Starting to think about giving up the RCA job
- Thread starter lbpd16
- Start date
Shafted
Well-known member
Run as far away from this job as you can. Everything FDU said is true. I started 26+ years ago, and 4 torn shoulders and a bunch of surgeries in I wish I had walked long ago. No amount of money is worth ruining your health for. Getting through the day for me now over the last 12 years consists of Celebrex, and heat pack in the AM, a professional grade tens unit and more Tylenol than you should take by afternoon, and a Breg cryotherapy cooler in the late evening, followed by Tylenol PM at bedtime in the hopes that I’m not up like usual somewhere between 2-4 am. Body parts full of surgical hardware do not like it when you are in your mid 50’s, let alone older. This was the best job in the postal service up until 15 years ago. Amazon is now the nail in the coffin for this craft. We are not mechanized robots. We are human be beings that are being treated like robots. Sadly, even mechanized robots at the USPS aren’t taken care of with the routine maintenance schedule that they are supposed to have, so we certainly aren’t going to be looked out for. I worked on every piece of machinery in mail processing, and they take just as crappy care of all that, as they do us rural carriers. Find an employer that still cares about you as a person because the PO never will.
D.B.Cooper
Active member
On a sorta related note... I saw on NBC news last night, a piece about an Amazon worker, hurt her back on the job at a "fulfillment center"... had to fight for worker's comp... went broke in the process... became homeless during the process... and is now back working at Amazon, sleeping in their car, in the Amazon parking lot before their shift starts...DOH!?!? How sad is this... in America, where the economy is supposedly booming, and Bezos can barely keep up with counting all of the extra Millions and Billions of $$$ dollars rolling in??? Are the workers getting their fair share of the pie... the American Pie... the American Dream??? ?
Ibpd, you and I share the same background, and I understand where you're coming from completely. That obligation to do everything to get the job done in a highly professional manner, despite unrealistic, unprofessional expectations from above and outside.
The RCA description clearly portrays it to cover working when the regular is off: Saturdays, sick and vacation days, etc. As retirees this sounded very doable, and a way to get out from under that health insurance nightmare.
Like you, I've been asked to fill in some on an additional route, the only other rural route in our small office. Unlike you, my PM and everyone in our office realizes that the RCA position is almost impossible to keep filled unless everyone works hard to not overburden them.
I've been fortunate. I'd say I work on average about 7-8 days a month. On mine regular route, I'm out by 8:30 to 9:00; back by 1530. The days I have to work the 2nd route the casing slows and frustrates me. Don't get out till 9:30; and to me that's a bad day.
Though I don't come out and say it, I think its understood at the PO that I didn't sign on for more than this, and I've never been pushed. I wouldn't have lasted at what is being asked of you.
That brings me all the way back to a topic that is always on my mind. How did our health insurance crisis ever reach this level? Why do some pay more than a mortgage every month, and some nothing, ever? You plan, save for 30 years, then this wrench hits just when you try to reap what you've sewn. Rant, rant.
Anyway, I feel for you, and don't blame you one bit if you toss the RCA thing back at them. Its poor, probably incompetent personnel management. Not your fault, and no loss of face.
The RCA description clearly portrays it to cover working when the regular is off: Saturdays, sick and vacation days, etc. As retirees this sounded very doable, and a way to get out from under that health insurance nightmare.
Like you, I've been asked to fill in some on an additional route, the only other rural route in our small office. Unlike you, my PM and everyone in our office realizes that the RCA position is almost impossible to keep filled unless everyone works hard to not overburden them.
I've been fortunate. I'd say I work on average about 7-8 days a month. On mine regular route, I'm out by 8:30 to 9:00; back by 1530. The days I have to work the 2nd route the casing slows and frustrates me. Don't get out till 9:30; and to me that's a bad day.
Though I don't come out and say it, I think its understood at the PO that I didn't sign on for more than this, and I've never been pushed. I wouldn't have lasted at what is being asked of you.
That brings me all the way back to a topic that is always on my mind. How did our health insurance crisis ever reach this level? Why do some pay more than a mortgage every month, and some nothing, ever? You plan, save for 30 years, then this wrench hits just when you try to reap what you've sewn. Rant, rant.
Anyway, I feel for you, and don't blame you one bit if you toss the RCA thing back at them. Its poor, probably incompetent personnel management. Not your fault, and no loss of face.
D.B.Cooper
Active member
The health insurance debacle for folks right before retirement is by design... designed to keep peeps working until they're almost one foot in the grave, if not already there...Over the years, employers have scaled back insurance offerings and greatly increased the costs for anybody who wants health insurance after they quit working... in effect, making it imperative that peeps work to be able to afford health insurance...If there were affordable health insurance options for folks 55-65, many would drop out of the work force, and "The Man" don't want that to happen... just sayin'... ?
lbpd16
Well-known member
The last 2 days were better, but only because its been Amazon and getting to use a LLV and not dealing with the regular mail. I won't have my van looked at til tuesday or wednesday and who knows when i'll get it back depending on whats wrong with it. I'm off on wednesday, and tomorrow I get to use a LLV so that gives me a little break from things. My next long day will be friday, and again on saturday. At least I got payday coming this week.
D.B.Cooper
Active member
<blockquote data-postid="36346" data-userid="5138"><div class="wpforo-post-quote-author"><strong>Posted by: lbpd16</strong></div>... At least I got payday coming this week.</blockquote>There is an area where you and I agree... that's one of the few things I enjoy about working at the good ole PO... ? When you get the bill on your van, and it's more than your paycheck, then you'll see one of the things I don't like about working for the PO... ?
D.B.Cooper
Active member
<blockquote data-postid="36290" data-userid="3883"><div class="wpforo-post-quote-author"><strong>Posted by: hunchback</strong></div>If you started in June and allready wore out one vehicle, how much have you really made at this job?<br />... Wake up and smell the coffee Man.</blockquote>My sub has been at the PO 3 years, and is on their 3rd vehicle... 1st was a LHD car, the last 2 RHD Jeeps...Insurance, gas, maintenance, etc., etc... takes a bite out of that $17 bucks an hour... just sayin'... ?
lbpd16
Well-known member
I have to admit I went cheap when I looked for a work vehicle. Since I was not sure this job was for me I found a used Toyota Sienna, 2000, with almost 200000 miles on it. I knew I was taking a chance on something with that many miles. The previous owner had several things fixed on it, and had the receipts, so I felt better about it. I think the transmission gave it up. I had it serviced a few weeks ago and they said there was alot of metal in the pan. I told them I would drive it til it wouldn't drive any more......now it won't drive any more. Thinking of just getting a junkyard tranny installed in it. Still not wanting to put alot of money in it. But yes, its been something every month I had it. Registration fees, 2 front tires, oil change, transmission service, brakes all around, new alternator, new liftgate handle. But i've been clearing around $1000 a week after taxes so i'm still way ahead of the game.
callofthewild
Well-known member
The cost of keeping a vehicle going on a POV Route can easily eat any profit a RCA can make. RCA's working one or two days a week for less than 18.00 per hour even with EMA just can't replace a major car component, tires, brakes and etc. Most Rural Routes are just to punishing.....to man/woman and machine. Most people would be far better off working at a fast food place or a retail store to be honest. When they made that two-tier wage and cut the RCA wages to start it was a doomed job........but to add insult to injury Amazon came along.............we are screwed.
FRED and WILDCATSKIER50 Gave the BEST and really good advice. When you get some time check out some other smaller offices, check out those will LLV"S. Lot of turnover in this business, and you WILL find your one or two day a week gig to transfer to. Probably be welcomed with open arms!
Transfer to a small office! There are a handful of small offices in my neck of the woods with one full route and one aux route, and the subs there generally work just one day a week plus an occasional vacation day/week for their regular. I'm at an office with 5 rural routes and my hours get jerked around from 10 a week to 50, so look for an office with no more than one maybe two routes. Otherwise, get out while you can 
. A clerk position at a tiny office would be fun too if you didn't need hours.
. A clerk position at a tiny office would be fun too if you didn't need hours. 
