Looking for an answer or 3

mcskow · May 8, 2018

Wall-o-text sorry! Thanks in advance for any help!

So in my office we have 48 routes (9 J routes, 5 H routes, 33 K routes, and 1 Aux route). So then we have 1 H route where the carrier is out for an undetermined amount of time (issues with the law), and 1 K route with the carrier out for an undetermined amount of time. The H route has no leave replacement on the matrix, and we have an unassigned carrier who just got a letter from her/his doctor saying she/he can work again on a route, and she/he was given the vacant route as a hold down. My first question is, does management have the right to just give her/him that hold-down without so much as saying anything to anyone? Then we move on to the K route, the regular carrier had back surgery, most likely never coming back. The primary leave replacement is also out on leave of some kind, and I say some kind of leave because apparently management does not actually know what kind it is, and has been on this leave for over a year. So this route was just given to a PTF as a hold-down, again nothing said, asked, or anything of the kind to inform people of what was happening. My second question is similar to the first; Is management within their right to just give the hold-down to a PTF? Also, if a leave replacement has been gone over a year, why hasn't that primary spot been removed/replaced with another carrier to fill that vacancy? My last question has to do with the matrix. I know that a PTF has a minimum of 2 assigned routes up to a maximum of 5, but when doing the matrix, are they assigned 2 routes at first then the rest gets filled with what is left of the K routes to the PTF's? Or are they entitled to 5 K routes first (of course they can't take a primary away from a leave replacement) and then the rest is up for grabs?

btdtret · May 8, 2018

mcskow -- How many RCA's in the office? How many PTF's? A lot of questions. This will take some time to sort out!

#1 -- The H-route carrier is out of a undetermined amount of time.

-- As long as the carrier is carried on the 4240, the route is not vacant.

" we have an unassigned carrier who just got a letter from her/his doctor saying she/he can work again on a route, and she/he was given the vacant route as a hold down."

-- An "unassigned" carrier? As in an "excessed" regular carrier? Or one who had to give up his/her route to due injury or other health issue and take a "phantom" route? Article 12.5 deals with "excess" carriers. "Unassigned" only appears in the contract's MOU #6.

-- "Hold down" is generally considered a city term that has crept into rural carrier usage and meaning "filling in full-time on the route".

-- Call in the Assistant District Representative to determine if the route is actually vacant.

-- If the route is determined to be vacant, manglement will have a lot of explaining to do why the route was not placed up for bidding -- if the route have been vacant for more than 30 days.

#2 -- "the K route, the regular carrier had back surgery, most likely never coming back. The primary leave replacement is also out on leave of some kind, and I say some kind of leave because apparently management does not actually know what kind it is, and has been on this leave for over a year."

-- While the ADR is in the office, maybe the ADR can help manglement determine what kind of "leave" the primary leave replacement is on and determine employment status of said RCA.

"So this route was just given to a PTF as a hold-down, again nothing said, asked, or anything of the kind to inform people of what was happening. "

-- How many other K-routes is this PTF assigned to? PTF's are assigned to a minimum of 2 K-routes and a rare max of 5 K-routes ( total number of evaluated work hours comes into play ).

-- Terminology again rears its ugly head in regards to "hold-down".

-- From the thread: "Bumping" on the Matrix back in DEC 2017: PTF's can not "hold down" a route nor can they be assigned to an Auxiliary route. Even if one of the routes on their "string" were to go to hold-down or vacant, mgmt would be forced to remove that route from the string. ( ask the OP for reference(s). )

"if a leave replacement has been gone over a year, why hasn’t that primary spot been removed/replaced with another carrier to fill that vacancy?

-- Have the ADR ask manglement that question.

#3 -- "My last question has to do with the matrix. I know that a PTF has a minimum of 2 assigned routes up to a maximum of 5, but when doing the matrix, are they assigned 2 routes at first then the rest gets filled with what is left of the K routes to the PTF’s? (of course they can’t take a primary away from a leave replacement) and then the rest is up for grabs?

"Or are they [ PTF's ] entitled to 5 K routes first.

-- PTF's are not "entitled" to 5 K routes. Manglement will assign a PTF to a minimum of 2 K routes. If there are 5 K routes without a sub, and there are not enough subs in the office or in other near by post offices, then manglement may assign the sub-less K routes to the PTF's "string". Or possibly create an additional PTF position. In that case, it shall be posted at the post office, including stations and branches, for all substitute rural carriers, and RCA's that have completed their probationary period [ 90 work-days or 1 calendar year ]. Also note: PTF's CAN NOT decline to be converted to regular status.

-- From the Q & A 1999 Analysis:

Q -- in part -- How does the PTF fit into the Matrix?

A. -- in part -- The PTF carrier will be shown on the matrix ONLY as the primary leave replacement to those K route to which he or she is assigned.

-- I'd say the PTF would put his / her name in the primary slot of the assigned routes. The rest of the RCA's get the rest.

"of course they can’t take a primary away from a leave replacement"

-- Maybe, maybe not! There are a few "IF's" involved.

-- Posted over at Delphi last year by a trusted source. [ IF manglement chooses to create or keep a PTF position. ] "A PTF must have a string of at least two K route. IF the K routes already have RCA's assigned, the RCA's must be bumped, for want of a better term. The postmaster gets to choose which routes will be put on the PTF's string. The bumped RCA's then have to take what openings are available. It stinks." ( and no, I don't have an official source for it ).

btdtret · May 8, 2018

PastOThirty -- "A whole lotta wrong, as described, and that is reading half the post. Discuss the particulars with the adr. Prepare specific notes."

-- Wish I had put it that way!!

mcskow · May 9, 2018

How many RCA’s in the office? ----- 18 on active duty (5 out hurt and 1 out on military leave)

How many PTF’s? --- 2

An “unassigned” carrier? As in an “excess” regular carrier? Or one who had to give up his/her route to due injury

or other health issue and take a “phantom” route? She/He was put on disability and a job was created in the office for her/him to work. Fast forward about 2.5 years later and her/his doctor clears her/him for duty again. Her/his route already went up for bid and has a carrier assigned to it, so she/he has no route, so then "excess" carrier would be the most appropriate term I suppose. So she/he is filling in full time on the route, and there was no notice about it or anything said that it was open.

How many other K-routes is this PTF assigned to? PTF’s are assigned to a minimum of 2 K-routes and a rare max of 5 K-routes ( total number of evaluated work hours comes into play ). --- both of the PTF's are assigned 5 K routes each, but this one in particular has been on one route since December, never doing the routes assigned to her/him as a PTF, forcing RCAs to do them instead.

thanks for the info! I do enjoy learning so that these things hopefully will not happen again.

btdtret · May 9, 2018

mcskow -- Thanx for the additional info.

-- Probably should get the ADR into the office to make sure everything is on the up and up.

-- An "Excess" carrier in a post office can fill / take any vacant route within 50 to 100 miles of that post office.

" both of the PTF’s are assigned 5 K routes each, but this one in particular has been on one route since December, never doing the routes assigned to her/him as a PTF, forcing RCAs to do them instead. "

-- Definitely have the ADR look into this situation. In theory, manglement could / should do away with the PTF position that is only covering one of 5 assigned routes.

mcskow · May 9, 2018

In theory, management could / should do away with the PTF position that is only covering one of 5 assigned routes.

- the route she/he is covering full time on is not one of her/his assigned PTF routes, so all 5 K Routes assigned to her/him have been covered by the other RCAs.

An “Excess” carrier in a post office can fill / take any vacant route within 50 to 100 miles of that post office.

- Ok, that's good to know, now we just need to figure out if the route is actually vacant or not!

Also, just curious as to if I can get some clarification on PTFs and the matrix. We are about to re-do our matrix, how are the PTF routes assigned? Are they assigned 2 K routes then after the matrix is filled out by the RCAs the left over K routes assigned to the PTFs? Or, are 5 K routes assigned to each PTF and then RCAs choose from what is left. Since we have so many K routes there really is not any worry of a PTF "bumping" or anything of the kind to someones primary. I ask this because we have one RCA whose 2nd matrix choose got assigned to a PTF about 1 year ago, even though there are multiple other K routes available on the same day, The RCA is just curious as to if she/he is going to be able to get this route back possibly, maybe a way to ask/tell management "hey it's my 2nd choice can't we move him to another K route with no leave replacement?" or just shit out of luck.

btdtret · May 9, 2018

mcskow -- "just curious as to if I can get some clarification on PTFs and the matrix. We are about to re-do our matrix, how are the PTF routes assigned? "

-- PTF name will go in the Primary Slot for the route(s) they ( really ) cover.

-- Let me suggest that you search for "ptf" and "matrix" in RI's KNOWLEDGEBASE section at the top of the page. There will be plenty of "hits" to download and print out.

-- To further muddy the waters, how many regulars in the office have not submitted the 120-Day Notice to get a sub? Add "120 day" to your search list.

-- If there are enough, manglement may be able to create more PTF position(s ).

-- Of course, it would certainly be helpful if the one PTF actually serviced the routes he / she was assigned to instead of running just one route. Something the ADR should be looking into.

mcskow · May 13, 2018

Most of the issues I listed I brought up with the ADR and they have been addressed. The only thing left is how to do the matrix in regards to assigning routes to PTFs and RCAs choosing routes. I know PTFs are assigned 2-5 K routes and they are listed as the primary on those routes for the assigned K relief day. What I am curious about is this: Does management assign 2 K routes to each PTF and then let RCAs choose their 3 choices, and left over K routes get assigned to PTFs (up to 5); or, does management assign 5 K routes to each PTF and then the RCAs choose their 3 choices. As far as I have read there really is no clear answer to this I thought maybe I have missed something somewhere, it's just "management assigns 2-5K routes to a PTF". Also, let's say an RCA calls in sick for a day or 2, what is "appropriate proof" that you were not "faking" being sick? Not like you can just go to the doctor for diarrhea/vomiting, you just buy ur OTC meds, can those receipts be used? Thanks again for any help/insight!!

btdtret · May 13, 2018

mcskow -- "As far as I have read there really is no clear answer to this I thought maybe I have missed something somewhere,.."

-- If you have looked at and /or printed out the Matrix info found in the KNOWLEDGEBASE, you have the same info as the rest of us.

-- Back to basics: There are 42 routes. There are 18 RCA's and 2-PTF's to cover those 42 routes. H routes are entitled to a sub too, but we'll set that aside for now.

-- Actually it is us who are missing something. We are just taking shots in the dark without the total information.

-- You have not specified how many of the 33 K routes did not have subs.

-- Nor do we know how many of those K routes without subs have submitted the 120-Day Notice to get a sub.

-- Of those who have submitted the 120-Day Notice, how many have had the 120 days expire without getting a sub?

-- How many J routes have subs?

-- What are the relief days for the routes?

-- Has manglement considered creating additional PTF positions?

-- A PTF is entitled to, on a weekly basis, to a combination of leave and evaluated hours equal to the total of one day's evaluation for each of the assigned primary routes. A PTF may not use leave to generate overtime. In other words it will be a nightmare for manglement to assign the 2 PTF's to K routes and still keep the PTF's from going into overtime as PTF's can be used just about any where to fill in where needed, including Sundays. Manglement is on its own to determine which K routes to assign the 2 PTF's. Once the assigning is done, the PTF's name should be put on the Matrix in the Primary Slot for their assigned routes. After that, manglement needs to go through the "normal" process of filling in the blanks on the Matrix.

-- If the Matrix has not been filled out, why not have the Assistant District Representative visit the office to ensure the Matrix is done properly?

gotstamps · May 14, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">mcskow said 
Most of the issues I listed I brought up with the ADR and they have been addressed. The only thing left is how to do the matrix in regards to assigning routes to PTFs and RCAs choosing routes. I know PTFs are assigned 2-5 K routes and they are listed as the primary on those routes for the assigned K relief day. What I am curious about is this: Does management assign 2 K routes to each PTF and then let RCAs choose their 3 choices, and left over K routes get assigned to PTFs (up to 5); or, does management assign 5 K routes to each PTF and then the RCAs choose their 3 choices. As far as I have read there really is no clear answer to this I thought maybe I have missed something somewhere, it's just "management assigns 2-5K routes to a PTF". Also, let's say an RCA calls in sick for a day or 2, what is "appropriate proof" that you were not "faking" being sick? Not like you can just go to the doctor for diarrhea/vomiting, you just buy ur OTC meds, can those receipts be used? Thanks again for any help/insight!! </blockquote>
Our PTFs have 4 routes each. They were assigned K-routes that were in need of a primary. Some of those routes had 2nds & 3rds already assigned so no change was necessary. It is up to mgmt as to whether the matrix needs updating where Secondary & Tertiary routes are concerned. They should update when there are too many "holes" but as to what is considered too many is the question.