minute.    </blockquote>
Local steward says "they are looking into it" whatever that means lol.

Hey I never said I was complaining about regulars taking off, by all means please do it means I get hours so I won't complain I only mentioned it because the more regulars that take off means it sucks up the subs hours and has all of us sitting dangerously close to going into overtime which is making management squawk at us even more. 

 

[oi veh.]

If you are not getting satisfaction from the local stew, contact the ADR.

Eh, let them squawk.  Don't you dare be like my sub and deliver the mail in an unsafe manner.  It takes time to do it right.

Do it right. 

You are allowed to work your evaluation and don't let anyone tell you that you are not.  And if it throws you into overtime, oh well.  Enjoy it. 

 

[btdtret]

Guin -- "This past weekend they began threatening that carriers who could not make daily (not weekly) evaluations would be “called into the office.” 

--  I hope you are familiar with filing grievances, cause you have many reasons to do so.

--  As others have pointed out, it is WEEKLY evaluation, not DAILY evaluation.    If "called" to the office, note the time on your watch and the time you get back to your case.   Then if a regular, request an 8127 or an 1314 if an RCA for the time to perform this new "task".   Doubt you were called to the office during the last count.

--  Before entering the office, ask if this "meeting" could lead to discipline.  If so, tell manglement you want union representation. ( hopefully you have competed your probationary period ).    Manglement is supposed to stop right there and then.   If they continue, smile and file.   If you don't have an office steward, too bad, the Assistant District Representative will have to be present for your "meeting" with manglement.

"now announced that they are cutting our start time back by a half hour."

-- If you have to start 30 minutes later, be sure to take your 30 minutes for lunch - either in the office or out on the route.

-- Be thorough and methodical in your work.

--  Do the math -- if the route's evaluation and the 30-minute lunch time put you past the dispatch truck, that is on manglement.  If questions arise, refer manglement to page 45 of the current contract for Scheduling.  Scheduling is the<span style="text-decoration: underline"> responsibility</span> of the Employer ( that's manglement ).   Schedules should be REALISTIC, based upon the receipt and availability of mail ( 80% according to the clarification letter of the  RDSOP, dated 23 DEC 2005, and also noted on the RRST ( Rural Delivery Schedule Tool on manglement's computer )) , the route evaluation, and other related service considerations.   The rural carrier will receive reasonable advance notice when the schedule is to be changed.

--  When were you advised of the change in start times?    That too, could be a grievance is someone could find the definition of "reasonable"!

"The ironic part is that the more subs they seem to hire the more our regulars seem to want to take off. "

--  Hiring more subs can be a mixed blessing.   On one hand, work may start to dry up while on the other hand if the regulars are taking more time off, that will allow the RCA's more time on their primary route. 

 

[Cliff Clavin]

They have recently hired so many subs in our office that we are now cut to one day a week.

It sucks for some. As for me I am just going with the flow just to see how many subs stay when they realize that they were lied to about all the money they would be making.

 

[gotstamps]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Cliff Clavin said </strong>
They have recently hired so many subs in our office that we are now cut to one day a week.

It sucks for some. As for me I am just going with the flow just to see how many subs stay when they realize that they were lied to about all the money they would be making.  

</blockquote>
Talk about 'lied to'... my sub takes no instructions, is slow, & had a full 5 days training AND I was out for 10 days the following month.  He was under the assumption that he'd be making a lot of hours. All he was worried about in training was 'when can I go Regular?' He still doesn't care or doesn't get it. Mgmt refuses to allow any hours except my route where other subs are picking up extra hours helping with distribution (don't get me started on that one). Mgmt hasn't allowed him a 'matrix' & I guess he hasn't asked. Many of us are surprised he's still here with only Saturdays & Sundays guaranteed. 

It's fixing to get real fun when the OT list goes into effect since I'm back on it! He hasn't a clue of what's coming, especially with our 100 degree summers!