possibly going to "formula" and adding 2 PTFs

[lbpd16]

our office is possibly going to formula and adding 2 PTFs in the next few months. We have been trying for months and can't seem to hire anyone. One hire quit after 2 days, another RCA quit last week. Now we are down to 2 RCAs for 11 rural routes.

If a PTF is offered, do I have to be an RCA for at least a year? I'm only 6 months in right now.

 

[btdtret]

Ibpd16 -- "If a PTF is offered, do I have to be an RCA for at least a year? I'm only 6 months in right now."

-- Good to see you are still hanging in there.

-- PTF assignments must be posted [ for 10 days ] for all substitutes and RCA's in the office that have completed their probationary period. ( 90-work days or one calendar year ). Article 30.2.A.3 and Step 4 ( R-95 )

-- Have you been keeping track of your work days as manglement probably isn't? In your sub-short office, you should have no problem completing your probationary period before the PTF bids are posted.

-- Caveat: the bidding notice MUST inform bidders that a PTF CAN NOT later decline conversion to regular status.

"Now we are down to 2 RCAs for 11 rural routes."

-- PTF's can have a minimum of 2 K-routes to a maximum of 5 K-routes routes to cover. If all the office routes are K-routes, someone is going to be left out unless manglement hires another RCA.

 

[Skierstmoritz]

Also glad to see that you are still with us! I take it you are still working most every day. As a retiree from another life, as you are, if you do feel overworked, keep your eyes open for vacancies in smaller offices (If any) in your area. Got sick of working 6-7 days a week and transferred from a 55+ route office to a 12 rte office and found a niche in a wonderful 6 rural route office. Very happy! Good Luck!

 

[lbpd16]

yes, working 6 days a week including Amazon sunday. Working 8 to 10+ hours a day depending on the route. I've kinda got used to it now and find myself strangely wondering what to do on my day off. I'm well past my 90 days, I just wanted to be sure I can take the PTF with under a year of service.

I find in my office that the postmaster and supervisor do more for us as RCAs than the career rural carriers. The careers keep telling me that management is just playing us. But management are the only ones that will run part of our route, help split a route, or take an entire route if we are short. The regulars keep taking time off or calling in sick on heavy days and don't seem to care that it puts a lot of extra work on us RCAs. And as I mentioned before, many of them want their route run a certain way when they are off. I'm getting to the point where I get really aggravated by many of the regulars. Now I run their routes how I want to and let them deal with it. No shortcuts or slacking, but I don't cater to their customers either.

I am finding out that just like in law enforcement, I can deal with the people on the street, its my fellow workers that I have most of my issues with.

 

[btdtret]

Ibpd16 -- " The careers keep telling me that management is just playing us. "

-- Maybe, maybe not. Don't forget - it's manglement job to get the mail delivered and up to them how to do it.

-- Could be regulars are getting envious as in sub-short offices, RCA's could be earning more than regulars!

"But management are the only ones that will run part of our route, help split a route, or take an entire route if we are short. "

-- While commendable, someone should be grieving when manglement delivers part or all of a route. Might be cold, but that is taking work from an RCA, since regulars can not work any other route but their own. Article 30.1.P

-- However - comma - in the real world, if manglement can find a willing regular, manglement can find "creative" ways to pay the regular. Might not be with money either,

-- With your sub-shortage, has all the carriers without a sub submitted the 120-Day notice to get one. Might not do any real good, but does create a paper trail.

"The regulars keep taking time off or calling in sick on heavy days and don't seem to care that it puts a lot of extra work on us RCAs. "

-- It manglement who approves leave chits, so it is on them when approved regulars take time off.

-- One of the requirement of going "formula" is that regulars are working their relief days "on more than an infrequent basis."

-- With your current shortage, why hasn't manglement established the PTF positions already?

-- Establishing a PTF position is at manglement's discretion, as noted in Article 30.2.A.3. Step 4's ( P-115 and R-31 ) mention 120-Day notices should be submitted and if unsuccessful in hiring replacement for K routes, a PTF position WILL be established. Neither mention having to be a formula office.

" many of them want their route run a certain way when they are off. "

-- Probably will ruffle a few feathers, but YOU are the "regular" for the route for the relief day, run it as you see fit.

-- Or simply tell the complaining regular: "Since I have to run so many different route, I just forgot how you like your route run."

" No shortcuts or slacking, but I don't cater to their customers either."

-- With the holidays coming, might want to ease up on the customers.

"I am finding out that just like in law enforcement, I can deal with the people on the street, its my fellow workers that I have most of my issues with. "
-- You are progressing nicely in your postal career! Keep it going!!

 

[blamethesub]

many of them want their route run a certain way when they are off.

Can you give an example or two of what regulars want you to do on their routes? Nothing too specific that will give you away. The only expectation I've ever had for a sub is get the right mail in the right boxes. Never knew I could make special requests!

 

[lbpd16]

yes. as i've mentioned before....this person wants a package at their gate, this one wants it in the trash can, this one wants it behind the wall, this one wants this but only if that and in that case do this. This customer wants a phone call if you have to leave a package. Place the mail like this in their mail box. As a sub that runs several routes I don't have the inclination or the time or memory for all this crap. If it fits it goes in the box. If not, they get a notice.

 

[btdtret]

blamethesub et al -- "Can you give an example or two of what regulars want you to do on their routes? "

-- This one was in the office. Back in the day when carriers helped one another, as in the late 1990's, such as putting up marriage mail for a carrier who was having a bad day and got out late. There are two folded ways to put up marriage mail. Needless to say, I put it up the wrong way for the regular! In stead of a "thanks, but I prefer casing marriage mail the other way." I was told never to put up mail for her -- EVER! Not a problem, believe me!

-- Some rural routes got a weekly neighborhood newspaper. Some regulars preferred to pick it off instead of having it cased. That was the day most carriers wore aprons due to the newspaper ink.

 

[oi veh.]

If it fits it goes in the box. If not, they get a notice.

Only if there is a gate. Otherwise, you are obligated to drive up to 1/2 mile, one way, from the box to effect delivery. PO-603 section 331.21
Just sayin'.

Good luck on the PTF position!

 

[lbpd16]

yes, i do deliver the 1/2 mile

 

[Windindaface]

Back to the PTF topic but another question. Let's say a PTF is created in an all K situation. One of these K's reaches or is able to high option. Can they still go high option when the period is open if it creates a void for the PTF?

 

[blamethesub]

I don't have the inclination or the time or memory for all this crap.

Yeah, we have a regular like that. She's been doing special favors for folks for decades. If the parcel doesn't fit in this one's box, she delivers it to the mama's box further down the line, etc. No sub can keep up with that sort of thing. In the box or at the door is all you really need to concern yourself with for the most part. Our carrier is retiring soon. I feel so bad in advance for the poor guy who will inherit her route. It'll be nothing but angry phone calls and an edit book nightmare for months.

 

[btdtret]

Windindaface -- ". Let's say a PTF is created in an all K situation. One of these K's reaches or is able to high option. Can they still go high option when the period is open if it creates a void for the PTF?"

-- This may help.

-- From Step 4 ( R-95 ) -- in part: If the PTF is assigned a K route with a non-Saturday relief day that changes classification to a J route, the route's relief day will be changed to Saturday and will be removed from the PTF's assignment.

-- If the unfortunate PTF only has 2 K routes and one becomes a J, then manglement can do away with the PTF position.

 

[btdtret]

PastOThirty -- "But the person awarded the ptf position will keep it until they are promoted or otherwise vacate the position, yes? "

-- Based upon those two scenarios, yes.

 

[Windindaface]

Thanks btd.. A non office PTF situation now but see it on the horizon.

 

[wamailmom]

We basically have 10 "usable" subs to cover 43 routes. Our PM said they were going to create some PTF positions at a standup several weeks ago (we've been formula for longer than than the nearly two years I've been there). Of course, no word about any PTF positions since. And every day scrambling to try to get everything delivered.

 

[gotstamps]

We basically have 10 "usable" subs to cover 43 routes. Our PM said they were going to create some PTF positions at a standup several weeks ago (we've been formula for longer than than the nearly two years I've been there). Of course, no word about any PTF positions since. And every day scrambling to try to get everything delivered.

It can take some time for a PTF position to get posted. Mgmt has to get approval from District to create the position & how many will be allowed. Then the PTF position(s) must be posted & bid for the same as any Regular route position is. Posted for 10 days, 10 days to award, & 21 for placement on a pay period begin Saturday.