I am a new rural carrier and I need some answers. For instance I were told when I got back off my regular route that I am assigned to that I had a package that needed to be delivered and I needed to go back out, but when I look at the package it were not on my route and the post master told me that I still needed to deliver it, is that right because I felt like they should have gave it to the person that were on that route instead of having me to deliver that package. I though that that were wrong or is that just me
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heyman1104
New member
Seems like more information is needed to really answer the question. But if it was for another route, as a RCA, you can be sent to go deliver any rural route's parcel. Be sure that you get paid for both your time and mileage for the trip.
To my knowledge, I thought that since I had delivered my own route then it should have been that person responsibility to deliver that package because I had to drive my own personal vehicle to drop that package off and it belongs to a different route which were 13 and I am on route 74 and had to work my own shift today. That should have never been on me to make that delivery
heyman1104
New member
Moving this topic to the "Leave Replacements" forum, as it fits in better there.
heyman1104
New member
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>unanswers said </strong>
To my knowledge, I thought that since I had delivered my own route then it should have been that person responsibility to deliver that package because I had to drive my own personal vehicle to drop that package off and it belongs to a different route which were 13 and I am on route 74 and had to work my own shift today. That should have never been on me to make that delivery </blockquote>
What I'm telling you as that as a RCA you can be put on any rural route in your office, any part of any rural route in your office, or be sent to deliver parcels on any rural route in your office. The fact that you had already delivered your route is pretty much irrelevant here. There are a million different reasons that the other carrier couldn't get it delivered, like maybe it came in after that carrier had left and they didn't want to pay a regular carrier for a second trip. Maybe that carrier couldn't fit it in their vehicle and management decided to have someone else run it out (which is within management's rights to do).
Side note, good job on getting it all done.
To my knowledge, I thought that since I had delivered my own route then it should have been that person responsibility to deliver that package because I had to drive my own personal vehicle to drop that package off and it belongs to a different route which were 13 and I am on route 74 and had to work my own shift today. That should have never been on me to make that delivery </blockquote>
What I'm telling you as that as a RCA you can be put on any rural route in your office, any part of any rural route in your office, or be sent to deliver parcels on any rural route in your office. The fact that you had already delivered your route is pretty much irrelevant here. There are a million different reasons that the other carrier couldn't get it delivered, like maybe it came in after that carrier had left and they didn't want to pay a regular carrier for a second trip. Maybe that carrier couldn't fit it in their vehicle and management decided to have someone else run it out (which is within management's rights to do).
Side note, good job on getting it all done.
unanswers -- "post master told me that I still needed to deliver it [ late package not for my route ].
-- If you were up on the new contract, you could have politely declined by citing the contract: Page 46, Article 30.1.P A regular rural carrier shall not be required to serve all or party of any rural route other that his or her assigned route except as provided in ELM, Section 546 ( which does not apply in your case ).
-- If in doubt, follow the NRLCA mantra of obeying manglement's direct order(s), then grieve after wards.
-- So now you know what to do the next time the situation arises. If you cite the contract, yet manglement still directs you to take out a package, contact your office steward or Assistant District Representative. If either are unavailable, delivery the package and file a grievance. Make sure there are "cease and desist" and "monetary penalty for repeated offenses" phrases included in the settlement.
-- Be sure to ask the PM if the package in question was a late arrival or a mis-throw by a clerk.
-- Also ask if an RCA could deliver the package. If the package was an Express item, basically anyone in the post office could deliver it, including clerks, custodians, or supervisors.
Upon further review" "I am a new rural carrier" It wasn't clear if you were an RCA or a new regular rural carrier? My bad.
If you are an RCA, just deliver the package, no questions asked as you can be directed to provide assistance as manglement sees fit. Just be sure to get time and mileage for using a POV. If you are a regular rural carrier, feel free to use any of the above.
-- If you were up on the new contract, you could have politely declined by citing the contract: Page 46, Article 30.1.P A regular rural carrier shall not be required to serve all or party of any rural route other that his or her assigned route except as provided in ELM, Section 546 ( which does not apply in your case ).
-- If in doubt, follow the NRLCA mantra of obeying manglement's direct order(s), then grieve after wards.
-- So now you know what to do the next time the situation arises. If you cite the contract, yet manglement still directs you to take out a package, contact your office steward or Assistant District Representative. If either are unavailable, delivery the package and file a grievance. Make sure there are "cease and desist" and "monetary penalty for repeated offenses" phrases included in the settlement.
-- Be sure to ask the PM if the package in question was a late arrival or a mis-throw by a clerk.
-- Also ask if an RCA could deliver the package. If the package was an Express item, basically anyone in the post office could deliver it, including clerks, custodians, or supervisors.
Upon further review" "I am a new rural carrier" It wasn't clear if you were an RCA or a new regular rural carrier? My bad.
If you are an RCA, just deliver the package, no questions asked as you can be directed to provide assistance as manglement sees fit. Just be sure to get time and mileage for using a POV. If you are a regular rural carrier, feel free to use any of the above.
heyman1104
New member
@btdtret I think the OP is a RCA, not a regular RC. At least that was what I thought.
One more thing is that it were not an express, they stated that they had scanned it today so it needed to be delivered. I am really learning about the system because I hear so much from different people, I do not mind doing the job I just believe in fairness and not trying to be messed over. I will look further into this because I feel that sometime I can not get a straight answer and everyone is passing the bulk
gotstamps
Well-known member
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>unanswers said </strong>
You are right I am a RCA, but the point is that I had already clocked out to go home at 5 p.m. and I felt that it were unfair as a new RCA to tell me that I had to do this, because it was out of my way </blockquote>
Any 'parcel run' (which this is) is always "out of (your) way" if you're doing correctly. NEVER take a pkg 'on your way home' as this is falsifying the location of delivery by scanning 'delivered' while still at the PO. As an RCA, you must go back out if mgmt instructs & time & mileage (POV) is claimed on a greencard. Wait till Holidays come around where subs are doing parcel runs for all routes PLUS there own because mgmt doesn't want to pay Regs to do 2nd trips.
Congrats on the new job. As I've told my new sub... don't worry if you don't get it down or don't like it, this job is NOT for everyone.
You are right I am a RCA, but the point is that I had already clocked out to go home at 5 p.m. and I felt that it were unfair as a new RCA to tell me that I had to do this, because it was out of my way </blockquote>
Any 'parcel run' (which this is) is always "out of (your) way" if you're doing correctly. NEVER take a pkg 'on your way home' as this is falsifying the location of delivery by scanning 'delivered' while still at the PO. As an RCA, you must go back out if mgmt instructs & time & mileage (POV) is claimed on a greencard. Wait till Holidays come around where subs are doing parcel runs for all routes PLUS there own because mgmt doesn't want to pay Regs to do 2nd trips.
Congrats on the new job. As I've told my new sub... don't worry if you don't get it down or don't like it, this job is NOT for everyone.
unanswers -- Just how "new" are you? What was you hiiring date?
"I feel that sometime I can not get a straight answer and everyone is passing the bulk "
-- Time to step back and take a deep breath or two. Like searching for something on Google or RI's KNOWLEDGEBASE, to get the right ( straight ) answer, you have to ask the right question. The more information you can provide makes it easier for RI members to provide advice and answers as well as telling you references to go to for answers.
Something like this would have been more helpful: I'm a new RCA. After finishing my assigned route and clocking out to go home, the post master told me to deliver a parcel using my POV on my way home. The parcel was not an express item and was for another route.
-- To add to "gotstamps" posting: If in the future, post master insists you deliver parcels from your POV on your way home, ask for that order in writing. And ask how you should scan those parcels as you deliver them. Faldifying official records can lead to removal. Should you get in an accident with numerous parcels or even one in your vehicle, the investigators ( local police or maybe even postal police ) will want to know why you have those parcels, none of which are addressed to you. No doubt you saw news clips of "porch pirates" during the holiday season. Don't depend on the PM to stand up for you either if you don't have the order in writing.
-- Chalk this espisode off as a "lesson learned". More than likely there will be more events headed your way that you feel are unfair. The more you know about the contract, the less manglement can take advantage of you.
"I feel that sometime I can not get a straight answer and everyone is passing the bulk "
-- Time to step back and take a deep breath or two. Like searching for something on Google or RI's KNOWLEDGEBASE, to get the right ( straight ) answer, you have to ask the right question. The more information you can provide makes it easier for RI members to provide advice and answers as well as telling you references to go to for answers.
Something like this would have been more helpful: I'm a new RCA. After finishing my assigned route and clocking out to go home, the post master told me to deliver a parcel using my POV on my way home. The parcel was not an express item and was for another route.
-- To add to "gotstamps" posting: If in the future, post master insists you deliver parcels from your POV on your way home, ask for that order in writing. And ask how you should scan those parcels as you deliver them. Faldifying official records can lead to removal. Should you get in an accident with numerous parcels or even one in your vehicle, the investigators ( local police or maybe even postal police ) will want to know why you have those parcels, none of which are addressed to you. No doubt you saw news clips of "porch pirates" during the holiday season. Don't depend on the PM to stand up for you either if you don't have the order in writing.
-- Chalk this espisode off as a "lesson learned". More than likely there will be more events headed your way that you feel are unfair. The more you know about the contract, the less manglement can take advantage of you.
There is no such thing as "fairness" in the RCA biz, so please get that out of your mind. I am the most senior RCA (PTF) in my office and I have a few of the heaviest routes. I will get back after the newest RCAs and they will send me out to help and send the newbies home. You will be assisting, delivering express, doing half of someone else's route because they cannot handle it. If you are working close to, or over 40 hours a week, feel blessed. If not, run your route, under evaluation if possible, and then go assist, deliver parcels, do whatever you can. This is how you get the most out of your workday. I personally love running a few parcels, it is much less stressful then trying to get back to the office by 5. If you run a 9.2 hour route in 7 hours and then assist for 2 hrs, you will get paid for 11.2 for the day. RCAs should be a team but that is not always the case.
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>joone713 said </strong>
If you run a 9.2 hour route in 7 hours and then assist for 2 hrs, you will get paid for 11.2 for the day. </blockquote>
That's IF you don't go over 40 hours for the week.
If in your scenario you go over 40 hours for the week then you get 9 hours pay. Not only did you not get anything extra for the 2 hours assistance, but you also miss out on 0.2 hours evaluation.
If you think you're even close to 40+ then run your routes as close to evaluation as possible.
If you run a 9.2 hour route in 7 hours and then assist for 2 hrs, you will get paid for 11.2 for the day. </blockquote>
That's IF you don't go over 40 hours for the week.
If in your scenario you go over 40 hours for the week then you get 9 hours pay. Not only did you not get anything extra for the 2 hours assistance, but you also miss out on 0.2 hours evaluation.
If you think you're even close to 40+ then run your routes as close to evaluation as possible.
