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Substitute DPS to the Street

wfillbra

Active member
Our office is enforcing DPS to the street based on computed leave time evaluations. Each route has a posted leave time and we must be within 20 minutes of that time or management is forcing DPS to the street. How are RCA's and PTF's required to take DPS to the street when they don't have a weekly consistent evaluation? We are hourly employees and are always working different routes daily? Is this covered in the contract or any other controlling USPS policy?
 
They can require you to take it to the street if they think you won't be making deadlines:

http://knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Step-4-decision-Step-4-–-Concerning-carriers-casing-DPS-mail.pdf
http://knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Step-4-–-Whether-carriers-can-be-required-to-take-DPS-to-the-street-in-order-to-meet-Express-Mail-delivery-requirements.pdf
http://knowledgebase.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DPS-to-the-street-Certain-situations-it-is-allowed.pdf
Those are some references, and I'm sure there are more.
 
I could easily make any manager regrett forcing me to take DPS to the street during Christmas overtime. I could go through that mail for hours extra. Making their decision a stupid one.
 
Thank you Kelp. Again, a fairly nebulous contract that essentially puts the weekly evaluation clause in a fairly meaningless situation.
 
PATCO -- "Each route has a posted leave time and we must be within 20 minutes of that time or management is forcing DPS to the street."

--  Sure, that's in the PO-603 ( section 152.2 ), but seldom adhered to during the year, at least at my old office.

--  What BS!!   Notify the Assistant District Rep ASAP!!   Last year the NRLCA wanted to be notified of any BS manglement was pulling during the silly season.

--  Good references by KELP ( thanx ) and don't forget the Galligan Letter ( Step 4 -- C-14 ):  in part:  The carrier may be required to take DPS directly to the street if it is anticipated that they will be unable to meet the overall evaluation of the route for the week; and during the Christmas period this would place the carrier in an overtime situation.   The decision to carry DPS directly to the street should be made on a case-by-case basis and may not minimize total actual work hours if the carrier normally cases the DPS mail and will not perform efficiently on the street.   At least Mr Galligan got it!

--  As Rt2mailman posted, manglement will end up regretting the maneuver especially when regulars are sent home to ovoid OT and RCA's and PTFs' are headed for OT.   You might be able to tell manglement "suit up!".

"We are hourly employees"

-- Probably should be like the other 3 unions, but not exactly.   I'd say more like being on a salary.   The pay tables give a specific amount of money for the route hours and time in service.  Picking at nits.  

The city side likes to go with "past practice" so if manglement stays with this inane policy at this time of the year, when the Christmas No-Overtime Period comes to an end and manglement says take your time getting out as before, file a grievance in case the office wants to head to the streets within 20 minutes of the time posted on the 4240 ( or where ever it is these day ).   If manglement hollers, cite "past practice" during the holiday period.

--  If the clerks are not done throwing parcels, are the carriers still supposed to leave with that 20 minute time frame?   

Good luck.
 
Of course, these well trained (haha) supervisors/postmasters, think making someone take DPS to the street will have him/her speed up.  I doubt that is the case, especially, if the person is not accustomed to carrying mail in that manner.

When it gets dark, I suppose having your DPS will speed things, i doubt that.

When someone needs help, splitting up the DPS will waste more time.

Its all about numbers/reports, with these ppl, not reality.  They just want to tell there superiors that everyone is out delivering the mail.

Typical short sighted lousy management actions.
 
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