Steward says no financial compensation for grievance

[AtomWaffles]

I filed a grievance last week in regards to parcels that were suppose to delivered Sunday being left at my case and forged as insufficient address or vacant, and I told the steward to ask for financial compensation per parcel, doubling every time it happens from then on. He agreed to inquire and said afterwards his upper bosses in the union said there’s nothing in the contract requiring any financial compensation and the best we can hope for is management disciplines the carrier AND that his bosses said we should be happy we’re getting the extra credit… well I told him not only could I not care any less about the extra “””credit””” as MY credit score is fine where it’s at (yes that’s sarcasm), I don’t need to be at work any longer than I have to be because both subs and management refuse to do their jobs. I want $$$ because this is a very frequent occurrence in our office and it already happened again this past Monday. Don’t get me wrong, I was a sub not that long ago and understand how frustrating it is on Sundays when you don’t have access codes or have to wait but…. These were majority residences. Someone is just being lazy. Also, my apartments don’t need any access codes, these could have fit in any of my functioning lockers or the mailbox. This is just laziness and inattention. Is there really nothing else I can do?

 

[EthelAnne]

Not the answer you’ll want to hear but when you delivered those leftover parcels, they were added to the route’s evaluation (and your compensation) through RRECS so I don’t see how the argument that you are entitled to additional compensation can be made. Had the RCA delivered those parcels on Sunday, they would not be included in your compensation.

It always sucks when RCAs don’t do their jobs and management doesn’t do its job of holding them accountable. I know all of us on this board commiserate with you and share your frustration.

 

[stillfirstclass]

Not the answer you’ll want to hear but when you delivered those leftover parcels, they were added to the route’s evaluation (and your compensation) through RRECS so I don’t see how the argument that you are entitled to additional compensation can be made. Had the RCA delivered those parcels on Sunday, they would not be included in your compensation.

It always sucks when RCAs don’t do their jobs and management doesn’t do its job of holding them accountable. I know all of us on this board commiserate with you and share your frustration.

but then wouldn’t the sub be paid twice? Eval and the Sunday from the past? if sub is as described those extra parcels are just making up for the other shortages,, I know someone who took pictures of bar codes on large parcels to see where what how sub scanning ,,,, all at the box.. super and pm and d r Did Nothing

 

[Gotrope]

Next time it happens ask for assistance or try to go past 12 hours...district will ask why.

 

[EthelAnne]

super and pm and d r Did Nothing

I’m guessing “d r” means the NRLCA District Representative? If so, what do you think the DR was supposed to do?

Regarding the RCA being paid twice—they’re paid by the hour on Sunday so if they leave 1/2 hour of work for the regular for Monday, that’s a 1/2 hour of pay they lost out on. They never get paid for work they did not do in a Sunday.

But let’s look at Monday …

I reread the original post and it looks like this happened on a Monday, too. I don’t think the NRLCA’s position on this would change—you don’t get additional compensation for delivering leftover parcels because RRECS calculates those leftover parcels in the (eventual) evaluation.

But what about mail that is left? That, too, is calculated in RRECS (or so they tell us). Three feet of bundled presorted flats is already in the (eventual) evaluation, isn’t it? Why would I get 8127 time for dealing with that leftover mail on Tuesday but not 8127 time for parcels that should have been delivered on Monday?

 

[stillfirstclass]

DR was supposed to do?

maybe ask the pm to discuss the importance of accurate scans? explain how their future pay looks weak?
explain what a hostile work environment is? keeep notes and tell other union peeps so stuff like that could be looked down upon? i don't know, just an all around mess,

 

[Rt2mailman]

I filed a grievance last week in regards to parcels that were suppose to delivered Sunday being left at my case and forged as insufficient address or vacant, and I told the steward to ask for financial compensation per parcel, doubling every time it happens from then on. He agreed to inquire and said afterwards his upper bosses in the union said there’s nothing in the contract requiring any financial compensation and the best we can hope for is management disciplines the carrier AND that his bosses said we should be happy we’re getting the extra credit… well I told him not only could I not care any less about the extra “””credit””” as MY credit score is fine where it’s at (yes that’s sarcasm), I don’t need to be at work any longer than I have to be because both subs and management refuse to do their jobs. I want $$$ because this is a very frequent occurrence in our office and it already happened again this past Monday. Don’t get me wrong, I was a sub not that long ago and understand how frustrating it is on Sundays when you don’t have access codes or have to wait but…. These were majority residences. Someone is just being lazy. Also, my apartments don’t need any access codes, these could have fit in any of my functioning lockers or the mailbox. This is just laziness and inattention. Is there really nothing else I can do?

After reading your post I could see that you have an office problem not a carrier problem. All RCAs have to be trained correctly that all Sunday parcels are delivered and not left for the Monday carriers.
And obviously you weren’t trained properly either if you were upset because the Sunday peeps didn’t just put them in the boxes because they would have fit.
All Sunday/holiday packages are to be delivered to the door otherwise the Usps will have to pay Monday carriers more when they scan them delivered in the box or at the door when Sunday and Monday’s parcels won’t fit in the box together.
Before Rrecs I would just set those parcels on the supervisor desk. When asked about them, I would just say, “Those are Sunday parcels, nothing to do with me”. Now that I get paid for delivering them, I do, and the more the merrier. Improper parcels delivered in the boxes on Sundays or holidays should be rescanned delivered in the box or to the door, if the scenario is as above, because no parcels should be delivered in the box on those days since they could be stolen being the customer is not accustomed to checking the box in those days nor should they be. This gives the route many more parcels accredited to the route and dings the office with parcels not scanned arriving for delivery on the day we “deliver” again on Monday. When this happens enough, the manager will stop the RCAs from using the boxes and require delivery of ALL parcels to the door.

 

[Worve]

After reading your post I could see that you have an office problem not a carrier problem. All RCAs have to be trained correctly that all Sunday parcels are delivered and not left for the Monday carriers.
And obviously you weren’t trained properly either if you were upset because the Sunday peeps didn’t just put them in the boxes because they would have fit.
All Sunday/holiday packages are to be delivered to the door otherwise the Usps will have to pay Monday carriers more when they scan them delivered in the box or at the door when Sunday and Monday’s parcels won’t fit in the box together.
Before Rrecs I would just set those parcels on the supervisor desk. When asked about them, I would just say, “Those are Sunday parcels, nothing to do with me”. Now that I get paid for delivering them, I do, and the more the merrier. Improper parcels delivered in the boxes on Sundays or holidays should be rescanned delivered in the box or to the door, if the scenario is as above, because no parcels should be delivered in the box on those days since they could be stolen being the customer is not accustomed to checking the box in those days nor should they be. This gives the route many more parcels accredited to the route and dings the office with parcels not scanned arriving for delivery on the day we “deliver” again on Monday. When this happens enough, the manager will stop the RCAs from using the boxes and require delivery of ALL parcels to the door.

Or management simply won’t care like mine. I am tickled pink every Monday with the extra parcels to door because subs choose to use farmer boxes. It prevents me from fitting mail in said box so it goes to door. I will never tell subs not to use boxes it’s easy eval increase thereby raise for me .

 

[Gotrope]

Or management simply won’t care like mine. I am tickled pink every Monday with the extra parcels to door because subs choose to use farmer boxes. It prevents me from fitting mail in said box so it goes to door. I will never tell subs not to use boxes it’s easy eval increase thereby raise for me .

Yep, I'd make them pay. The problem comes when the carrier doing all the increased workload gets an increase and they actually cut the route. Then you effectively worked for free and the gain is inherited by another carrier.

I would purposely tell them I will be over 12 hours every Monday. Give help or don't. I would make them explain to district why they can't manage.
And until it is resolved, I would work over 12 hours. It really is the only way to get attention. Nrlca doesn't consider you harmed because your route will gain scans. Regardless of the credit most likely going to wherever the territory is transferred.

 

[Worve]

Yep, I'd make them pay. The problem comes when the carrier doing all the increased workload gets an increase and they actually cut the route. Then you effectively worked for free and the gain is inherited by another carrier.

I would purposely tell them I will be over 12 hours every Monday. Give help or don't. I would make them explain to district why they can't manage.
And until it is resolved, I would work over 12 hours. It really is the only way to get attention. Nrlca doesn't consider you harmed because your route will gain scans. Regardless of the credit most likely going to wherever the territory is transferred.

great part is I am hourly until October, Monday are currently the only day I go well over current eval. I analyze every single thing daily. Do I make an incentive by taking this to door or not. If a farmer box and no in the box it goes if it can. Tomorrow I will have another or more then it will be worth to grab it all. It’s beyond stupid I feel the need to do this, but the mess prior reg left has created this need.

 

[Gotrope]

great part is I am hourly until October, Monday are currently the only day I go well over current eval. I analyze every single thing daily. Do I make an incentive by taking this to door or not. If a farmer box and no in the box it goes if it can. Tomorrow I will have another or more then it will be worth to grab it all. It’s beyond stupid I feel the need to do this, but the mess prior reg left has created this need.

You were probably very smart to choose the hourly. It's a great way to fix everything. And, if sub short - lots of OT.

 

[Worve]

You were probably very smart to choose the hourly. It's a great way to fix everything. And, if sub short - lots of OT.

I currently average at weekly eval. I second guess my choice weekly, but I know regardless I am building the correct eval. I am hoping next mms with all the mapping and correct footage for dismounts plus doing the route how I would daily I see dividends. Time will tell if I was right or wrong.

 

[EthelAnne]

maybe ask the pm to discuss the importance of accurate scans? explain how their future pay looks weak?
explain what a hostile work environment is? keeep notes and tell other union peeps so stuff like that could be looked down upon? i don't know, just an all around mess,

Stewards (and the DR is a steward, just one who has other stewards reporting to them) represent carriers. It’s not my job to bring to the attention of a postmaster the crappy job performance of a member of the craft that I am legally (and I’ll add morally) bound to advocate for and represent.

Not saying this is true of you @stillfirstclass because I’ve read your posts over the years and you are knowledgeable and insightful, but so many rural carriers are under the mistaken belief that the union reps are somehow in the USPS hierarchy and can order management around. We cannot. We can file grievances when the National Agreement is violated. Some USPS managers don’t want grievances, so they do what they can to avoid them, some don’t care, some act aggressively against any union activity in their office, but none of them take orders from NRLCA reps.

There are crappy RCAs, we all know it. At times, their crappy work winds up impacting another carrier and the contract is violated and the union can file a grievance that hopefully corrects the issue. The grievance process is our recourse. The grievance process is what gets some USPS managers to do their job.

I get really frustrated when carriers think that all it takes is a phone call from the union rep to fix everything and that lazy union rep won’t even make one stinking phone call!

I also get really frustrated that carriers think its the union’s job to rat out and turn in other carriers for poor job performance. It is not. We are not some additional level of management in the office. We represent carriers, even the crappy ones.