Need help ASAP- forced to work unassigned office

[Skeptic1202]

Hi all,

 

Theres an office in crisis near me. The POOM is gearing up to compel RCAs from other offices to fill in and help

The problems in that office stem from a shitty PM and have been ongoing for years. He wrote my BF up for a no call no show on a day BF was not scheduled. BF didn't find out until he had his 90 day review.  He has not been removed or reprimanded for his shittiness that I am aware of.

I refuse to work at this office. I will quit before I go. It's my understanding that this order violates our contract- local steward says otherwise. I don't trust Local Steward- he is from that office, and technically is reg on a route there but hasn't done it in years.

I need help ASAP. I don't want to quit, but I will not play this game. If my OIC orders me to go, I'm going to ask him if he wants a sub shortage in our office too and mean it.

Thanks - planning on reading the contract tonight when I get home.

 

[22222]

i believe you must do what you are told to do (follow orders) but you can grieve it immediately and make sure you put "cease the  action of forcing rca's to work other offices, working other offices must be on volunteer biases"  if you win keep a copy of this and every time they force you pull this out.   there may even be a step grievence on this already.    punch in some key words on this site and see what you can find.  post under the general  section of this site you get more feedback.  you can take a chance and call in sick to the other office and to yours so you cover all basis.   you cannot get written up for a call off to an office you do not work at.  never answer you l phone when the po calls   let it go to voice mail and then listen to what they want.

 

[Skeptic1202]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Lady Carrier said </strong>
From the contract: Article 30.2.D

D. Unavailability of a Leave Replacement
1. A leave replacement assignment list showing the primary
leave replacements assigned to each route and
the second and third leave replacements to be utilized
on each route, if any, will be posted in each office.
Qualified substitutes, rural carrier associates, and rural
carrier relief employees will be designated as the second
and third leave replacements for each route based
on the longest period of continuous service in the
office. In no instance will these employees be shown as
leave replacements on more than three routes on the
assignment list.
2. Whenever the leave replacement assigned to serve a
route is temporarily unavailable or no leave replacement
is assigned to the route, the Employer may
require a part-time flexible rural carrier to serve the
route prior to requiring those substitutes, rural carrier
associates, or rural carrier relief employees who are the
second or third leave replacements designated for that
route on the leave replacement assignment list.
3. If the second and third leave replacements designated
for the route are unavailable, and a part-time flexible
rural carrier has not been designated to serve the route,
the route shall be assigned to qualified substitutes,
rural carrier associates, or rural carrier relief employees
<strong>assigned to that delivery unit</strong> in the order of the longest
period of continuous service in the office. Qualified is
defined for Subsection D.1. and 3. as having received
training on or been utilized on the route.
<strong>Delivery unit is defined for this purpose as a physical</strong>
<strong>location containing one or more five digit zip codes</strong>
<strong>under the control of one postmaster or station/branch</strong>
<strong>manager</strong>. This does not include annexes, stations, or
branches under the control of a different postmaster or
station/branch manager.
4. If no qualified substitutes, rural carrier associates, or
rural carrier relief employees within the delivery unit are
available, the Employer may designate any other leave
replacement in the office prior to selecting a regular
rural carrier to work in accordance with Article 8.5.
5. <strong>In emergencies, when the services of a substitute, rural</strong>
<strong>carrier associate, or rural carrier relief employee are not</strong>
<strong>available, another qualified employee may be designated</strong>
<strong>by the Employer</strong>.

<em>This would include PM, Clerk, PSE, etc.</em>

<em>When a PM does not keep subs for routes hired they take a chance that they will have to run the route themselves.</em>

<em>They cannot require you to go to another office, unless that office in under the same PM, not MPOO.</em>

<em>My PM has taken a clerk and together they delivered my route more than once. Didn't like it, but we were short subs and I had approved time off. He learned his lesson and does all he can to keep a sub hired for each route.</em>

<em>If this other office is under your PM's control then you'll have to go.</em>  

</blockquote>
Thank you for this info.

I'm going to make this more convoluted.

I am assigned an aux route - I have made it clear I am opting for 6/0 and relinquishing my position as sub of record for the one regular route in my office - do the same rules apply?

Also, I do not have a PM at this moment. I have an OIC. My OIC is also acting OIC at the other office. The Postmaster for that office is playing rural carrier at that instead of being a Postmaster. Is there a way they could twist this around to make me work since my OIC has somehow been talked into running two different offices? It's not supposed to be this way. Each office is supposed to have its own Postmaster. The Postmaster for my office just retired, but is still on the books until some time or other is used up before we get a new PM.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Ask your "OIC" to give you a written direct order, specifying which office he is OIC of, because you are un-able to understand his "request" because you don't know what route on your matrix he is talking about (if it's a route with the same # as one in your office, show up early and start working on that route). If he does require this, then ask for a copy of the schedule, all of the 4240's in your office, and the matrix for your office. If your "OIC" doesn't want to get any of these things for you, ask, "Are you refusing my request for information on a grievance I will be filing? You do realize that in itself is another contract infraction, right?". Hopefully these questions will give enough worry to your OIC to not require this work from you.

When you are given the direct order from this OIC, ask "What office are you currently working in this one or the other?" If he says the other, ignore the order, if he says your office, you must follow and then grieve, asking for punitive damages. The poor management skills of the pm in the other office is the cause of all of these problems and he should be the one to suffer the consequences of them, not other RCA's in other offices. 

 

[btdtret]

Skeptic1202 --  Quite a mess you have.

--  OIC is still the one giving the orders, so follow the NRLCA's mantra -- obey orders, then grieve.

--  Is the Assistant District Representative aware of the situations?

a.  lack of trust in the local steward, and

b.  RCA's being order to work at another post office?

"He [ PM ] has not been removed or reprimanded for his shittiness that I am aware of."

--  Has there been any grievance filed against the PM that otherwise would alert higher-ups that all is not peachy-keen?

--  My last office got a new postmaster arrived because so many grievances had be filed that the PM was not allowed on the work floor at the PM's previous post office.   Sort of solidifies the saying that the USPS just shuffles problem members of manglement around instead of just firing them.

If you get the ADR's attention, maybe the ADR could look into the reasons for the sub shortage at the other office.  Have 120-Day notices been filed?   Are there enough K-Routes ( at least two ) so that a PTF position could be created?

"I refuse to work at this office. I will quit before I go."

--  That's a bit extreme!   Grimace and bear it at least until you can make your feelings known to the ADR.  Just might lead to the ADR doing some real investigating.

 

[Skeptic1202]

Yes, I was very, very mad when I first wrote this and also very tired - I worked 50hrs this week and had insomnia almost every night. I'm not handling things the best at the moment. Not sure if I will quit, but I have long refused to work at that office because of how my boyfriend was treated there when he was a sub. I am dead serious about it. You guys have given me ammo though - maybe if I make a big enough stink they won't send me.

Also, I should note that the "local steward" is actually the district rep for our area, according to the Knowledge Base. He's the only one that shows for my zip code. He has basically rolled over for them - something about the Post Office not agreeing with the clause in the contract that says they can't force us to go elsewhere. Same thing, follow direct orders and grieve later.

As for that PM - I don't know what has or has not been filed against him. I would think that the fact that he cannot keep RCAs -they quit or transfer as soon as they can - and has even had a regular quit would give the higher ups pause as to what is going on. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part. My current OIC was a clerk in that office and was even trying to get away and the POOM told him he had to go help there. There's been six or more other PMs from nearby offices that have had to go there this week to try to clean up the mess and deliver routes. It's absurd.

I'm going to get a grievance all set to go. If my OIC follows the POOM's orders and makes me go, I will give it to him the moment he hands me the order in writing. 

Last questions I can think of - can I safely refuse until I get the order in writing? Also, when I grieve it, do they basically get to keep making me go until the grievance is settled? Will it have more oomph if I get in contact with other subs in the area that are also being forced to do this?

 

You guys are a godsend. Thank you. 

 

[btdtret]

Skeptic1202 -- "“local steward” is actually the district rep for our area"

--  No Assistant District Representative?   

--  There is always the Director of Steward Operations at NRLCA HQ.

"My current OIC was a clerk in that office and was even trying to get away and the POOM told him he had to go help there. There’s been six or more other PMs from nearby offices that have had to go there this week to try to clean up the mess and deliver routes. "

--  Maybe an anonymous call to local media could getting the ball rolling.   The USPS does not like negative press.

"can I safely refuse until I get the order in writing?"

--  Have you recently won a lottery and are financially well off?  If not, then heed the ELM's Chapter 6, Section 651.4 Emergency Placement in Off-Duty Status.

An employee may be placed in an off-duty nonpay status immediately, but remains on the rolls when he or she:  ( 5 options for manglement to choose from ).

Option c is:  Fails to obey a direct order.

--  Keep buying a lotto ticket once in a while and get some rest!

 

[Rt2mailman]

The only thing we are allowed to refuse any direct order for is 1) safety and 2) illegal orders. Now if you could make a case that that PM knows you are the girlfriend of the man that was treated poorly by him before and you fear for your (bodily harm) safety and from retaliation from him, you might be able to make the "safety"stretch. I would call the POOM myself and explain this. Stating that if there is any problem you will hold them directly responsible. Maybe, because the POOM knows how this pm "sucks" he too will back off and you won't be required to "un-contractually" work there. If the POOM has "gotten involved" he deserves a call, if he hasn't actually gotten involved (which is more likely), your call will clear that up also.

 

[Shafted]

No way in hell we are to be loaned out like library books.  We are not hired as floaters to be shuffled around at the whim of mgt.  Say the office was 50 miles from home.  Offering to work in the branches or stations of your employing zip/ home office, and where you are on matrix is as about as far as their demands can take you.  Stand up.  Cave in, and you will be a repeat victim of this BS.  If this office has nothing to do with yours, just refuse.  I had a cocky full of himself PM of a very large neighboring office call me at 6 am one morning and DEMAND I be there to cover a route.  I already had an aux rt of my own, and I told him NO after he tried to be a bully, and said you HAVE to be here at 8.  My response was listen pal, I don't know who gave you my phone number, but don't you ever call me again understood?  Never happened again.  

 

[Deer Smearer]

Would they be pulling you off the aux or primary, or are they wanting this in addition  to your assigned routes?

 

[Skeptic1202]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<strong>Deer Smearer said </strong>
Would they be pulling you off the aux or primary, or are they wanting this in addition  to your assigned routes?  

</blockquote>
I'm assuming in addition to my aux route. No way in hell they are going to pull me off my assignment to do something in another office. I'm the only sub in my own office right now, as well. They pull me to work in the other office, they won't have anyone to cover the the Reg in my own office should something happen on a day they've pulled me. Besides the regular, I'm the only one that knows his route as far as I am aware.

 

[heyman1104]

As others have suggested. this is one of those "do it, and then grieve" situations. Not much you can do about that. However, if you really want to stick it to them, be sure to demand payment for your time and mileage driving up there (if you're going there after completing your AUX).

 

[stillfirstclass]

and driving back

 

[etr4807]

If you have never run that route before then you will get paid actual time if they "make you" run it. Take your sweet time and soak up money from the post office for once. Don't stress out about it, if you do a shitty job so what hopefully he won't ask you to come back. I have never heard of another post office firing a sub. But as others have stated if you really don't want to do it just don't. It's not your office and as you stated I'm sure your office would rather keep you than have you quit over something that shouldn't even be you or your office's problem.

 

[Shafted]

What part of " this is not your office or station or branch " are you people not getting.  Under no circumstances is a sub required to follow a direct order by some random PM, or OIC, on a power trip, who is bullying a sub to cover their vacant route.  DONT do it if you don't want to.  This is a very simple solution to a very simple problem, that is being made confusing by posters here.  If you are not assigned on your form 50 to this office in any way as described above, then ignore this jackass mgt person who is hassling you and tell them you are going to file an EEO if it continues.  

 

[Skeptic1202]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Shafted said </strong>
What part of " this is not your office or station or branch " are you people not getting.  Under no circumstances is a sub required to follow a direct order by some random PM, or OIC, on a power trip, who is bullying a sub to cover their vacant route.  DONT do it if you don't want to.  This is a very simple solution to a very simple problem, that is being made confusing by posters here.  If you are not assigned on your form 50 to this office in any way as described above, then ignore this jackass mgt person who is hassling you and tell them you are going to file an EEO if it continues.   </blockquote>
I think part of it is that the OIC for my office is also acting OIC for the other office.... even though they have a PM.

Today I was ordered to go help the other office with packages after I finished my aux route. I told them I could not do it for safety reasons related to my anxiety. I had a panic attack over this yesterday. I have a history of anxiety and will be going to the Drs at their first available appointment in the morning and trying to get a note stating that this is negatively affecting my health. 

 For all I know, things are in the works for insubordination- I'm going to have a resignation letter ready before they can discipline me.

If they do not accept it my anxiety, then I will resign. I know it seems extreme but I have my reasons. The top of which is that I have gone from enjoying this job and willingly helping several different offices to have panic attacks, insomnia and migraines. It's bad for my health.

I may also file an EEO. I'm tired of this and ready to go scorched earth. BTW- the new POOM is behind all of this. Who is her superior or where can I find out? I want to file a complaint on her.

 

[Howah44]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Skeptic1202 said </strong>

I think part of it is that the OIC for my office is also acting OIC for the other office.... even though they have a PM.

Today I was ordered to go help the other office with packages after I finished my aux route. I told them I could not do it for safety reasons related to my anxiety. I had a panic attack over this yesterday. I have a history of anxiety and will be going to the Drs at their first available appointment in the morning and trying to get a note stating that this is negatively affecting my health. 

 For all I know, things are in the works for insubordination- I'm going to have a resignation letter ready before they can discipline me.

If they do not accept it my anxiety, then I will resign. I know it seems extreme but I have my reasons. The top of which is that I have gone from enjoying this job and willingly helping several different offices to have panic attacks, insomnia and migraines. It's bad for my health.

I may also file an EEO. I'm tired of this and ready to go scorched earth. BTW- the new POOM is behind all of this. Who is her superior or where can I find out? I want to file a complaint on her.  </blockquote>
Do you know anyone you can trust with the PO who can tell you who is above the Poom ?  I have gone over the pooms head in the past and have gotten results very FAST.  Good Luck !!

 

[Skeptic1202]

There is one PM who I trust. I have worked for him as much as in my own office. I'm not sure he would know though.

Is a call to HR a viable option?

 

[Howah44]

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>Skeptic1202 said </strong>
There is one PM who I trust. I have worked for him as much as in my own office. I'm not sure he would know though.

Is a call to HR a viable option?  </blockquote>
I would think the PM would know who is above the Poom.

 

i do not think HR would give out that type of info.

 

[Skeptic1202]

Okay, I will call him tomorrow morning. I fortunately had requested tomorrow off almost a month ago. Thank you for your advice.