Rural PTF working as a regular

[btdtret]

drakeME -- "It's not "my" route as we've established, so no did not do a count, and the regular did not one do one last year either (since they were also ill then.) "

-- Technically it is true that the route is not yours. BUT you are the running it every / most days, so you should consider it yours. The even applies when filling in on the relief day when the regular carrier is working. ( folks tend to do a better job when the feel the route is theirs ) You should also be doing everything a route's regular carrier should -- that means keeping the Edit Book up to date. Taking the proper action when a mailbox reaches the vacant 90 days level and adding mailboxes when new ones are established.

-- Unless manglement opted not to count the route, someone should have done the count.

" It's been evaluated at 9.2 (46K ) per day for quite some time, but has added dozens of new boxes since then, and package volume has increased fairly dramatically as well. "

-- If the route has not been counted in over two years, with addition of more mailboxes as well as the increase in parcels, probably a good chance the route is actually over the 57:36 mark.

"We have a city carrier aux route that dovetails with my route, so logistically (in theory), it would be easy to break off a chunk without causing any major headaches I'd think. But management has shown little interest in doing so (too much paperwork?) "

-- Yes - there is paperwork involved when ceding rural territory to the city side.

-- POM Section 654.2. In part: The fact that a given area if fully developed and/or adjacent to city delivery service does not, of itself, constitute sufficient justification for conversion.

As a general rule, conversions from rural to city delivery shall be considered only for the following reasons:

a - to provide relief for overburdened rural routes WHEN ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE IMPRACTICAL ( 3 other reasons available )

Note: An area review is required when cost is a basis for conversion. ( there is the paperwork! )

-- Adding to "PastOThirty" suggestions -- the route's pay ( yours ) depends on the accuracy of the 4003, which depends on the Edit Book.

-- Good luck in getting a DPS Review during the Christmas season.

-- DPS Formal Reviews are a literal crap-shoot ( especially as a 46K ). If you win ( the review fails ) then you could actually lose if the additional hours gained through Sector Segment puts the route in the overburdened status, then manglement can cut the route back to a 43K.

-- Manglement has been known to look the other way when routes reach the overburdened status.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

drakeME -- "Forgive my ignorance, but what are form 50's? "

-- The PS Form 50 ( aka Notification of Personnel Action ) has 86 blocks of Employee Information / Position Information and Salary Information as well as the Nature of Personnel Action. Keep everyone of them literally forever!!

-- You get one when you start with the USPS and whenever there is a change in career status such as salary, position ( appointment to PTF ), etc

-- Should be in your e-file via liteblue. Print such documents from the e-file because once you actually retire from the USPS, the USPS cuts ties with you as in not being able to log into liteblue to access your e-file.

"the route is without a doubt overburdened also. "

-- There is "overburdened" and then there is "overburdened"

- overburdened: a route gets so much and so many parcels, it is hard to get it done within evaluation

- the contract's definition of overburdened per Article 9.2.C.7.B. Overburdened Routes.

a. Definition - a route is considered overburdened when:

1) The standard hours for the route are outside of the Table of Evaluated Hours ( 57:36 ); or

2) The regular carrier who is assigned to the route does not or is not expected to, meet the requirement to stay within the annual guarantee for the route. ( aka 2080 / 2240 problems )

-- Which one applies to your route?

-- Was your route counted in September 2019? If so, did you do the count?

-- What is your hire date?

You must have been a school teacher in a previous life, you love to explain things and do an exception job doing it! Thanks for being a valuable member of this board.

 

[drakeME]

Yeah for sure, some very informative talk here.

Surviving December is all I can really process right now, though come 2020, there will definitely have to be some serious thought applied in regards to whether I really want to take on this uphill battle.

I am definitely doing all the things a regular does in regards to edit book, adding new boxes, changing statuses - vacancies, manual COA's, case labels and such, though this comes back around to one of the initial points - if I'm doing everything a regular does, and should consider it "my" route, I feel like I should be getting the same benefits - most importantly, two days off a week. I'd be happy to drop the overburdened gripe (even if it is) if I could just get that.

A few more good hires would do it perhaps...but we all know how the USPS treats RCAs. Hard to hire, even harder to keep.

 

[btdtret]

drakeME -- "I am definitely doing all the things a regular does in regards to edit book, adding new boxes, changing statuses - vacancies, manual COA's, case labels and such, though this comes back around to one of the initial points - if I'm doing everything a regular does, and should consider it "my" route, I feel like I should be getting the same benefits - most importantly, two days off a week."

-- Two days off a week. Hopefully one of those days would be Sunday!

-- An H route regular does all those things you mentioned and Sunday is the only day off.

-- For a J route, one week is 6 work days and the other week is 5.

-- Under "normal" conditions: 1) plenty of subs and 2) not associated with Christmas, K routes have 5 day work weeks plus Sunday

-- Filling for a regular carrier who is on an extended absence, you are entitled to the evaluation of the route. Manglement could ( should ) send you home if nearing OT -- if there are sufficient subs. But being the Christmas Crunch season, common sense goes on vacation.

-- Hopefully conditions will improve in January. You have been earning leave, submit a leave chit.

-- Worst case scenario, put in for EAP ( Employee Assistance program ) due to the stress of working all the time.

-- Hopefully one of these days / weeks / months / years postal manglement will realize there is a sub shortage and do something about it.

 

[drakeME]

The whole process of hiring new people is just absurd. Way too much hurry up and wait.

We even had an ARC who converted to an RCA and this took 6 weeks! When we needed him working mail, badly!

I realize the machine is a big one, but the inefficiencies are atrocious.

 

[btdtret]

drakeME -- "The whole process of hiring new people is just absurd. Way too much hurry up and wait."

-- Actually it is worse than that. If one fails the Virtual Entry Assessment 477, then one can not take it for a year.

-- That certainly could slow down the hiring process, though apparently one could take it again for a PSE or CCA position.

"We even had an ARC who converted to an RCA and this took 6 weeks! "

-- According to Step 4 ( A-130 ), There is no opportunity for an ARC to automatically convert to a rural carrier associate ( RCA ) vacancy or bid on any regular route or part-time flexible rural carrier ( PTF ) assignments. If an ARC wishes to become an RCA they must apply for these positions through eCareer postings, meet exam requirements and subsequently be appointed from a hiring list.

-- As some RCA's have posted of waiting for months to be called for an interview, 6 weeks was pretty good.

 

[drakeME]

I don't know if that's the same "test" I took, but I did not score well on the one I had. A 71% I think. And I KNOW there's no chance in hell I missed that many questions. But could they tell me what questions I missed? Yeah right. In any case, I still got hired obviously, but the whole process was very Mickey Mouse.

How well does such a test predict aptitude for the job anyhow? Terribly, in my opinion. Learning a route isn't about short term memorization, it's about long term repetition, adaptation and perseverance.

Now I'm told they don't even have a face to face interview as part of the process. WTH

 

[drakeME]

There's still a few more likely big days before the year is over, but survived the main push. I'll be looking to talk to supervisor in the next week.

I aim to state that if I cannot get 2 days off a week in 2020 (if there are exceptions, I want it to be on mutual terms), that I'll have to start looking for new work. My wife thinks this is too "threatening" and that I need take a more diplomatic tact. I don't plan on doing it in a rude way, just presenting it as a matter of fact. They need me more than I need them - that's the truth. I have the leverage, so I don't want to give it up by being too much of a limp noodle. I feel being straight forward about it and not sugar coating it is for the best. I want a change, not lip service, ya know? Suggestions?

 

[Tank]

You don't have the leverage you think you do until you have an offer for another paying job.

 

[BeatsAll-IEverSeen]

They need me more than I need them - that's the truth. I have the leverage, so I don't want to give it up by being too much of a limp noodle.

I’m sure you’re a great worker and I wish you all the best, but the leverage you think you have doesn’t exist. Stay or go, it makes no difference to this company.

 

[RDruckus]

Transfer to a nearby office where conditions are better, if such an office exists.

Don't expect them to change what they're doing, even if they say they will.

 

[stillfirstclass]

No doubt btdtret - that's not what the intent behind the position and the formula office is for (PTF working only one route.) However, with a regular incapacitated, how else could it be done? Someone has to cover the route. There are 8 K's and 1 J in the office with only two PTFs and 2 RCAs (one of which is almost brand new, and the other has had medical issues and hasn't worked a day in December.) So yeah... staffing definitely a problem... but I am powerless to change that - ultimately that is a management issue.

Yes, the position was created as much because of morale and discontent with the senior RCAs as it was necessity. And I do appreciate the gesture. But again, time off trumps money for me.

Forgive my ignorance, but what are form 50's?

Another aside - the route is without a doubt overburdened also. Just a big combination of issues.

you stated you are keeping up with edit/4003 and overburdened.. i am guessing you are misunderstanding/knot knowing more than the form 50, just too many things don't add up... and it wouldn't surprise me if you are as smart as anyone there... have you ever contacted your union rep?

 

[Tank]

So this happened. During the latest matrix remix a PTF, now senior sub, in our office was bumped off her string and an RCA took over one of her routes and made it her primary. The kicker is that the route in question will quickly become a hold down because the regular is on medical leave. So fine, the PTF still has four different routes, but that's all she has, and the $2.00/hr bump doesn't come close to mitigating the loss of a day's pay. Glad I'm going regular tomorrow, because the sub business has definitely gone hinky in our office.

 

[gotstamps]

So this happened. During the latest matrix remix a PTF, now senior sub, in our office was bumped off her string and an RCA took over one of her routes and made it her primary. The kicker is that the route in question will quickly become a hold down because the regular is on medical leave. So fine, the PTF still has four different routes, but that's all she has, and the $2.00/hr bump doesn't come close to mitigating the loss of a day's pay. Glad I'm going regular tomorrow, because the sub business has definitely gone hinky in our office.

Unfortunately, mgmt can change the Strings as they see fit.
I personally believe a PTF should not be on a “hold down” since they hold a String of routes that depend on him/her. Those other String routes can’t request a Leave Replacement to be assigned yet the PTF assigned is running another route everyday. If the String is adhered to, the “down route” suffers with multiple subs running it & also keeps one sub from eventually earning Leave.

 

[Postal-xam@58]

One thing I see here has not been covered. I think I am right about this, if not someone will correct me. In your hope to get time off, you give up your PTF position to get days off, you will go back to non career. And either lose the time toward your retirement or put it on hold until you go regular. Also if a route comes open the senior PTF gets the route. If you go back to rca, you will be behind the PTFs to go regular. I held down a H route for 4 years as RCA, none of the time went toward my retirement ( technically it was my route, I did everything a regular does, but was reminded weekly I was just a RCA and had to do whatever they needed me for) Even when I went regular they tired to force me to do others things, I could finally refuse.

 

[Wilco183]

Not sure either, but imagine that "going back to RCA" entails resigning the career position and reapplying for a posted RCA position, not a lateral downward move in the same office.

 

[Voglio-il mio]

One thing I see here has not been covered. I think I am right about this, if not someone will correct me. In your hope to get time off, you give up your PTF position to get days off, you will go back to non career. And either lose the time toward your retirement or put it on hold until you go regular. Also if a route comes open the senior PTF gets the route. If you go back to rca, you will be behind the PTFs to go regular. I held down a H route for 4 years as RCA, none of the time went toward my retirement ( technically it was my route, I did everything a regular does, but was reminded weekly I was just a RCA and had to do whatever they needed me for) Even when I went regular they tired to force me to do others things, I could finally refuse.

After being Vacant for two years that H route should have gone up for Bid!

 

[Postal-xam@58]

All I know is our jobs were frozen because of FSS and we were not allowed to go regular.

 

[gotstamps]

One thing I see here has not been covered. I think I am right about this, if not someone will correct me. In your hope to get time off, you give up your PTF position to get days off, you will go back to non career. And either lose the time toward your retirement or put it on hold until you go regular. Also if a route comes open the senior PTF gets the route. If you go back to rca, you will be behind the PTFs to go regular. I held down a H route for 4 years as RCA, none of the time went toward my retirement ( technically it was my route, I did everything a regular does, but was reminded weekly I was just a RCA and had to do whatever they needed me for) Even when I went regular they tired to force me to do others things, I could finally refuse.

Once a sub is a PTF, you either move up to Regular or resign. If you resign, there must be week wait between starting again as an RCA. When you begin AGAIN as an RCA, you’ll go back to the bottom of the seniority list.

 

[drakeME]

I let them know of my intention to begin looking for a new job. I've found that there are plenty of jobs out there, but most of them are garbage.

They know that it may or may not be something that will happen quickly because of current job market. I also let them know that if they give me enough of what I want, they might be able to retain me, if not forever - for longer. They've worked out the Sundays off for the foreseeable future and are going to work on that weekday once they catch up all the precious regulars on all of their AL requests. So, will see.

To the folks that have resigned themselves to being un-valued cogs, please do yourself a favor and give yourself more credit. You are worth more than how you are treated.

As for talking to union rep - not my thing. I think the unions are a large part of the problem in this whole system. Clearly serving the regulars is the only real priority, and to hell with everyone else. I will walk my own path. They definitely won't get a dime from me.