Route cuts

[Gr8trca]

Before the last count I was a 48k, I am now a 46k, I have no 2080 issues, we are a formula office and I volunteered to work Thursday so I could have a larger route, and I still have the paperwork for that

They want to cut me to a 44k, is there anything in the contract that says I can remain a 46k, as it’s not considered over burdened any more, Supervisor has no problem with me being a 46k since I don’t have any 2080 issues, but his bosses are hell bent on cutting routes.

 

[DohnJalton]

No, any route can be cut to a 40k if its deemed operationally necessary. All the talk about being a 43k or 52 hours is lip service. The only responsibility the post office has, is to not make you less than an 8 hour route.

 

[neciat]

This is from The Nat'l Agreement regarding formula office ;

d. The following actions will occur in the order pre-
sented until the required number of K routes with
relief days other than Saturday is reached:

(1) Any regular rural carrier assigned to a K route
with a Saturday relief day may elect to
permanently change the relief day to another
day (including Friday/Saturday rotating),
provided the new relief day will assist in
reaching the required number of routes with
relief days other than Saturday. Any rural
carrier that selects Tuesday, Wednesday, or
Thursday as the relief day will be given the
incentive of allowing the route’s evaluation to
increase to 53:00 to 55:00 standard hours
through normal growth and maintain such
evaluation for the duration the rural carrier is
assigned that route and that relief day. The
Employer will adjust these routes down to
53:00 to 55:00 standard hours when
adjustments are necessary. However,
adjustments may be made below 53:00 to
55:00 standard hours consistent with
contractual provisions and applicable
regulations. Bids for posted routes with
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday relief days
and residual vacancies with Tuesday,
Wednesday, or Thursday relief days awarded
to part-time flexible rural carriers, substitutes,
or rural carrier associates, will not result in the
above incentive

You have been made aware of a pending adjustment. File on this issue ASAP. What they want to do is cut your pay , as well as others in your office, and freeze that pay for AT LEAST one year while you and the others involved are being underpaid for work performed.

 

[Rogtar]

No, any route can be cut to a 40k if its deemed operationally necessary. All the talk about being a 43k or 52 hours is lip service. The only responsibility the post office has, is to not make you less than an 8 hour route.

It's in the m38 about the 43k hour goal. Neciat popped the contract allowance for 46k. Aside that a 42k with 10+ years could go High and become a 46J and thus still get that dough.

Now i have no reference but unless the zip is being reworked they shouldn't be touching routes anyways. If they did they should remain the same rate they had prior to the change. As mentioned, file and stay on top of everyone to ensure they dont touch you this time, everyone's in that "no ups" valley and we're all gonna bounce back this fall.

 

[justacarrier]

Before the last count I was a 48k, I am now a 46k, I have no 2080 issues, we are a formula office and I volunteered to work Thursday so I could have a larger route, and I still have the paperwork for that

They want to cut me to a 44k, is there anything in the contract that says I can remain a 46k, as it’s not considered over burdened any more, Supervisor has no problem with me being a 46k since I don’t have any 2080 issues, but his bosses are hell bent on cutting routes.

You stated that you are a 46K! You CAN NOT be adjusted below the 46K unless you agree and allow them to do so. You are not in an overburdened status and should not be adjusted period! Contact your steward if the try and proceed.

 

[Siki]

If it is a territorial adjustment, where they 'square off' the routes, they have to leave you a 46K after the adjustment. This is what 'neciat' means.

Like 'Rogtar' mentioned, they shouldn't be touching your route unless you are 47K or over. The only time they can touch it is they suspect you are going to go over 2080 hours, which you say do have no issue on.

- Normally, route adjustments or additional relief days will not be necessary in order to control actual work hours where the rural carrier has given specific commitments of annual leave and such leave usage will keep the actual work hours under 2,080 for the guarantee period.

RCAM pg. 32

 

[All Saints Day]

It's in the m38 about the 43k hour goal. Neciat popped the contract allowance for 46k. Aside that a 42k with 10+ years could go High and become a 46J and thus still get that dough.

Does an eligible carrier have the option to to go high option during a route cut adjustment? I thought we were only allowed to do that after a count/MMS. So if they are cutting my 48K in May I can elect to be a 46J if I agree to be cut to a 42K?

 

[justacarrier]

Does an eligible carrier have the option to to go high option during a route cut adjustment? I thought we were only allowed to do that after a count/MMS. So if they are cutting my 48K in May I can elect to be a 46J if I agree to be cut to a 42K?

Yes you have the option at time of interim adjustment

 

[All Saints Day]

Yes you have the option at time of interim adjustment

Thanks good to know. Another question. To be eligible for the high option do you have to be a regular carrier for 10 years or more? Or within 10 years minimum of your retirement computation date? I've heard both but the only thing I've ever seen in writing is the 10 years within the retirement computation date.

 

[justacarrier]

Thanks good to know. Another question. To be eligible for the high option do you have to be a regular carrier for 10 years or more? Or within 10 years minimum of your retirement computation date? I've heard both but the only thing I've ever seen in writing is the 10 years within the retirement computation date.

You must be 10 years above your retirement computation date which is line 17 on your ps form 50. Basically you have to be a career employee for 10 years to make the choice.

 

[Missed a scan]

Thanks good to know. Another question. To be eligible for the high option do you have to be a regular carrier for 10 years or more? Or within 10 years minimum of your retirement computation date? I've heard both but the only thing I've ever seen in writing is the 10 years within the retirement computation date.

If you have prior military service or other federal service, that will add to your retirement date.

I have 4 years military, so I needed to have 6 years of post office to hit my10 years.

 

[Dominator]

Conjoining M-38 §811(a) with §821(a) indicates that a transfer to territory between existing rural routes is permissible when Management determines it is warranted.



For the life of me though, I cannot find any exhaustive list of factors and/or elements management must satisfy through their determiner before any warrant for adjustments under M-38 §811(a) exists.

I came across a page from an old NRLCA route adjustment training manual that states:

In Chapter 8 of the M-38, Management of Rural Delivery Services, pertaining to “Relief of Rural Routes” (adjustments) the first criteria stated for relief of rural routes is, “when management determines it is warranted.” Management has specific corporate goals and objectives. A primary objective is to provide suitable and efficient service to the customer. This requires constant attention and response to such factors as: population growth and shifts between urban, suburban, and rural areas; changing mail volumes and character; and operational concerns such as employee workhours and the status and impact of automation implementation.​

​

Management’s perceived problems in any of these areas could result in adjustments being proposed. It should be noted, though, an adjustment proposal is not a replacement for efficient methods and good work habits. Managers are encouraged to review their operations carefully, especially time and attendance procedures, and take appropriate corrective actions before developing an adjustment proposal.​

While warranted reasons must exist, I hope the union doesn't just accept a proposed adjustment as warranted by nature of simply being proposed.

 

[Rt2mailman]

No, any route can be cut to a 40k if its deemed operationally necessary. All the talk about being a 43k or 52 hours is lip service. The only responsibility the post office has, is to not make you less than an 8 hour route.

Please elaborate on where the contract backs this up, because it doesn't exist as far as I know.
46-k is the size of route that all rural carriers that like to work attempt to have, because no Usps manager can cut any route unless it's overburdened.

 

[Sunofa]

Conjoining M-38 §811(a) with §821(a) indicates that a transfer to territory between existing rural routes is permissible when Management determines it is warranted.

View attachment 16274

For the life of me though, I cannot find any exhaustive list of factors and/or elements management must satisfy through their determiner before any warrant for adjustments under M-38 §811(a) exists.

I came across a page from an old NRLCA route adjustment training manual that states:

In Chapter 8 of the M-38, Management of Rural Delivery Services, pertaining to “Relief of Rural Routes” (adjustments) the first criteria stated for relief of rural routes is, “when management determines it is warranted.” Management has specific corporate goals and objectives. A primary objective is to provide suitable and efficient service to the customer. This requires constant attention and response to such factors as: population growth and shifts between urban, suburban, and rural areas; changing mail volumes and character; and operational concerns such as employee workhours and the status and impact of automation implementation.​

​

Management’s perceived problems in any of these areas could result in adjustments being proposed. It should be noted, though, an adjustment proposal is not a replacement for efficient methods and good work habits. Managers are encouraged to review their operations carefully, especially time and attendance procedures, and take appropriate corrective actions before developing an adjustment proposal.​

While warranted reasons must exist, I hope the union doesn't just accept a proposed adjustment as warranted by nature of simply being proposed.

They put way too much trust and responsibility in management. This is beyond their capability.

 

[neciat]

Please elaborate on where the contract backs this up, because it doesn't exist as far as I know.
46-k is the size of route that all rural carriers that like to work attempt to have, because no Usps manager can cut any route unless it's overburdened.

Isn't this in 9.2.A.1b ?

b. Consistent with past pay practices, evaluated
carriers assigned to routes having evaluated hours
in excess of forty (40) per week shall receive
compensation for such hours in addition to their
guaranteed annual wage. However, the Employer
may, at any time, reduce or increase such carrier’s
total compensation by adjusting the number of
evaluated hours of their routes downward or
upward, but not to a salary level below the
guarantee set forth at the beginning of the
guarantee period. Therefore, compensation paid to
evaluated rural carriers in excess of the amount of
compensation annually guaranteed for 2,080
hours of actual work shall not be considered
guaranteed annual wages

 

[Dominator]

They put way too much trust and responsibility in management. This is beyond their capability.

I've been trying to learn what sequence of dance steps I must perform to get rule interpretations; the Employer just shrugs at me while the Union keeps withdrawing my grievances.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Isn't this in 9.2.A.1b ?

b. Consistent with past pay practices, evaluated
carriers assigned to routes having evaluated hours
in excess of forty (40) per week shall receive
compensation for such hours in addition to their
guaranteed annual wage. However, the Employer
may, at any time, reduce or increase such carrier’s
total compensation by adjusting the number of
evaluated hours of their routes downward or
upward, but not to a salary level below the
guarantee set forth at the beginning of the
guarantee period. Therefore, compensation paid to
evaluated rural carriers in excess of the amount of
compensation annually guaranteed for 2,080
hours of actual work shall not be considered
guaranteed annual wages

Route evaluations can go up and down due to mini counts, loosing or gaining boxes, but when routes are adjusted or "Squared up", they must remain the same size as they were before the adjustment. If a carrier had a 46 - k route before an adjustment, the USPS can not make that route smaller after the adjustment.

 

[Siki]

Isn't this in 9.2.A.1b ?

b. Consistent with past pay practices, evaluated
carriers assigned to routes having evaluated hours
in excess of forty (40) per week shall receive
compensation for such hours in addition to their
guaranteed annual wage. However, the Employer
may, at any time, reduce or increase such carrier’s
total compensation by adjusting the number of
evaluated hours of their routes downward or
upward, but not to a salary level below the
guarantee set forth at the beginning of the
guarantee period. Therefore, compensation paid to
evaluated rural carriers in excess of the amount of
compensation annually guaranteed for 2,080
hours of actual work shall not be considered
guaranteed annual wages

What you quoted, 9.2.A.1, is about the FLSA 2080. It is about cutting a route if they suspect you to go over 2080 hours in a year.

As I have mentioned above, as long as you don't work more than 2080 hours in an year, they cannot cut your route.


- Normally, route adjustments or additional relief days will not be necessary in order to control actual work hours where the rural carrier has given specific commitments of annual leave and such leave usage will keep the actual work hours under 2,080 for the guarantee period.

RCAM pg. 32

 

[Thoven08]

This is from The Nat'l Agreement regarding formula office ;

d. The following actions will occur in the order pre-
sented until the required number of K routes with
relief days other than Saturday is reached:

(1) Any regular rural carrier assigned to a K route
with a Saturday relief day may elect to
permanently change the relief day to another
day (including Friday/Saturday rotating),
provided the new relief day will assist in
reaching the required number of routes with
relief days other than Saturday. Any rural
carrier that selects Tuesday, Wednesday, or
Thursday as the relief day will be given the
incentive of allowing the route’s evaluation to
increase to 53:00 to 55:00 standard hours
through normal growth and maintain such
evaluation for the duration the rural carrier is
assigned that route and that relief day. The
Employer will adjust these routes down to
53:00 to 55:00 standard hours when
adjustments are necessary. However,
adjustments may be made below 53:00 to
55:00 standard hours consistent with
contractual provisions and applicable
regulations. Bids for posted routes with
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday relief days
and residual vacancies with Tuesday,
Wednesday, or Thursday relief days awarded
to part-time flexible rural carriers, substitutes,
or rural carrier associates, will not result in the
above incentive

You have been made aware of a pending adjustment. File on this issue ASAP. What they want to do is cut your pay , as well as others in your office, and freeze that pay for AT LEAST one year while you and the others involved are being underpaid for work performed.

What section and article number is this neciat?