On Call

Nyfarmer · Feb 17, 2019

The PO gets away with not paying an 'on call' stipend to RCA's allegedly because it is a 'scheduled' job. So once again I am on for Amazon duty today (Sunday) and Monday. 'Scheduled' late Friday afternoon. As I've been at this long enough to anticipate such, the long weekend is open for me. The thing is that this is another incentive for RCA's NOT to stay on. Most have Partners and Children that may have the long weekend time off as well. The RCA cannot plan the weekend under such short notice 'scheduling'. ...Is the RCA on for both days, one day, which day ? Can the RCA make Family plans a week or two in advance ? NO !!! As for the rest of the week I can tolerate being 'on call' for my primary - perhaps a half dozen days per year. The problem arises in a shorted RCA office as well. Work seven days (five no notice call in !) one week, then two days or none the next. More perhaps later.....Amazon Prime beckons !

gotstamps · Feb 17, 2019

RCAs are not “on call” but repeated unavailablility can get them into hot water. Finding out on Friday for Sunday’s Schedule is not last minute. “On call” is the day of being scheduled off without requesting off. Mgmt in each office usually has a “cut-off time” that an RCA isn’t expected to answer a call to work. Regardless of that time, if the RCA has something that needs to be done, put in a Leave Request for the day they haven’t been scheduled to insure not being called in.
If an RCA has plans then they need to put in a Leave Request. If an RCA has Leave in conjunction with Sunday Amazon, they are protected & should be skipped unless they request in writing to work. This is all in the Contract.

btdtret · Feb 17, 2019

Nyfarmer et al -- to add to "gotstamps" posting, don't forget to check the "DO NOT CALL" box!

-- And to be on the safe side, let an answering machine be your call screener.

-- And don't answer the phone!

-- The biggest challenge may be getting manglement to approve the 3971 in a timely manner.

stillfirstclass · Feb 17, 2019

gotstamps said:
RCAs are not “on call” but repeated unavailablility can get them into hot water. Finding out on Friday for Sunday’s Schedule is not last minute. “On call” is the day of being scheduled off without requesting off. Mgmt in each office usually has a “cut-off time” that an RCA isn’t expected to answer a call to work. Regardless of that time, if the RCA has something that needs to be done, put in a Leave Request for the day they haven’t been scheduled to insure not being called in.
If an RCA has plans then they need to put in a Leave Request. If an RCA has Leave in conjunction with Sunday Amazon, they are protected & should be skipped unless they request in writing to work. This is all in the Contract.

just saying, if the economy doesnt start to decline, there is no reason someone would want this or keep this rca gig

Voglio-il mio · Feb 17, 2019

gotstamps said:
RCAs are not “on call” but repeated unavailablility can get them into hot water. Finding out on Friday for Sunday’s Schedule is not last minute. “On call” is the day of being scheduled off without requesting off. Mgmt in each office usually has a “cut-off time” that an RCA isn’t expected to answer a call to work. Regardless of that time, if the RCA has something that needs to be done, put in a Leave Request for the day they haven’t been scheduled to insure not being called in.
If an RCA has plans then they need to put in a Leave Request. If an RCA has Leave in conjunction with Sunday Amazon, they are protected & should be skipped unless they request in writing to work. This is all in the Contract.

There is a bit of a disconnect when RCA's place Leave Requests in for time off, due to leave request being place in your office of employment but then deliver Amazon from either a Hub or a Spoke. Reliance must be placed on your postmaster to communicate that request to the individual running the Amazon operation, this doesn't always happen. RCA are officially covered from repercussion due to having the documentation for leave but still receive BS from all those concerned.

wamailmom · Feb 17, 2019

And then the denied leave requests.... for "needs of service."

btdtret · Feb 17, 2019

wamailmom et al -- "And then the denied leave requests.... for "needs of service."

-- Be sure to keep those denied request for future reference in cases dealing with 2080 / 2240 problems as well as facing the possibility of forfeiting leave due to having too many days of leave on the books to carry over into the next Leave Year.

Gyros6875 · Feb 17, 2019

It's pretty frustrating how you can never plan anything as an RCA.

Like last week I was supposed to have Friday off (my 1 day off for the week since we are so short staffed) but on Thursday a regular decided they needed a 4 day weekend instead of 3 and requested it off.

gotstamps · Feb 17, 2019

Jacob6875 said:
It's pretty frustrating how you can never plan anything as an RCA.

Like last week I was supposed to have Friday off (my 1 day off for the week since we are so short staffed) but on Thursday a regular decided they needed a 4 day weekend instead of 3 and requested it off.

When you see that your not scheduled & want to keep it that way, fill out a Leave Request for that day. Then mgmt cannot call you in AND they cannot deny since you are already UNSCHEDULED.

gotstamps · Feb 17, 2019

wamailmom said:
And then the denied leave requests.... for "needs of service."

That is not a good excuse! File a grievance & force mgmt to PROVE that they cannot cover you that day. Mgmt cannot deny a Leave Request JIC a Carrier calls in not to allow helpers or Parcel Runners. Sub running an Auxiliary route is also not a viable excuse.