Possible Part Time Flexible position in my Office.

[DonKarnage28]

I am the senior RCA sub in my office and the postmaster is considering creating a PTF carrier position because of lack of subs and no new hires, and the RCA ahead of me who has an Auxiliary route is retiring. I would like the Auxiliary route but maybe have to take the PTF position for seniority. The wants a PTF to sub 3 3 full time route.Do Part-flexible's get the same benefits as full timers?<br />Do I get holiday pay?<br />TSP contributions?<br />Fers Retirement?Should I take the 35 hour a week auxillary route or take the PTF position. ONly guarantee 2-3 days a week?

 

[Charlie Brown]

A PTF would get almost all the same career benefits as a regular except no paid holidays.
You pretty much have to take it, if you passed and a junior RCA took it then when the next regular route comes open they get it. It's kind of a seniority jump, the PTF must take the next regular route.

 

[gotstamps]

DonK- it's in the contract. PTFs are career RCAs. You would receive all the benefits of any career employee. Your Holiday pay is "built-in" like a Regs OT is built into our evaluation.
IF you Take the Aux, then whoever gets PTF will go Regular BEFORE you as PTF trumps RCA regardless of seniority. You are only guaranteed the total hours of the PTF String but mgmt typically will add days or assistance-time into the duties since they are paying for those benefits.
Mgmt can still work you Sundays & Holidays, too, if in an Sunday Amazon area.

 

[Gotrope]

And PTF, being a career position, starts your retirement clock?

 

[Rayman168]

we need 10 years of career employee in order to choose between a J or K route.  Does your time as PTF counts toward the 10 years?

 

[btdtret]

DonKarnage28 -- [ PTF position or AUX route? ]

-- Decisions, decisions, decisions!

-- Do a word search for "part-time flexible" in the contract. You will see NUMEROUS places you can be used to fill in on besides the 3 routes of the PTF "string" or assigned routes -- especially if in a sub-short office. Or just accept what "gotstamps" posted.

-- Page 26 of the 88-page contract: In no instance will a part-time flexible rural carrier have the right to refuse conversion to regular rural carrier. route. ( in other wards, if you pass up the PTF position and a junior sub takes it, your wait time to go regular just got longer. )

-- As others have addressed, the 35-hour AUX could grow to 42:00 standard hours and become a regular route. On the other hand, it could be reduced by a bad count ( most of them are, 2018 being an exception - IMHO ) or sections taken off to fill in other regular routes.

-- Working an AUX 5 and 1 - you only earn annual and sick leave while working your AUX. Even if working the AUX 6 and 0, thanks to the current contract, AFTER finishing your AUX you can be utilized where manglement sees fit, again without earning annual or sick leave.

 

[gotstamps]

@Rayman168 -
"we need 10 years of career employee in order to choose between a J or K route. Does your time as PTF counts toward the 10 years?"

Yes it does counts towards the 10 yrs for a High/Low option on a route that qualifies. They also get Step raises like a Regular Carrier & retains that Step when promoted to Regular Carrier.

 

[gotstamps]

Btdtret-
I wasn't saying they wouldn't get more hours but it's at mgmts discretion whether a PTF gets more hours or not. Mgmt is under no obligation to work them more than the hours that the String accounts for. Some mgmt out there won't use the PTF more than absolutely necessary.
It's almost certain that if an RCA wants to go Regular sooner, they must bid the PTF position. If there are more routes coming available than there are of PTF positions, then take Auxiliary BUT you will lose seniority to the PTF.

 

[Morty]

I started a ptf faq in leave replacements. Anyone who has good info is welcome to add it.

I will add mngt cannot borrow in to avoid working a ptf due to sick rcas or ot.

 

[gotstamps]

@PastOThirty-
There are no consequences aside from the usual if Actual hours worked go over 40, you're on Actual time instead of Evaluation (like any other sub). The "String" guarantees you those hours as opposed to RCAs are only guaranteed their Primary day. Some mgmt WON'T work a PTF more than absolutely necessary. Our PTF Strings in my office are 4 routes so almost full-time anyway & mgmt doesn't usually schedule over that unless needed or called in.
As was said, a PTF is a Career RCA and you must take the position if available to move up to Regular.