Opted Route Requesting a Sub
- Thread starter Twingrlie
- Start date
gotstamps
Well-known member
Nope. The RCA in “Leave Earning” is the Primary Sub. Cannot have more than 1 Primary to a route. The Matrix should be used to fill in when the Sub needs a day off.
The_Postal_Void
Well-known member
While in leave earning status you are entitled to a relief day if you so choose.
I didn’t ask about a relief day and actually management is obligated to give you the relief day of the route.
They can only do this if they don’t have a leave replacement available. RCAs on opted routes are entitled to the same relief day as the carrier would be.
Is this mentioned in the contract somewhere other than 30.2.H.? Which doesn't specify being entitled to regular's relief day; only that "a relief day shall be granted...if requested by the employee and if a relief carrier is available, or if required by local management."
Sadly, no.
gotstamps
Well-known member
Sorry, But There is no other location in the Contract on giving a Relief Carrier a Relief Day. There is nothing written requiring mgmt to allow the assigned Relief Day go to the RCA holding the route. Mgmt must allow a “hold-down” RCA the right to a Relief Day & they can change it as they wish.
This is untrue. If it’s an opted route, the RCA is entitled to the relief day of the carrier. I went through this already at my station and my district rep confirmed this.
It’s the same for when a regular gets hurt and management gives them other duties around the station. They have to work the regular according to the same schedule they would have had carrying mail.
This is a NALC document.
You’re not a letter carrier? It still holds true for rural or city.
I'm a rural carrier lol. The Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) is a USPS/NALC document and pertains to city carriers. Just as the USPS/APWU JCIM applies to clerks.
It still holds true. I had this issue at my office when I was on a J route and they didn’t want to give me every other Saturday off. District rep confirmed that I’m entitled to the relief day of the carrier.
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
Your DR was wrong.
Read O-6 Order of Consideration part 1. B.
Order of consideration – Covering a route
knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net
gotstamps
Well-known member
You are incorrect. If your mgmt fell for that then good for you. District Reps have been known to be wrong. I proved my own wrong once as there was no documentation to back her claim. This is a “gray area” of our contract. It neither says RCAs can nor cannot therefore mgmt has the choice.
We are Rural Carriers, not Letter Carriers. JCAMs do not apply to us just as the PO-603 does not apply to City Carriers. There is also no such thing as an “Opted” route in Rural Craft. The Manuals that apply to our craft are the PO-603, The EL-902 (Contract), the M-38, portions of the ELM & F-21. These are just the main ones. If you went to the Union website, you would NOT find this manual listed.
Opted routes are when the RCA is designation 74.
A route where the regular rural carrier is gone for more then 90 days and the carrier has put into leave earning status.
