RCA No Route Car and it isn't a LLV office

[olewhatshername]

The RCA was hired 7 months ago, still no route car.  Her Aunt that works at the PO lets her use her route car when it isn't broke down.  The borrowed route car is broke down a lot and on these days the PM lets a relative (father in law/ mother in law)of the RCA drive her around the route.  Any thoughts???

This is the same PM/Post office that the clerk, on a busy day called her husband (not a PO employee) to help her box out PO mail.  

 

[Rt2mailman]

As far as the rca goes there is no infraction with our contract and maybe someday she can save enough money to buy her own car.The clerks union may be interested in the "customer" helping sort mail. A clerk in a nearby office could grieve and win the $ that they would have been paid, had they been called to work there that day.

 

[gotstamps]

Here is what the contract says about the driving "issue":

Section 5. Licensed Employee Drivers Provided by

In the event a regular rural carrier, substitute rural carrier or a rural carrier associate in a leave earning capacity loses his or her driving privileges and cannot be employed in the installation, a licensed driver meeting the Employer’s driving standards may be provided by the regular rural carrier, substitute rural carrier or the rural carrier associate in a leave earning capacity at the carrier’s option and expense for a period not to exceed one (1) year. This paragraph is applicable to only the employee’s personal vehicle.

I see nothing that says a RCA can just have anybody drive the route by contract. This PM seems to be playing favorites a LOT!

You could give your Union rep a call as a "Mmm... I was just wondering...". 

 

[btdtret]

O-W-H-N -- "The RCA was hired 7 months ago, still no route car."

--  Pretty sure we all can remember way back when any RCA was required to have a vehicle capable of delivering the mail.   Usually that was pointed out during the job interview.   Apparently things have changed as time marched on.

--  Potential "can of worms" here.

--  As far as the POV is concerned::  Page 17 of the current contract:  Rural carriers shall furnish all necessary vehicle equipment for prompt handling of the mail unless that vehicle is furnished by the employer.   ( note "Rural carriers", not Rural carrier associates ).  Moving on..

Page 18 of the current contract:  Unless a USPS owned or leased vehicle is provided, a leave replacement who is performing auxiliary assistance or is employed as an auxiliary rural carrier shall provide a vehicle and ..... ( note "leave replacement" ).  The contract can get pretty specific.

Of course, one could argue about page 1 of the PO-603 - Basic Carrier Responsibilities - e.  providing and maintaining a vehicle of adequate size, .........

Contract violation??

Page 44 of the current contract seems to only address being driven around by someone else is in the case of the lose of one's driving privileges and that is for regular rural carriers or an RCA in a leave earning status.   Plus the employee's personal vehicle must be used. 

Until someone files a grievance - like an RCA that does have a POV and would be available to work, let your Assistant District Representative sort out the terminology.

As far as having the husband of a clerk come in to help put up mail, a call to the USPS OIG or Postal Inspectors might be in order.