NRLCA releases LOU on Step 4 Closed Business or School

[SilverHair]

The usps hope is to do away with any unscanparcel credit to any receptacle or destination

If our union leadership doesn’t step up their game, it may happen sooner rather than later. And somehow our union will either believe it is (or try to spin it as) a win. Please let our union leadership graduate to at least a high school competence level before they give away even more time credits with nothing gained in return!

 

[SilverHair]

At what point will anything without a barcode just be more free work we don’t get credited for? Is that the entire long game of usps right now, and union just can’t see it?

If union leadership were running routes under RRECS they would see it. The people negotiating for us are so out of touch to the reality of current rural carrier life. And their salaries are not affected in any way by the agreements they are making. Do they consult any active carriers’ opinions/advice before making these agreements? Did our legal team not help parse the wording of this latest LOU and see we gained nothing from it, or help to see where this could head for all unscanable parcel credit in the future?

 

[SilverHair]

Take a little longer loading/EOS or take a spur to the door done.

I get what you are saying, but I respectfully disagree that I should have to spend even more of my time to make up for yet another lost time credit. The time spent doing the task that lost time credit does not magically take less time to perform, in whatever way each carrier chooses to perform it. So that is now uncredited time that has been spent, and we have to expend more time and effort to recoup it.

The “fix” of spending more time on other tasks just makes the day longer. And who’s to say that taking spurs to the door or EOS or load time won’t be the next thing to be micromanaged or negotiated down?

 

[FrozenToes]

I get what you are saying, but I respectfully disagree that I should have to spend even more of my time to make up for yet another lost time credit. The time spent doing the task that lost time credit does not magically take less time to perform, in whatever way each carrier chooses to perform it. So that is now uncredited time that has been spent, and we have to expend more time and effort to recoup it.

The “fix” of spending more time on other tasks just makes the day longer. And who’s to say that taking spurs to the door or EOS or load time won’t be the next thing to be micromanaged or negotiated down?

It doesn't take time to enter unscan events?
It doesn't take time and energy to worry about this?
Again choose how you want to spend your time.
I will spend it where it matters.

 

[FrozenToes]

That is the mindset that seeps in when we feel like a credit is not given properly.

I hear you saying you are willing to give some back because you are getting more somewhere else.

I think we all can play that balancing game.
Because if you are "beating evaluation" you can give up something somewhere else and still "beat evaluation"

I have a couple points to make here because we differ on our viewpoints a bit. I might be totally off my rocker, but I will try and explain my thought process. We all basically taught ourselves the best we could and this is how I see Rrecs.

We are no longer "beating evaluation" we are "building evaluation"
Each day I walk into work not knowing what my times should be for the day.
I go to work and the only thing I can do is perform.
My performance racks up credits toward my future evaluation.
I know when an action I perform gives me credit and I know when an action I perform doesn't give me credit.
I am getting a compensation based on 52 weeks of a past performance. Rrecs is about compensating us in delayed pay for past performance. Yes, they set our daily evaluation by that past standard hours time, but it isn't necessarily correct for the current day. I could be performing above or below those standards depending on many factors from increase or decrease in mail to me having a migraine.

I tracked my actual hours for the last evaluation. I worked an average of a 40k by my hrs toward 2080 and when I figured my 2240 I was at a 43k average.
Rrecs evaluation granted me a 48k for that same time period.
I received the incentive in abundance.
So we are all currently being pd for the effort we put in from pp7 2022 through pp6 2023 time frame. During that time frame I had no idea what kind of credits I was racking up toward my future pay. I was just performing actions and properly recording those actions by my own understsnding of them. My point is, we won't know until after we receive the evaluation whether or not we performed above or below the evaluation. Because of this, I no longer see my day as "beating evaluation".

My sub is incredibly green. He isn't very knowledgeable on Rrecs and the process of how his actions reflect our pay isn't something he understands. I on the other hand have credits running through my head with every task I perform. My abilities and knowledge boost our route numbers. He is riding my performance and I know if the tables were turned (I was out with an injury) I couldn't ride his performance. If we are missing credits in any way, whether it's lack of knowledge from a Carrier performing on the route or LOU's signd that prevent actions from being calculated properly, then our future evaluation is in jeopardy.
What I realized in receiving a 48k for the 40 to 43k actual hours I worked. The incentive only makes it so we can seemingly receive more per hour. It is a bonus we give ourselves through self motivation and efficiency. The PO never wants us to be rewarded for our efforts.....always decreasing standards and not wanting to give us credit for tasks. We are not hourly yet they seem to want to always throw the bump as a punishment. Why can't the union defend the bump? Local management makes a stink when we ask for 8127 time because they see us getting done early and they can't comprehend why we need more money on top of what we are making.
You see. I got paid for a 43k when I was working that 40 to 43k actual hours. I was used for years. I was out-performing and never knew it. I was never given a sub until Rrecs became a thing. 7 Years regular without a sub (working 6 days on a growing route that turned into a 48k by these new standards. AND doing it in under time)
It doesn't sit well with me to have the company I overperformed for question whether I deserve an unscannble credit when I took the time to perform an unscannable credit for whatever logical reason. I want every credit that I should receive for the actions I perform. I am already giving up some credit to my green sub that can't grasp this crazy convoluted pay process.

I am currently experimenting with slowing my pace for my physical well being. I guess I will see with the new evaluation whether I closed the gap. Don't really care about the incentive any more and would be thrilled to be hourly.
I just feel used for so many years with the ECS. I can't endorse the Rrecs version. I just think an evaluated system has too much potential for abuse. The bulk of our rural carriers workforce doesn't have the solidarity or intellect to fight for and properly maintain an evaluated system.

I'm saying you can pick up the pennies while I reap the dollars.
I'm not wasting time and energy it.
But you're more than welcome.

 

[FrozenToes]

Hey folks. Just a little grumpy from the heat. Working outside.
All I'm saying is the decision has been made. Can't change it. Unless you run for office. Sure, gripe for awhile. But then you got to let go. Adapt. Come up with a plan. Don't sweat it. Enjoy life!

 

[neciat]

This particular topic / standard / credit is "out there" because there is / was a Step 4 containing language instant. Just think of all of the standards and credits thereof that were massaged BEFORE we actually saw them.

 

[SilverHair]

The usps hope is to do away with any unscanparcel credit to any receptacle or destination

My cynical speculation of how this will play out:
We’ll first find out when the removal of unscanparcel credit happened, not by any communication presented to us, but by the UNSCANPARCEL RRECS scan disappearing from the MDD RRECS menu. About a month after the fact, an MOU will be released stating abolishment of unscanparcel credit, with an implentation date of 3 months prior to date MOU was signed. No wait, if precedent holds, USPS management will leak the MOU before our union officer officially signs it. Union officer will be outraged, not by the loss of unscanparcel credit, but by the fact that the MOU (that he/she was absolutely planning on signing anyway) was leaked early.

All unscanparcel credits will be deleted from the system up to the back date in the MOU. But in reality, a programming error will delete ALL unscanparcel credits going back to when it first appeared on the scanner. There will be no way to restore all the erroneously deleted unscanparcel credits. There will be no transparency to the carrier or to the union to know that this happened.

While unscanparcel credit is admittedly a small credit, for some heavy business and vacation hold communities, the loss can add up significantly. Losing a few minutes here, a few minutes there, no big deal mentality, for just a single time credit item can add up to a loss in pay/relief days if close to an hour change in evaluation.

I see this as management chiseling away at our time credits, going for low hanging fruit first that they think will be easy pickins to pull over on our board. I doubt management will stop at taking away unscanparcel credit. Those who don’t mind losing unscanparcel time credit may not like and be more impacted by whichever time credit gets targeted next for lowering/removal.

I am very concerned about contract negotiations going forward if our board can’t even see they agreed to give away something for nothing in exchange. What negotiator does that? Current contract runs out in May, so I hope and pray our leadership team does a better job with negotiating our new contract.

 

[RollinRural]

They(Usps) can’t get rid of unscanparcels because there are literally boxes small and large coming through with no barcode whatsoever. End of story. All they can do is try to put an artificial cap on it or try to say the catalogs aren’t parcels and so on.
For me personally, everything thrown in my multiple parcel hampers is a parcel.

 

[MNRuralRoute4]

They(Usps) can’t get rid of unscanparcels because there are literally boxes small and large coming through with no barcode whatsoever. End of story. All they can do is try to put an artificial cap on it or try to say the catalogs aren’t parcels and so on.
For me personally, everything thrown in my multiple parcel hampers is a parcel.

USPS can pretty much do whatever they want because our union does nothing to prevent it.
Caving on the issue of unscan parcel credit for business closed mail just goes to prove that.
Soon we won't be allowed to even select the option without prior approval of management.

 

[RollinRural]

USPS can pretty much do whatever they want because our union does nothing to prevent it.
Caving on the issue of unscan parcel credit for business closed mail just goes to prove that.
Soon we won't be allowed to even select the option without prior approval of management.

How can you realistically assign parcel credit to a bunch of mail that likely will fit in the mailbox on Monday in most cases? That’s not reasonable.
The rest of your post is conjecture, anger and wild speculation.

 

[FrozenToes]

As stated in the announcement, this is an artifact from ECS. Read the old mailcount guide. You were never supposed to get raw letter credit if over 8 pieces for a closed business. Only parcel. Not raw at pull from DPS, parcel at delivery ( if you got the credit, yay for you)
Same with customer holds. My district gave parcel credit if the hold started prior to count. Then rescinded that directive a few counts later.
I only have a copy of one service talk from last MMS. Under Random Letters it says. 8 or more letters as one unscan. It doesn't say count as raw also.
So again, if you received both credits, yay for you.
So the math 1 unscan = about 24 seconds. 8 raw letters = 31 seconds

 

[MNRuralRoute4]

How can you realistically assign parcel credit to a bunch of mail that likely will fit in the mailbox on Monday in most cases? That’s not reasonable.
The rest of your post is conjecture, anger and wild speculation.

When it is already occurring in offices it isn't wild speculation.
I don't see how it is not reasonable when it was the the past practice to receive a parcel credit whether it went in the box or to the door. The fact that the scanner lists in the mailbox as an option for unscanned parcels shows that it is reasonable to place said mail in the box and receive a parcel credit for it.

 

[RollinRural]

When it is already occurring in offices it isn't wild speculation.
I don't see how it is not reasonable when it was the the past practice to receive a parcel credit whether it went in the box or to the door. The fact that the scanner lists in the mailbox as an option for unscanned parcels shows that it is reasonable to place said mail in the box and receive a parcel credit for it.

Yea but it’s not a parcel, it’s mail-letters and flats.

 

[YOUAREthecurrentresident]

I really don't understand the outrage. 8 pieces or more of "business closed" mail/flats are credited as raw mail. That is far more time credits than 1 unscanparcel to the mailbox. I'm not 100% sure, but if it's coming in dps while that business is closed, then you're still getting coverage factor credit too.

If you're so hellbent on getting that unscanparcel credit...then bring that "business closed" mail to the door for that unscanparcel "front door" credit

 

[stillfirstclass]

How can you realistically

i think the jig is the time you spend gathering/tying down/marking and carrying as a parcel/spr when the originol time you got was 86.79 ppm

 

[FrozenToes]

i think the jig is the time you spend gathering/tying down/marking and carrying as a parcel/spr when the originol time you got was 86.79 ppm

Read my post and the NRLCA announcement. It never had anything to do with that.

 

[Worve]

I really don't understand the outrage. 8 pieces or more of "business closed" mail/flats are credited as raw mail. That is far more time credits than 1 unscanparcel to the mailbox. I'm not 100% sure, but if it's coming in dps while that business is closed, then you're still getting coverage factor credit too.

If you're so hellbent on getting that unscanparcel credit...then bring that "business closed" mail to the door for that unscanparcel "front door" credit

For my office PM has no issue with before this unscannable to box for business closed if greater than 8. If we take it to door with another parcel we are not to under any circumstance unscannable to door for it.

I get time wise and credit wise this is actually a gain vs unscannable during mms at least. What about more businesses that pop up between then and next. No way to actually build the time credit for those until next mms. It also brings to question what’s next on chopping block. Me personally I am ok and will adapt ie cp More parcels to door mondays.

 

[FrozenToes]

The "outrage" is the union agreed to dps credit AND unscannable to door credit and gave away unscannable mailbox credit.
They made language that prevents unscannable mailbox credit. Unscannable mailbox credit is something that.apears to be on the chopping block and there is now language preventing it in this particular circumstance. Random mail was always something we should have received on the day it is taken out of dps. They gave away mailbox delivery without getting anything in return. Why force us to go to the door for the credit when it is unnecessary.
It is what it is, and we will deal with it, but it is something that did not have to happen.
New language could have just been created.
Where is their definition of unscannable? Is this antiquated step 4, that is suddenly refreshed and current as a LOU, setting the stage for that new language?
We shall see.

You were getting credit that you shouldn't have. Good for you. Read the mailcount guide. It's where this derived from. It's either 7 raw letters or a parcel ( 8 or more). Not 7 raw letters and 8 raw letters on pull/and a parcel upon delivery.

 

[FrozenToes]

Yes. I do remember the old mailcounts and this did come from that era....pre Rrecs
I agree, It doesn't make sense to apply this language to Rrecs. New language should have come about from thoughtful analysis of what exactly Carriers are doing when they organize and deliver an unscannable parcel. Every active Carrier working today is performing the task of an unscannable parcel. The powers that be just need to ask us what an unscannable to mailbox parcel is. Include Carriers in on the conversation. I am willing to bet there will be a pattern of actions mentioned that will lend to a definition that doesn't cause outrage. Management might find out during this dialog that improvements to a different area could create less unscannables.
FWIW this is how I was hoping this would have played out.
I was hoping random letter credit on the day it comes out of dps (the task of sorting as raw needs credited the day it comes out of dps to credit tje action) Then the day it is delivered if it is bundled, organized and sorted in office as a parcel, we should get unscannable credit if it gets delivered to mailbox or door credit if it goes to the door. If the letters stay in the case and just get pulled down into a tray for delivery, then no unscannable credit will be issued because the action for parcel wasn't performed.

For me it's about crediting the action taken by the Carrier. I suppose for me personally it is whether or not it can be cased or if I need to bundle it separately and make it an exception. Make it an exception means put it aside in a tub, or bundle together and leave on case to sort into spr trays. The exception and how it is handled after is what takes the time and deserves the credit.

Is it really that difficult people?
I bundle my holds the day before during EOS. ( ie. if it goes out Tuesday, I bundle it Monday afternoon)
I just received actual time for the task.
If it doesn't fit in the case throw it in the hamper,push it outside. Load it wherever during loadtime, outside.