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The future of Aux Carriers?

M

Mt.Carrier

Member
Hello everyone! I have a question related to Aux carriers. I've been an Aux carrier on a 6-0 (5 hours a day) for close to a 1.5 years, but total RCA time is 7 years. I've been thinking about my future with this job, and was wanting to know what the chances are of Aux carriers ever being given more benefits, particularly the opportunity to contribute to the same retirement plan as the Regular carriers. I really love the office and the people I work with, but the chance to go Regular anytime soon just doesn't exist, because there's only 1 full-time route and the carrier on it has over 20 more years before they are ready for retirement. So, aside from transferring, which I honestly don't want to do since I really like the work environment I'm in now, there's really no opportunity to go Regular. I'm also, already working 40-50 hours a week on a regular basis, with the help I'm providing surrounding offices after my Aux is completed. I was also thinking, that it would be nice if the rural side worked similar as the city side, as in, carriers would gain Career status after 2 years and would then have the opportunity to pay into the Federal retirement plan. I guess I'm just really wondering if our union will ever bring something like this to the negotiation table. What are your thoughts on this?
 
Mt.Carrier said:
Hello everyone! I have a question related to Aux carriers. I've been an Aux carrier on a 6-0 (5 hours a day) for close to a 1.5 years, but total RCA time is 7 years. I've been thinking about my future with this job, and was wanting to know what the chances are of Aux carriers ever being given more benefits, particularly the opportunity to contribute to the same retirement plan as the Regular carriers. I really love the office and the people I work with, but the chance to go Regular anytime soon just doesn't exist, because there's only 1 full-time route and the carrier on it has over 20 more years before they are ready for retirement. So, aside from transferring, which I honestly don't want to do since I really like the work environment I'm in now, there's really no opportunity to go Regular. I'm also, already working 40-50 hours a week on a regular basis, with the help I'm providing surrounding offices after my Aux is completed. I was also thinking, that it would be nice if the rural side worked similar as the city side, as in, carriers would gain Career status after 2 years and would then have the opportunity to pay into the Federal retirement plan. I guess I'm just really wondering if our union will ever bring something like this to the negotiation table. What are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
I am in the exact same situation as well. I would love to pay into the retirement system and not be mandated to work 7 days a week,
 
currently not an aux rca but I work a second job full time and generally put in close or well over 40 hrs with usps. I have been using my other jobs 401k and putting in 40% of my pay there to it. company only matches first 5% 🤷‍♂️. i Understand this wont work for you but you can always choose to set aside money each check into a separate account. When it gets large enough talk to an investor and use that money plus a set amount every check to grow it. I put off putting away for retirement to long myself and am now trying to make up for it.

ideally we would have gotten a time frame to become similar to PTF in the regards to putting in for retirement. Wouldn’t matter what Designation rca you were. I just don’t see that ever happening on the rural side. I am not sure but I don’t think even CCAs after 2 years have the option to put in for retirement funds like career do. I would have to ask our CCAs tomorrow to make sure tho.
 
Blair18 and Worve, thanks for the comments.

Blair18, yeah, 7 days a week is rough to say the least, but thankfully, that doesn't happen on my front very often. Though it is a regular thing during the holiday season, of course. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks us Aux carriers should have the option to pay into retirement.

Worve, I've been thinking the same here lately, build up a nice little nest egg, and then talking to an investment advisor to see what my best options would be.
 
Blair18 said:
I am in the exact same situation as well. I would love to pay into the retirement system and not be mandated to work 7 days a week,
Click to expand...
For both you and the OP, buy Series I Bonds from the Government.
The Government created inflation and a horrible Stock Market.
The Series I Bonds currently pay over 9%,
Good Luck Finding That Kind Of Return In This Market.
10K max per year, per person, investment, You + Your Spouse 20K per year
 
I
Mt.Carrier said:
Hello everyone! I have a question related to Aux carriers. I've been an Aux carrier on a 6-0 (5 hours a day) for close to a 1.5 years, but total RCA time is 7 years. I've been thinking about my future with this job, and was wanting to know what the chances are of Aux carriers ever being given more benefits, particularly the opportunity to contribute to the same retirement plan as the Regular carriers. I really love the office and the people I work with, but the chance to go Regular anytime soon just doesn't exist, because there's only 1 full-time route and the carrier on it has over 20 more years before they are ready for retirement. So, aside from transferring, which I honestly don't want to do since I really like the work environment I'm in now, there's really no opportunity to go Regular. I'm also, already working 40-50 hours a week on a regular basis, with the help I'm providing surrounding offices after my Aux is completed. I was also thinking, that it would be nice if the rural side worked similar as the city side, as in, carriers would gain Career status after 2 years and would then have the opportunity to pay into the Federal retirement plan. I guess I'm just really wondering if our union will ever bring something like this to the negotiation table. What are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
I have been an auxie carrier in a small office as well and same length of time. I like my environment as well. Another Auxie carrier in our office SHOULD go reg in Sept. I will be next after her. My current worry is RRECS. I hustle to learn our new evaluation system. I am a union member and try real hard to do everything correct so my pay will be sufficient. However, many in our office half way does the scans, and do not try to learn but want everything explained over and over so they can get the benefit without the work. They are runners one with a 45 K who gets back around same time as my 5 hour Auxie and earns so so very much money on table 1. She comes in early daily , I am scared people like her will loose hours because of poorly trying to acclimate to our new pay system. Next obvious step? Take from the auxie when it is found out they are hiding boxes or because they are running a 45 k in 30 hours routinely. Can this happen can they take from the auxie to rebuild even though their numbers are skewed?
 
Sandygirl said:
I

I have been an auxie carrier in a small office as well and same length of time. I like my environment as well. Another Auxie carrier in our office SHOULD go reg in Sept. I will be next after her. My current worry is RRECS. I hustle to learn our new evaluation system. I am a union member and try real hard to do everything correct so my pay will be sufficient. However, many in our office half way does the scans, and do not try to learn but want everything explained over and over so they can get the benefit without the work. They are runners one with a 45 K who gets back around same time as my 5 hour Auxie and earns so so very much money on table 1. She comes in early daily , I am scared people like her will loose hours because of poorly trying to acclimate to our new pay system. Next obvious step? Take from the auxie when it is found out they are hiding boxes or because they are running a 45 k in 30 hours routinely. Can this happen can they take from the auxie to rebuild even though their numbers are skewed?
Click to expand...
I have been looking into this, the K route in my office has not been counted since the last mandatory count… I have always believed it was over evaluated.

I asked carriers in larger offices if the route drop to a J or H can my Aux be absorbed back into the K, it was originally cut from to bring it back to a K. And was informed, yes.
 
Beanut said:
I have been looking into this, the K route in my office has not been counted since the last mandatory count… I have always believed it was over evaluated.

I asked carriers in larger offices if the route drop to a J or H can my Aux be absorbed back into the K, it was originally cut from to bring it back to a K. And was informed, yes.
Click to expand...
So previously when a route dropped due to mail count Mgmt. was not required to nor would they ever offer to rebuild a route unless the route went substandard. (less than 35 hours) They have always had the option to rebuild but just didn't. Also it's can be a lot of work for them and as we all know most Mgmt. doesn't want to do any more work than absolutely needed. There have been some exceptions and the union and Mgmt agreed to rebuilds when DPS was first implemented. There was a formula to determine how much was lost to DPS and if there was an Aux. in the office it was dissolved to rebuild the routes loss from DPS. I believe the same thing was done when FSS was implemented too. So far I've seen nothing about possible agreement to rebuild any loses from rrecs. I'm sure some of the better informed carriers here will add their thoughts if I'm wrong about this.
 
Worve said:
currently not an aux rca but I work a second job full time and generally put in close or well over 40 hrs with usps. I have been using my other jobs 401k and putting in 40% of my pay there to it. company only matches first 5% 🤷‍♂️. i Understand this wont work for you but you can always choose to set aside money each check into a separate account. When it gets large enough talk to an investor and use that money plus a set amount every check to grow it. I put off putting away for retirement to long myself and am now trying to make up for it.

ideally we would have gotten a time frame to become similar to PTF in the regards to putting in for retirement. Wouldn’t matter what Designation rca you were. I just don’t see that ever happening on the rural side. I am not sure but I don’t think even CCAs after 2 years have the option to put in for retirement funds like career do. I would have to ask our CCAs tomorrow to make sure tho.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that after 2 years CCA's are automatically converted to PTF and are then elegeble for all career benefits.
 
hunchback said:
For both you and the OP, buy Series I Bonds from the Government.
The Government created inflation and a horrible Stock Market.
The Series I Bonds currently pay over 9%,
Good Luck Finding That Kind Of Return In This Market.
10K max per year, per person, investment, You + Your Spouse 20K per year
Click to expand...
Great advice.
For others considering, I did this under my name in April, and am preparing to do $10k more in wife's name this month. Minor downside is the Treasury Direct website and account setup is pretty taxing. You can buy up to $5k more if you use a tax refund.

These have to be held 1 yr min, and if taken out within 5 years you'll lose 3 months interest, if not mistaken.
 
csparks said:
Great advice.
For others considering, I did this under my name in April, and am preparing to do $10k more in wife's name this month. Minor downside is the Treasury Direct website and account setup is pretty taxing. You can buy up to $5k more if you use a tax refund.

These have to be held 1 yr min, and if taken out within 5 years you'll lose 3 months interest, if not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Second this advice. You can buy them through payroll allotment—really easy to do on PostalEase.
 
Charlie Brown said:
So previously when a route dropped due to mail count Mgmt. was not required to nor would they ever offer to rebuild a route unless the route went substandard. (less than 35 hours) They have always had the option to rebuild but just didn't. Also it's can be a lot of work for them and as we all know most Mgmt. doesn't want to do any more work than absolutely needed. There have been some exceptions and the union and Mgmt agreed to rebuilds when DPS was first implemented. There was a formula to determine how much was lost to DPS and if there was an Aux. in the office it was dissolved to rebuild the routes loss from DPS. I believe the same thing was done when FSS was implemented too. So far I've seen nothing about possible agreement to rebuild any loses from rrecs. I'm sure some of the better informed carriers here will add their thoughts if I'm wrong about this.
Click to expand...
I think in my office it will happen if requested.

And if the K drops, and the regular decided to retire (as we think he will). It will be requested by me, as…I am the only RCA and little chance of hiring another. I’m likely going to asked yo cover both route anyway, and it will be easier as one route.
As it used to be one route 8 years ago, I don’t think it was have been split if they had just counted it first, but the carrier refused to have it counted.
 
Last edited:
Charlie Brown said:
So previously when a route dropped due to mail count Mgmt. was not required to nor would they ever offer to rebuild a route unless the route went substandard. (less than 35 hours) They have always had the option to rebuild but just didn't. Also it's can be a lot of work for them and as we all know most Mgmt. doesn't want to do any more work than absolutely needed. There have been some exceptions and the union and Mgmt agreed to rebuilds when DPS was first implemented. There was a formula to determine how much was lost to DPS and if there was an Aux. in the office it was dissolved to rebuild the routes loss from DPS. I believe the same thing was done when FSS was implemented too. So far I've seen nothing about possible agreement to rebuild any loses from rrecs. I'm sure some of the better informed carriers here will add their thoughts if I'm wrong about this.
Click to expand...
Mgmt may adjust a route which becomes substandard. Although not required, it is to the business' benefit to do so as all benefits and retirement are paid at 40 hour premium if under evaluation.

There does not exist a current MOU for rebuilds to K status.
 
Oi veh. said:
um i may have read something incorrectly in the millions of answers on the q and a, but distinctly remember seeing that if evaluations fall due to rrecs, the aux route can be used rebuild.

and it should be put back on the route from whence it came.

edit: yes, i did see it. question #7.

Click to expand...
What disgusts me about that is, yet again they get more work thrown on the carriers for the same or less pay.
 
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