High Option Thought / Suggestion

hunchback · Mar 5, 2018

Since we still have no idea what will come of the Engineering Study, I wonder if it wouldn't be a wise idea for anyone that it may not have a immediate undesired impact on to check the High Option Selection when signing the Mail Count Forms.

For Example:

You end up a 43K, too many standard hours to chose a 46J. But what if the Engineering Study results roll in in a few months and you drop to a 41K as a result of the Engineering Study results. If you signed the High Option you can opt for a J route I presume. But it is anyone's guess if you will be afforded the choice of High Option if the Engineering Study effects your evaluation this way. Heck we have no idea if The Guarantee Year will even be a thing after this is all said and done.

An example of this problem that exists now is the RDWL. You don't sign it because you have a substitute or a full staff at your office...

( yes I believe in fairy tales ) then one or all the subs quit. You can't sign the RDWL then, you have to wait for the next posting.

Similarly, the High Option election is only at mail count, and I believe at the beginning of the Guarantee Year.

Like the RDWL where you can remove your name from the list at virtually any time, you can always choose to go back to the Low Option for the rest of the Guarantee Year, if that still exists under the new system.

Just something to think about for the next few days

gotstamps · Mar 5, 2018

From the current contract:

At the time of the national count, interim adjustment, special count, or just prior to the beginning of the guarantee period the post- master must arrange a meeting with each eli- gible rural carrier to discuss requirements for election of a higher classification for which the rural carrier may qualify. The commitment to use sufficient annual leave in order to qual- ify for a higher classification must be made in writing to give the postmaster assurance that the actual work hours will not exceed 2,080 hours during the guarantee period. The writ- ten commitment must be submitted with the appropriate forms at the time of a national count, interim adjustment, special count, or high option election.

btdtret · Mar 5, 2018

hunchback -- The High Option is available with a National Count, Interim Adjustment, Special Count, as well as prior to the start of the Guarantee Year.

hunchback · Mar 6, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">gotstamps said 
From the current contract:

At the time of the national count, interim adjustment, special count, or just prior to the beginning of the guarantee period</blockquote>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">the post- master must arrange a meeting with each eli- gible rural carrier to discuss requirements for election of a higher classification for which the rural carrier may qualify.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Has this MEETING taken place every year for all you fellow carriers eligible for high option, NOT LIKELY</blockquote>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">The commitment to use sufficient annual leave in order to qual- ify for a higher classification must be made in writing to give the postmaster assurance that the actual work hours will not exceed 2,080 hours during the guarantee period</blockquote>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">The writ- ten commitment must be submitted with the appropriate forms at the time of a national count, interim adjustment, special count, or high option election. </blockquote>
Appropriate forms?

I bet the term interim adjustment can be so defined as not to include time standard changes made by the Engineering study. I believe the current meaning of an interim adjustment would be a route cut or a route receiving boxes cut from another route..

I would not argue with your knowledge of the contract, you are spot on,

But the contract ends soon and we are about to embark on the unknown. Rumors of the evaluated system rolling in in 3 then 6 or 9 month increments makes me wonder if the guarantee year will be an obsolete term also.

OutHereSomewhere · Mar 6, 2018

FYI, just in case you aren't aware of it, and you probably are, but just in case.

I can remember way back to rural carrier academy...those many moons ago...being told to always opt for the high option. If you take the high option, you can always go to the low option later on, if you decide you can't, or don't want to, handle the high option. But you cannot go the other way...low to high. I remember one of the instructors saying to always, ALWAYS, sign for the high option, then decide later if you want to go low.

gotstamps · Mar 6, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">hunchback said 

Appropriate forms?

I bet the term interim adjustment can be so defined as not to include time standard changes made by the Engineering study. I believe the current meaning of an interim adjustment would be a route cut or a route receiving boxes cut from another route..

I would not argue with your knowledge of the contract, you are spot on,

But the contract ends soon and we are about to embark on the unknown. Rumors of the evaluated system rolling in in 3 then 6 or 9 month increments makes me wonder if the guarantee year will be an obsolete term also. </blockquote>
We've been "out of contract" many times. Typically the ending contract is "extended" until a new one is agreed upon. Meaning "nothing changes" in the contract rules & they are still to be adhered to. I would think that implementation of the time study would certainly qualify as an "interim adjustment", Especially since it could force route cuts or build-ups.

btdtret · Mar 6, 2018

O-H-S et al -- Don't forget, thanks to Arbitrator Clarke, one must have 10 years of service as a regular before being eligible to utilize the High Option.

-- Arbitrator Clarke was nice enough to include a small paragraph in his "award": The Board of Arbitration ( not the arbitrator - thus sharing the blame ) will direct modification of the High Option language in order that cost savings anticipated in this Award are realized ( immediately - to assist the USPS in its financial woes ) while at the same time ensuring that Rural Letter Carriers are not hampered in maximizing their incomes in their last years of service. ( how about "maximizing" incomes during earlier times when bodies would be able to handle the additional work loads while socking away $ in to the TSP? Prior to the "award" a carrier had to be in the 6- or 8-hour ( 20 or 26 days leave category ) to select the High Option. That eliminated up to 7 years of High Option eligibility. ))

RCA 74 · Mar 11, 2018

What happens when you are a new regular carrier and haven't earned enough leave time required to keep you under the 2080. For example your route is evaluated as a 45k, resulting in the possibility of working 2340 hours at evaluation. If you subtract your maximum available leave time earned 117 hrs. that will still leave you 143 hrs. over the 2080 threshold. Is this a glitch in the system?

OutHereSomewhere · Mar 11, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">RCA 74 said 
What happens when you are a new regular carrier and haven't earned enough leave time required to keep you under the 2080. For example your route is evaluated as a 45k, resulting in the possibility of working 2340 hours at evaluation. If you subtract your maximum available leave time earned 117 hrs. that will still leave you 143 hrs. over the 2080 threshold. Is this a glitch in the system? </blockquote>
Every USPS system has a glitch in it...it's like a requirement to be in management, to be able to screw stuff up.

They'll make you LWOP...more than likely.

oi veh. · Mar 11, 2018

@RCA74 - If you are not eligible for the high option, then you don't sign.

2080 is only for those who opt the high option.

My management tried that 2080 crap with me and I told her to pound sand. I have never opted for high option (and won't until it's time for my high 3) and therefore, it doesn't apply.

Holidays are also subtracted from the equation as well as your annual leave.

EDIT: (had to go find the documentation) https://www.knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HIGH-LOWOPTIONELECTIONS-updated.pdf

oi veh. · Mar 11, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
OutHereSomewhere said 

They'll make you LWOP...more than likely.

</blockquote>
https://www.knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/LWOP-not-required-for-2080.pdf

Joe Reeser · Mar 11, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
Oi veh. said 
@RCA74 - If you are not eligible for the high option, then you don't sign.

2080 is only for those who opt the high option.

My management tried that 2080 crap with me and I told her to pound sand. I have never opted for high option (and won't until it's time for my high 3) and therefore, it doesn't apply.

Holidays are also subtracted from the equation as well as your annual leave.

EDIT: (had to go find the documentation) https://www.knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HIGH-LOWOPTIONELECTIONS-updated.pdf

</blockquote>
So you're telling me that if one is not "high-option" the 2080 rules do not apply?

What if one is "no option" like a 43J? Or has less than 10 years as a regular?

gotstamps · Mar 11, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Joe Reeser said 
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
Oi veh. said 
@RCA74 - If you are not eligible for the high option, then you don't sign.

2080 is only for those who opt the high option.

My management tried that 2080 crap with me and I told her to pound sand. I have never opted for high option (and won't until it's time for my high 3) and therefore, it doesn't apply.

Holidays are also subtracted from the equation as well as your annual leave.

EDIT: (had to go find the documentation) https://www.knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/HIGH-LOWOPTIONELECTIONS-updated.pdf
</blockquote>

So you're telling me that if one is not "high-option" the 2080 rules do not apply?

What if one is "no option" like a 43J? Or has less than 10 years as a regular? </blockquote>
Mgmt will still try to keep you under 2080 & that's their right. If you've taken off or requested & been denied leave & are still going over 2080, then mgmt has options to lower your actual work hours. Always keep all Leave slips, especially the DENIED ones. You should NEVER LWOP as it's not required no matter what mgmt might say (see link supplied in post 11). Come September/October, mgmt can allow you to work a few hours and then send you home. They can do this as long as they need or until they feel comfortable that your hours are under control.

oi veh. · Mar 11, 2018

@joe_reeser - I am saying that management cannot make you sign the promise to use annual leave. That comes into play only when one is OPTING for the high option. My management tried to coerce me and I told her to pound sand. The only other time that you would sign the promise is if you didn't opt for the high and then near the end of the fiscal year you are brought into the office to discuss all the ways you are a deficient carrier because you don't run your fool head off. Then you would sign saying, "Yah boss. I be a good carrier and won't make you pay me for all the extra I do. Yassuh, yassuh, 3 bags full, suh." There is also a provision for carriers in the 13 day category.

For a little light reading, go here: https://www.knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/LesterMiller.pdf
I'm not nice like bt - I don't do bullet points.

And remember...management always has the right to mis-manage.