Route Assistance

redundant employee · Apr 11, 2017

What are the rules/regulations about receiving parcel assistance?

Today I was questioned by the PM about one of our RCAs that provided me and another RCA parcel assistance last Saturday. We didn't ask, but they helped us because they wanted to. After I finished my Aux route today, one of the regulars complained that we got help on Saturday. The conversation went on and on with examples. Our two regulars almost always receive assistance, by whom you may ask, the PM. I know I've personally helped both of them when it was busy in January and February. But apparently its been an on going thing from what I hear from our PTF Clerk. Our 42K route has a pick up deadline, so some days our PM will deliver the mail and pick up. I saw it happen today with an accountable that our PM took our for the carrier. Our regulars cry bloody murder with the excuse of age because they can't make evaluation, but do I have anything to protect myself with? I really don't know why our PM goes out of their way to help the regulars but I get question about a one time assistance. Can I file a grievance and/or EEO? How do I file?

thank you.

heyman1104 · Apr 11, 2017

Your PM goes out of their way to assist the regulars probably to avoid 2080 issues. As a RCA, 2080 isn't an issue, so there's no benefit for the PO in giving that assistance to you. As far as protecting yourself, not much you can do aside from only doing as you are directed to do. So no more volunteering to go help anyone without clearance to do so and no receiving help that wasn't specifically sent by the PM. Doing either of these things could result in discipline should something happen to you out there.

redundant employee · Apr 11, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">heyman1104 said 
Your PM goes out of their way to assist the regulars probably to avoid 2080 issues</blockquote>
What is 2080?

btdtret · Apr 11, 2017

redundant employee -- "Today I was questioned by the PM about one of our RCAs that provided me and another RCA parcel assistance last Saturday. We didn’t ask, but they helped us because they wanted to."

-- The PM is the one to approve parcel assistance, just like approving Second Trips.

-- While is was nice the RCA assisted, but had there been an accident, higher up's will be most interested why the RCA was involved, especially if the PM did not approve the assistance.

-- Why file a grievance if all that happened was the PM questioned you about getting ( unauthorized ) parcel assistance, how were you harmed?

-- Pick your battles carefully. I'd say let this one go. Or talk with the office steward or Assistant District Representative before going forward with a grievance.

"Our regulars cry bloody murder with the excuse of age because they can’t make evaluation,"

-- You didn't mention specific ages, but pages 5 and 6 of the PO-603 provide for some exceptions for carriers 55 years old or older. However, if they can not keep total working time to 48 hours per week, the route will be adjusted.

-- The increase in parcel volume probably has most carriers over evaluation at one time or another. When was the last time routes were counted in your office?

btdtret · Apr 11, 2017

redundant employee -- "What is 2080?"

-- How long have you been working for the USPS?

-- Regular rural carriers have to keep the total work hours for the guarantee year at or below 2,080 hours. When it appears that the carrier may exceed 2,080 hours for the year, the carrier and manglement have to meet to create a plan so the carrier will not go over 2,080.

-- If someone in the office still has the June 2016 issue of the National magazine, look the Question Box section which deals with 2080 and or 2240 Problems.

-- Search for "2080" in RI's KNOWLEDGEBASE section for additional information.

redundant employee · Apr 11, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">btdtret said 
-- Why file a grievance if all that happened was the PM questioned you about getting ( unauthorized ) parcel assistance, how were you harmed?

-- Pick your battles carefully. I'd say let this one go. Or talk with the office steward or Assistant District Representative before going forward with a grievance.

-- You didn't mention specific ages, but pages 5 and 6 of the PO-603 provide for some exceptions for carriers 55 years old or older. However, if they can not keep total working time to 48 hours per week, the route will be adjusted.

-- The increase in parcel volume probably has most carriers over evaluation at one time or another. When was the last time routes were counted in your office? </blockquote>
Regardless of the 2080 issues, I understand that now. What about double standard? Regulars get hush hush assistance but I get questioned about the one time help. Any way I can do a FOIA request or something of that to see what the regulars are putting down on their time sheet and what is being submitted? I have a feeling they are botching it and the PM allows it. Routes were counted last year.

btdtret · Apr 11, 2017

redundant employee -- "Regulars get hush hush assistance but I get questioned about the one time help."

-- Get the ADR involved.

"Any way I can do a FOIA request or something of that to see what the regulars are putting down on their time sheet and what is being submitted?"

-- FOIA requests take a l-o-n-g time to process, but don't count on getting anything out of the USPS.

-- If you feel there is a difference in what is put on the 4240 and what is entered my manglement for pay purposes, tell your concerns to the ADR.

redundant employee · Apr 11, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">btdtret said 
redundant employee -- "Regulars get hush hush assistance but I get questioned about the one time help."

-- Get the ADR involved.

-- If you feel there is a difference in what is put on the 4240 and what is entered my manglement for pay purposes, tell your concerns to the ADR. </blockquote>
Any way to contract ADRs anonymously? Do they show up at random/unannounced, because that would be the best. I don't have any physical proof of the time sheets, but all I got is hearsay, second hand knowledge from a PTF clerk and RCA. I would really like to FOIA request for Mondays time sheet on the carriers, because I was told that one got in at 7pm, probably got PM assistance too then botched. My co-workers are really nice, but I think complacency has set in, and not setting a good example for others.

Rt2mailman · Apr 11, 2017

redundant employee, You should file a grievance, but not on what you think you should. When your pm is "helping" the regulars he is "taking" work away from you, or other RCA's. Whether the regulars need help for 2080 problems or for whatever, you RCA's are the ones who are on the matrix as "helpers" not your pm. Every hour that your pm works belongs to you, and you should be paid to do it, if the regulars "can't" for any reason. If you want to know what their 4240's have on them have your steward request that information for the grievance you file. Any info that is needed concerning a grievance can be requested and your pm is required to give it or another grievance can be filed on that lack of action. As union members we don't file FOIA's we request information in regards to a grievance we are or might file. We place a time limit to receive it by, so our grievance remains timely. With the number of Amazon parcels we are receiving many carriers are in 2080 trouble, but we must remember it is management's trouble not ours. We only get into that trouble when we start falsifying our 4240's.