Photo: Toby Holder laments the Killeen post office’s treatment of part-time rural carriers.
For the last six years, Toby Holder has worked as a part-time, rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Killeen.
But the contract he signed with USPS turned out to be more than a part-time job, he said, as budget constraints and short staffing created an atmosphere of mistreatment, unsafe conditions and pay issues.
“They treat us like junk mail,” Holder said.
The choice of phrasing isn’t lost on Holder, as the USPS is becoming increasingly reliant on revenue from catalogs, advertisements and other unsolicited items as personal mail declines.
While Postal Service officials in Killeen declined comment, Holder’s claims about pay issues, long hours and unsafe working conditions were corroborated by several other carriers who asked the Herald not to be identified for fear of retaliation. They all told the same story: employees are lured in by the promise of part-time mail carrying, only to be forced to work full time with no benefits and little time off for family, friends and school.
Every source detailed large pay discrepancies, saying supervisors and union stewards paid little attention to complaints and said retaliation against employees who aired grievances is common.
“The post office is stuck with incompetent supervisors who have no business being in that capacity, yet they have the authority to affect our livelihoods the way they do,” Holder said.
full-time rural carriers are treated badly also.
The last paragraph in this article says it all. If they can’t do their job, put them in management. It’s the p.o. mantra.
Valerie Jones Paige Blackburn Wooten
I do work with some great people, for the most part, but this is all very true. I pray that it will pay off one day.
It wasn’t bad till the Sunday delivery! 7 days a week and absolutely no benefits! Not even vacation! Sad we work more then regulars but get no holiday, vacation, sick time, nothing!
I am now a regular and i did all theat for 7 yrs and now it is a bit better but the regulars have a lot of issues as well. We are all losing on the mail counts and so we lose not only part of our salary but yours as well.
I agree with April Hardy! Regulars are treated like crap too. They can’t even get time off at Christmas. There isn’t a block on rural carrier in the month of December. The harder we work the less we are appreciated.
And the less we get paid
The main problem with the pay issues is that the USPS has let most supervisors or managers with experience in the rural craft slip away, either by offering them early retirement or putting them through the postplan to force them out. Now we are left with people who have never had to do anything with the rural craft before and they do not know how to do it.. The USPS is experiencing a bad case of brain drain and it will run this organization down the tubes if they do not shape it up…
If you don’t like it quit I love my job!
I think you need to know that every office is not the same. Some are offices “straight from HELL”……and that is an understatement. It is because of poor and incompetent management as well as some of the carriers that get away with murder. That is not right or fair. You are just fortunate to have one that is ok. Good for you!
I had a very mean boss for ten years at po I understand but our paychecks are very good and people need to appreciate the union job that they have
Amen ! We could all gripe about something ! No job is perfect !
Ha! You’ve’ never complained ever? Find that hard to believe, perfect employee!
Stephanie, That’s not the only solution. No one has said they don’t like their job, I like the job, it’s about work/life balance, getting paid correctly & supervisors giving some respect, especially when they haven’t done our job. I don’t think that’s alot to ask for. .
I love my job too but that doesn’t mean we should remain quiet in the face of management abuse, misrepresentations, and lies. Give ’em an inch they will take a mile. Somebody has to fight. Why not you?
Don’t get us wrong, WE LOVE THE JOB, just not the treatment!
LOL wait until he becomes regular and experiences a couple of corrupt mail counts that lower his pay by 6K or 7K
Our area is constantly growing, routes are not going down. At this rate routes will have to be created, and will have enough new development not to decrease any routes already in place
LOL my route hasn’t changed. It’s the same route I’ve had for 15 years except more boxes. It was a 46K and now it’s a 42H.
My route has always been within 5 minutes of going up an hour. But somehow Mary Katherine Lasher, somebody I’ve never met never finds the 7 minutes that’s on the end count. Odd, huh?
Yeah, growth, wait until they start giving all of the growth lock boxes. We fight with them constantly about this bc lock boxes are number one on their list to kill routes!
I think he missed the word ‘corrupt’ in your comment, and Mary Katherine Lasher ditto – my route also hasn’t changed. It’s the same route I’ve had for 26 years except more boxes. It was once a 48K and as of the last day I was able to work in November 2013, it was a 41J. In 2012 alone, my paycheck dropped $800.00 a month. Trust me, the mail volume did not drop that much.
Come on people, please.. I really do not like to see the “If you do not like it, then quit” type of comments on my page.. Just because you are not being treated bad does not mean everyone else is not.. We all see things from where WE are standing NOT from where others are standing.. Lets try to be respectful and try to understand that just because everything is great in your world, does not mean it is great in everyone elses.. I would also like to ask if you would be so happy if your own pay was being shorted?
Thank You!
Thank you!
greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
YEP!!!!!!
If I’ve learned anything, especially from wife working at another station, it’s that no 2 offices are alike. And there are good subs and carriers, and really bad ones. But when it all lines up, it’s the best job in the world!
Thank you! They can not speak for “all” the people.
love your job all you want. you were once relief. Even regulars to this day treat subs like crap. been there,done that..They work sooo hard, and are expected to performas a seasoned carrier. wth??
I was a poorly treated sub who never had a Saturday off in 5 years. And I vowed never to mistreat my sub. or treat them as my slave. They have other jobs and families and are constantly juggling trying to make it work. I know I don’t speak for everyone in my office but I appreciate most of the subs in my office. They do work above and beyond. And I always thank them. This time of the year takes a toll on all of us. But when payday rolls around subs can’t complain . Its a great paying part time job!
I agree with you whole heartedly. I was also treated unfairly by my reg. To this day I have worked with the sub when they wanted or needed off. Some think that since they were ‘pooed on’ that they have the right to do it too.
Jean, I agree. I vowed to ALWAYS treat my subs awesome. I do the best I can. I haven’t taken one single Christmas Gift away from any of them that have been working this past year for me (I’m on light duty but do EVERYTHING I can to help them and make their lives easier).
I was a sub for 12 1/2 years. I feel bad for our subs because they are so short handed and overworked, especially right now. I worked today (Sunday) not only to help myself out for tomorrow, but to help the subs out today. They had to deliver the amazon prime first, then come back and deliver the rest of the parcels for other regulars. The least I could do was help them out so they didn’t have to do mine. About a half dozen other regulars came in, too. Not all regulars are selfish and self centered. We do think about our hardworking short handed subs.
when i hired as a rural sub i was informed that saturdays were my work days. i HATED missing important stuff on saturdays but i signed on with the full knowledge that saturday was my work day and don’t ask off . also, i treat subs well b/c been there done that. i’ve been going in on my day off, for free, to help my sub the past 3 weeks. i know what it’s like to be thrown to the wolves. ( and no. i don’t want to hear anything about being off the clock on this comment.)
Thing is we are not complaining about working Saturday!
Ummm… You know what? If you don’t like your job… Quit and go work somewhere else bringing home minimum wage!!! YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE!!! QUIT YOUR BITCHIN!!! “Junk Mail”pays 80% PLUS of USPS Salary….. So being treated like “junk mail” is not so bad!!!
80%? BAHAHAHAHAHA Did a manager tell you that?
Like I said…. If you can’t appreciate your pay…. Go SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!! Bahaahaahaaa
You know you could always get a job at Walmart… If you’re even qualified!!! Bahaahaaaaa
Hmmmmm how about several subs and a regular in the same office not getting their overtime this last pay period? Would you like it if that was your paycheck that was missing 20 hours overtime pay?
Wow misty would have to be at your post office. Seems pretty easy. Where we at we have no time to smiles. Not saying this cause it Christmas, this is everyday, year around. Get a call from school saying your kid is sick and needs to be picked up, wrote up. 3 of those. FIRED. Finished doing your route. Guess what your on another till all subs get done. 7 subs. 26 routes no reg. Unless mandated to come in on sat. Your working. 6 days sometimes 7 and all you get is “why did you misdeilvered a pre sorted letter to the wrong box”. Write up. So please spare me your of well its money attitude. It’s not all about money. Can quit… Your right.. some don’t have have luxury :/
Thank you Doug Kerr! I was in an office like that!
Rural carriers are the red headed step children in the post office. If city side were paid on evaluation, they’d be moving their asses, not out parked waiting to get 8 hours in and then go on ot.
I wish we were paid like the city. This evaluated time sucks.
Amazingly and sadly true! “Management” here in Charleston, SC is a joke that I swear is trying to run the post office as a whole into the ground!
The situation does need review and reconsideration.
I agree with this article. I’ve been an RCA for 7 years now. I like my job, but it’s true we are expected to be there no matter what. Even if it means six days plus splitting routes, or running packages for regulars to keep them out of overtime. Regular calls in sick, you’re sick too but expected to work! No leave benefits and insurance only if you pay full premium for it.
Mary, when I was a sub, we were expected to be available six days a week. Since I have been in the office where I am now, it all depends on who you are. When my husband and I wanted to get married on a Saturday 12 years ago (both as subs) we were told we could not have the day off. However, when other subs got married, not only did they get the Saturday of their choice off, but any other sub that went to the wedding also got the day off. Subs can take any time off they want (well, certain ones can). I’ve wondered how they are able to get away with this when we were told, way back when, we HAD to be available at all times. This year we are so short handed we are all going into OT. Regulars are off or on injury, one is even a 204B even though she is no longer needed in that position! As dire as our office is right now, it shocks me that management has let it get this bad at this time of year!
The PM always have their favorites that can get anything they want. If you’re not in the click you’re screwed.
If you were told you must be available at all times then management would be liable to pay you as an on call employee engaged to wait. Of course, they only pay when you work. If you have other things to do (job, etc) then let them know and force them to build a case of repeated unavailability against you. They get away with this crap because many fail to challenge mindset of management. Your local PM’s and supervisors don’t know any better. Want more proof? Check with department of labor employment laws.
it’s very different in the po since i was hired as an rca. nowadays i find the subs in our office pampered. those, i find, are the ones with an entitled mentality.
Why would you,^ for one minute, think that minimum wage jobs would be the only alternative, Misty Lynn LaCourse? Are you comparing your own job to a minimum wage job? Guess I am not following your logic, that a rural carrier, regular or relief, ONLY would be able to “Bring home minimum wage” ; if they didn’t work at usps?
If you can make more $$$ somewhere else then why are you on here bitching about this job? If your qualified for more than manual labor … Go do it!!
USPS doesn’t owe you anything other than what YOU’VE signed up for.
You must be a stupidvisor, because you sure sound like one.
No one is asking for special treatment, we just want to be treated fairly.
why are you so rude? Were you treatedlike a queen???Hmmmm
I’m an RCA and I worked the last 3 Sundays delivering packages. I got paid straight time, but a CCA comes in and works Sundays and gets time and a quarter. How fair is that?
Our union needs to catch up with the city side. They get all the gravy and pay.
Exactly Sherry. Part of this problem is the fact that the craft wasn’t designed with Amazon/Sunday delivery in mind. Personally I think this current set up absolutely sucks for offices under formula, as they are short staffed in the RCA department to begin with. To cover Sundays (and majority of holidays) for parcel delivery is just absolutely draining on the RCA corp.
I subbed for 9.5 years before turning regular. I’ll be perfectly honest, if I was subbing now? Odds are, I would be looking for other work. I got a wife and a son, and it sucked that during that 9.5 years, she had to apologize numerous times for missing out on family functions on Saturdays and some Sundays. If I was subbing now? I’d be missing EVERYTHING with my family.
USPS is supposed to be a government agency that doesn’t honor National Holidays for RCA’s/CCA’s, (and now supervisors, truck drivers, and plant workers.) How can someone who has a family explain to said family that “Yeah, other than Thankgiving, Christmas Day, and 4th of July? I’m probably working.”)
I hope and pray that our Union brings this to the table during negotiations. This is right that these folks are treated like a piece of equipment.
The Post Office is only looking out for itself. As far as the employees go, if you don’t like it, you can leave. There are other cattle they can bring in that will do the work if we don’t want to. Unfortunately, it would be like the minimum wage jobs. Employees would get tired of the BS (even though it is a good paying job) and leave, and they’ll have a high turnaround with the employees. There are several in our office getting close to retirement and are starting to count down!
Geez, can’t we just have ONE freakin’ bitch thread to ourselves so we don’t have to read another regular telling us to “quit” or “suck it up”?
Haha wait until you become regular
Full time rural carriers get vacation time medical benefits and set days off April Hardy, I would take the crap we shovel with a smile just for medical! We are working “7” days a week with CHILDREN and no respect, no wads of cash from gratuity “bonuses” and it is sometimes 10 years before we make regular, so please spare me the tears!
Duhhh dumbass we’ve ALLLLLLL Been there done that!!! How do you think WE became full time!!
Misty, if anyone is a dumbass in this thread, it has to be you with your ignorant remarks.
“Dumbass”, yeah that’s real mature… hope life treats you well…
And you didn’t work 7 days a week through Christmas as their was no amazon delivery on Sundays “when you were there”
“Duhhhh, dumbass”… Nice, and you spoiled brats wonder why you have trouble keeping subs. (I’m glad you ALL aren’t like that though)
Eric, I am a regular now, but I was a sub for 12 1/2 years with children, no medical, no time off, and I missed a lot of field trips with my girls! Now, one of my daughters is a sub in the same situation I was in. I feel for all you subs out there. I watch my daughters children on Saturdays so she doesn’t have to pay child care. If some of these regulars were a bit more respectful of their subs….
I was a sub for 6=7 years before I made regular. I worked every sunday delivering express mail and doing lock changes. I did the same on Christmas day. no job is perfect. even after making regular when I didn’t get paid for 3 mos I still worked. also, I’ve had subs get my “gratuities” even though I give them money every year for Christmas. one year we didn’t get paid the last payday before Christmas. even with all the crap we have to put up with, its still the best paying job with good benefits. the wait to make regular is tough but we all have to pay our dues. some offices have it better but no office is perfect.
eric, i was 7 months pregnant with my 2nd child when i started as an rca. i paid my dues as a sub. i took the crap. i was on call 24/7. i’ve earned what (benefits) i have now and i say that loosely. i still have to fight for a day off. even if my kid is sick. and “bonuses?” what world do you live in? so, button it.
There is no way regulars did what stubs do now. Things have changed in that past 2 years. Running a few express on Sundays or holidays is not even close!
What they’re doing to some of the RCAs in busier offices short of staff shouldn’t even be legal.
Thank you! I’m a regular but our poor subs….
Me personally, 7 days a week with no day off, 10 to 13 hours a day, no benefits, nothing, single mom trying to raise kids but never home. Yes, it’s ALOT different now than in previous years.
Im an RCA and of course have been run ragged lately. 180+hrs in the last 15days! I work in a large office, 56 rural routes. I always hear horror stories, but I guess my office is different. Management is awesome from PM on down. They do whatever they can to work with us on hours and availability. Even last week we were expected to do “parcel runs” at night, if we said we couldn’t, or just wanted to go home. We were allowed to leave! They wanted all rcas to work today. I said I couldn’t, they said OK!!! The post office gets a bad rap. It all depends on the office you work in.
You’re so lucky!!! I can’t imagine working in an office that treats people like humans!
I hear you RCA but we put in our time as well. I can remember being at a state convention and my reg. Called me wanting to work. Guess what it was pay therefore I made the 4 hr. Drive home and got my butt to work. It happened to me several times I put my life on hold for my reg. For my job but guess what….. I got paid for it. I needed the money so I did what any hard working person would do. Not whine just did it. Now I’m reg. And I still don’t get everything I want but guess what? Yep you guessed it i get paid.
We are all treated like junk mail!!
Why do you do it off you feel that way?
I loved the job when I first signed on. But over the last few years there’s been more bulk mail and packages with zero change in the evaluation. I’m working longer hours for the same pay. Living life tethered to the telephone and disrupting the sitters life at the drop of a hat. I’m glad to have had the opportunity bit honestly after a lot of thought my husband and I decided this job isn’t worth it anymore. It’s hell on vehicles and is becoming more and more stressful. I’ve worked with some great people that are very considerate and great managers, but the problems are beyond their control. I took leave without pay to have a baby, and I recently decided I won’t be going back. It’s very bittersweet but it’s time to move on, definitely.
Geez! All I hear are a bunch of Scrooges and Grinches! ! Merry Christmas every body!! I love my job and I’m very thankful for it. Unfortunately, there is good management and bad management in the postal service. There are good carriers and bad carriers. At the end of the day, there is good and bad with any job you have. Be safe out there guys and gals and chin up!!
Now that’s the attitude I like.
Hendersonville nc postmaster Evon really does treat her employees like junk mail. Was a RCA for 4 1/2 years until she started. And because of the way she treats her employees 4 have transfered, many are waiting to leave, mail misdeilvered and over worked employees cause she runs them off and all complaints. But cause her ethnicity nothing gets done about about it. Grievances get stored away and never seen again. Multiple people have left. Like myself never to want to work at the post office again. Might not ever send a package through the postal service cause of her and her alone. A little respect for the job goes along way. Sometimes it isn’t about money.
And yes I worked every day after a holiday. Yes it sucked but where else can you go and make the money we do. My mother was in the hospital but guess where my butt was yep on the route doing my job. I missed countless birthdays and wedding but I hired on to work Saturday. That was my guaranteed day to work so I worked it that simple.
Yes we were hired on to work Saturdays you are correct their but not Sundays and 5 other days a week.
But your also to be available to work when needed. That’s the part the newer subs miss. Yes being a subs stinks. Agree 100% but all of us have been there. All of us did it. It’s not new. Only new thing is sunday. But if asked I’d do it in heart beat. I NEED my job. Im reg. I’ve been out till 7 in the dang dark. Didn’t like it one bit but I did my job and served my customers.
Try being out every night till seven and that’s a early night. I had a 11pm night this week and many other times.
Technically, not true. Post office manual states without equivocation that RCA’s are hired to work the relief day (period). It does not go on to say “and be available as needed”. When I first started as an RCA, I was hired with mutual understanding that I was able to offer flexibility but also demanded the same in return. Over time and a few different PM’s management has become more and more less flexible. Still, they are bound by Federal labor laws. Visit Department of Labor for more info. RCA’s have more rights then they know or that management would admit. Frankly, at the local levels mgmnt is not aware. Instead, they just choose to ram their unwarranted policy down our throats.
But the office’s that some of us are referring to are bad, very very bad. The work conditions in some circumstances are beyond unacceptable for anyone. Not all offices are laid back during a normal week.
This chic Misty Lynn LaCoursemisty has no clue, bet she grew up in a small town P.O. with an awesome post master and work a regular two day work week and made regular in three years, never worked a sunday and got help half of her trips. Tell you what chic, your office is NOT the same as others nor do you know what it’s like to work for PO who tries to bully you into working second trips for free. Best thing you can do is keep your mouth shut and let people complain on the thread that has absolutely NOTHING to do with you, and maybe a Lil listening before you call a complete stranger a “Dumbass”.
That is exactly my life. I live 2 blocks from the PO, almost exactly 3 years as a sub and they worked around my college schedule. But we also had a great team, and had plenty of employees. 🙂 I know, rub it in…
Actually I was a sub for 8 years and have been full time for 6. I put in my time with three kids at home working at three different post offices running two routes a day int 2 different cities and in my own post office. It was tough but worth it.
Misty Lynn LaCourse Please refrain from calling people names on this page.. Thank you
Im happy to see this. There is no reason she should be calling anyone names.
I treat my subs like I want to be treated. The have it easy. Hell, I don’t even like to take off on circular days or holidays. But I am the exception to the rule. New hires are not fully told how life will change, and most don’t have the tenacity to deal with it. That’s not a slight towards anyone. It takes a special person to accept that the mail comes first. I honestly and truly feel sorry for those RCAs that work for a regular like my poor wife did. She thought she ran that office an would INTENTIONALLY mess up other carriers days off.
I’m a regular and feel so bad for the RCA”s. Our office isnt overly bad with them other than over working them to death and I adore all the subs in our office but it’s not far to them the volume of work and hours they end up putting in day after day
I gave several rca’s in my office small tokens’gift cards’ they work so hard,and i feelfor them. i started when my son was 4 . I missed everything!!! He is 23 now.. I have beén able to afford many things for him, but I can never get that time back. I have guilt everyday.. I go above and beyond for the personwho coversmy off day. But that person is lazy, combative, and rude… Next step mngmnt cand deal w/it…
Wanna see how bad they really will treat you? Then get hurt on the job at no fault of your own. They throw you out like yesterday’s ubbm!!! They refuse to pay work related injury charges. Refuse to approve medical treatment. Then they tell you they won’t accept you back to work because your to much of a liability. Gotta love USPS!!! Injured and jobless for giving your all for USPS!!! Merry Christmas!!!
That is what attorney’s are for, they can only screw with you if you let them on a job related injury.
You were told thee things Before you took the job so shut your complaining up. Either work part time with NO benefits or walk!!!! Your choice!!!! But stop putting the Postal Service down!!!! Their rules are hundred years old or more. You knew it from day one. All you want is a hand out and free money to stay home. Grow up or get out!!!
First off Shiela Taylor you don’t know what all subs are told upon interview, alot of them are lied to just to get them on because they WOULD WALK… and we are told we are only guaranteed ONE DAY A WEEK!!! Now feel free to find the forum “angry regulars complaining about nothing” thanks!!!
https://www.facebook.com/www.ruralinfo.net/posts/10152659013233897
Then quit and let someone who needs the job work.
Amen!!! Everybody is looking for a hand out!!
So I am told by my regular” us subs are mildew under the door mat” we are people just like the regulars but are expected to be there on call no benefits no vacation pay no regular hours we do all the packages for Christmas working seven days a week and then barely a day a week does that sum it up? No where in the world does this happen but the good old USPS I have worked for ten years and I still have no security no pension no sick time etc…. But every other Kraft does At least get benefits?
You know….. we could all throw rocks at each other and management all day long……it is sad. The problem is some people just don’t treat others good. And that goes for all……management, regulars and yes some RCA’s…….. Had my fair share who thought they were better than all the rest of us. Just saying.
You can’t even say something positive or “good advice” without being thought bad of. We keep our mouth shut when we shouldn’t….
To you regulars who think your sooooo awesome and you have “all been their” B.S. you never delivered 7 days a week from before sun up to after sun down. You were never subjected to work two routes a day CASE AND DELIVER because your short handed. Things now are nothing like what they were several years ago!!! Please leave the RCA threads to the RCA’S. And now we have a bunch of LLV’S and rarely need our personal vehicle that we are still required to maintain. Those vehicles are expensive and we no longer receive comp as we now have LLV’S.
Eric I hate to tell you this but…I started in 1987 as a rcr, I did all the things you mentioned only it was express mail on Sundays and holidays. Yes it was different I worked as much as I could because I wanted the time. So all regular carriers have to go thru some type of hell that was thrown at them by the post office.
Please read my latest Mike. And for the record I delivered 49 pkgs today, not 4 to 8 express mails, no offense.
Yes. I worked every single holiday, delivering express and casing routes for the regulars. We worked at least 4 hours on holidays.
Try that again buddy we split a rt on Saturdays for years after we ran our assigned rt. Yes we all have worked 10-12 hr days it’s what we signed up for. the work ethic of people nowadays has gone to pot. You have to put the time and work in before you reap the benefits.
I give up…… only you have it bad my apologies.
He’s not talking about once in a while, its all the time, not just the busy season. Splitting routes everyday after doing a 9 hr full route not just Saturdays and I hardly consider doing a couple hours of express hell that some of the poor regulars had to do. There is no comparison!
I delivered 296 parcels today…and it was horrible!! 8 am to 9 pm
Sorry but we had way more mail in the 90’s worked 6 to 6 most days way more flats and letters not in order like they are today and no top shelf for case had to line up the mail wish we could time travel back
Volume of mail was at it’s highest in 2006!
You act like a Regular never had to do your job. We all do the time. Suck it up.
All regulars have been subs at one time. I was a sub for five years and missed many family trips, school functions, etc. . . . I worked every Saturday, after every holiday etc. . . . I worked every Christmas Eve for five years long past dark missing my family functions. The only difference between then and now. . I only worked six days per week and now they are working seven days per week. The best defense for all carriers is know the contract.
Eric Johnson, I HAVE been in your shoes. I went regular in September this year. We have split routes weekly if not most times daily as an rca. We were told we all (rcas) stay out until everyone is done….sometimes til midnight. I have changed a radiator on my route….then finished it…cause I was all they had and got no help.
I delivered on Christmas day many years in my EIGHT as an rca. We ran express on Sundays as well as other priority packages.
Those before me had all raw letters and flats….no automation….and no llvs.
Those before them had seven day deliveries, TWICE a DAY.
WHEN THEY/WE DAY WE KNOW…..WE REALLY DO
And to all those that are saying we never worked 7 days a week………. hey……no one did……. until now. But we did work 6 …… we did carry 2 routes at times…….cased all day and handed off mail as carriers came back. Delivered in the dark…..worked 12 or more hours. Yes times are different. As for LLV’s…………. Sure could have used one back in the day when I broke down and had to leave and go get a rental and come back and finish the route. Worked with a fever because ” no one else was available ” Yes things are different…….nothing is static.
Let me apologize to the regulars that I may have upset, that was not my intention, I know alot of VERY GOOD regulars that I respect a great deal. Allow me to direct my aggressions towards the regulars who think they can jump on here call me and other subs “dumbasses” and most of them have not worked like us or regulars that “do know”
Maybe it’s just turn for a change? I just became a regular, and being a sub was hell, it’s not safe to be forced to rush and work multiple routes. Why are more regulars not saying, that this is unacceptable treatment? I would have quit had I not been a single mom with three kids, and I missed so much of their early years, and had daycares telling me how terrible I was to leave them at daycare, but what do you do?
How about we all join together and stop the childish attitudes? Some of you sound like my little kids, ” well I had to do it, so should they…” It’s time to stick up for the new generation, that’s why we are a union, right?
Tammy Moon and Johnny Rincon
I know Jody Rials HartJody that everyone must work two routes and hand off mail. That’s a given at time of extreame measures, snow days days after holidays when carriers call in but the post office I am referring to this is a weekly occurrence. Subs Carrie a route and a half at minimum 3 days a week. Not going to express my opinion on why the PM can’t get help but it’s that bad all week long. And for the record I delivered 49 pkgs today not a few express mails, no offense.
Subs just don’t forget we regulars were once in your shoes. Many offices are poorly run, but I remember delivering Christmas express also
Very funny Christmas express, no clue!
I’m with Eric, office I was in, this was all the time not just busy season and it depended on who you were if you wanted time off. It’s pretty bad when you can’t make a Dr or dentist appointment in 2 years but certain other stubs can take off all the time for stupid reasons and can make all kinds of mistakes but if it’s you, they try to write you up!
What do you mean you can’t make Dr appointments? Of course you can. But you have to be willing to stand up to management. The RCA was hired to work the relief day. No where is it written that you must also be available as needed. No doubt, this is how management operates and wants you to fear loss of job.
The fact is you can always say no.. PO gas to build a case that your refusal to work is chronic before they can fire you. Problem is you can’t count on the union for support. They’re in the corner of the regular. Yet, you are still in the driver seat as long as you have a good track record. Missing an occasional day is not grounds for dismissal. It all depends on how much fight you have inside to recognize difference between right and wrong
Love how a few of the regulars I am specifically talking about erase comments, so so mature they can’t even carry on a debate…
I remember working before daylight the last 4 weeks and after the sunset the last 4 weeks….all the subs in our office remember working till 7,8,9 in the last several weeks and hey I remember the 72 parcels I delivered this morning while others were preparing for Christmas in 4 days…..I’ll take those “few” sunday express instead! I ALSO REMEMBER the regular last week that said I made nearly as much as she did this year
Your welcome to do something else!! Nobody put a gun to your head! You get paid well. You don’t like it, do something else! Quit your whining, put on your big girl panties and deal with it or quit!
Actually…no we aren’t being paid well……several of us in my office are missing overtime pay for the last 6 weeks and the union just showed up this week to discuss it and even a regular was missing her overtime pay
Same in my office. I was an RCA once too. All of us were.
Are you missing your overtime pay? I’m not joking upwards of 5K-10K $ of pay is missing from several people in my office including regulars
In short terms…..many of us in our office ARE NOT being PAID for busting our asses the last 6 weeks….our paychecks are shorted…..here ask another one of them in my office…Beth Julian
You should want to do your job for free…just like all carriers before you. *rolls eyes* I highly doubt that the regular carriers on this thread would be cool with working for free, but they’re perfectly happy telling you to do it.
And I don’t mean that towards ALL regulars, just the ones saying suck it up.
Can’t u file a grievance and get paid?
6 weeks and the union finally came but now the waiting to find the green cards and go through them begins….then waiting on them to put it through to Eagan
I’m not scared to debate you… However you seem to have been put in your place pretty well. It is what it is. We’ve all put our time in to get to where we are. If you don’t like your job … Quit!!
Just for the record: When I was a kid I had to walk ten miles one way to school, in the snow, with barefeet. HAHAHA Sorry – thought I would add some laughter to a bad situation.
after 7 yrs as a sub and 1 as a reg AND a steward I try to see from all angles…you’re all right AND you’re all wrong. Try to have some compassion!!! I HATE the “beeb there suck it ups”…you should strive to help make things better for those after you!! People like you would still have us living in caves!
The RCA job sux enuff…Merry Christmas!!
See other employment
I love Misty
I believe you are mistaken, all I hear from you is suck it up.or quit… that not putting me.in my.place by any means, I obviously have sucked it up considering how many close calls there have been to finding a new job. What I am telling you is that you have a cush job with benefits and vacation. I very seriously doubt you have worked for an office where you are forced to work like we have been. All summer long including sing and fall we worked 6 days a week and carried half of another route. We had regulars off on vacation or medical. Then they drop Sundays as well… then they give us LLV’S and cut the pay on mileage. 49 pkg is not 5 express mails it’s another 4 to 5 hours a day on sundays, 3 to 4 for fast carriers. When, please tell me when are we supposed to have time for family. And so because this job off so much money that gives them the right to treat us this way with no benefits….
I retired from the U
Subs today didn’t go through half the shit I went through
I see all the suck it ups and find another job, blah blah blah, you show us another job that pays 20 an hour that is available and I’ll be the first to jump ship, the pay does not give them the right to work us as hard as we do!!!
W
And further more your past the finish line now, it’s very easy to look back and tell someone else who is struggling to suck it up but I highly doubt that you felt the same way during your time as a sub.
Exactly What I’m Saying…. Duh!!! The “extra pay” is why You/ We work EXTRA HARD!!!
You missed the part where I said the pay does not give them the right to work us like they do…
No I didn’t miss that… It absolutely gives them the right plus the fact that you ACCEPTED the job for that specific wage.
So, you believe that employees should have no rights?
Brandy Heston, Im thinking the same exact thing.
Thank you, the pay does not allow slavery, work or get fired, and the new subs get paid even less…
And I keep thinking, “who crapped in Misty’s cereal this morning?” I can get mean, but damn, you’re just nasty.
What your leaving out is you get paid. And paid well. You get ot. Us reg dont. I remember being a sub and making 34000 a yr. And I was part time. Hummm can’t flip a burger and make that kind of cash. I worked when asked and canceled dr. Appointments hair appointment and yes family planned vacations to be available for my job that I hired in for.
Exactlyyyyyyy!!!!
There’s no planning vacations around a 7 day a week schedule. There’s no planning dr appointments for when you’re not working if you’re always working. When you have people working 20 or more days straight in a row with no time to rest, you’ve crossed the line. That’s inhumane.
Lol no that’s called hard work. But i guess I’m just old school. I use to have my own business and I worked from 7 am to 2 or 3 am to get a job out. And I’m not talking pushing a pen. I ran a drill press lathe milling machine what ever I could to get the parts out on time. And this went on for 7 yrs. Yes I was a lot younger but I did it right along side my husband cause that’s what hard working people do.
Oh no…you missed hair appointments! Really? As a regular you don’t know what it is like to work 7 days. Your comment is rude and arrogant. This is why we can’t keep subs.
I highly doubt conditions would be the same if we had a separate union from the regulars! I for one pay my dues for the record and vote but still not personally impressed…
Thanks for touching on real problem. The union is the most worthless organization for the rural craft. I worked 13+ years as an RCA. They are not a friend of the RCA. I finally made regular and found they are also no friend to the regular. I resigned due to blatant contract violations by PO, which the union also ignored. I resigned after 2 years, as the step 1 pay grade and vacation allotment were not enough for me to work with no dignity. Incidentally, I should mention my PM was biased and viewed my appointment to regular as an obstacle to those she would have rather seen ahead of me in the pecking order. Talk about abuse of power. The pairing of supervisor and PM in my office is an example of how an office should not be run.
Perhaps the greatest mistake the PO makes is not devising some credit system that would recognize the time and efforts of RCA’s make for the many years that most put in while they wait for their time to make regular. Of course, most regulars I know would cry foul, as they would cite their time as RCA’s not receiving same treatment.
Look folks, just because things are the way they have always been doesn’t make it right.
As a footnote, I was smart enough to have documented my various complaints. Prior to my resignation, I submitted claims to the equivalent of the PO’s internal affairs. I learned from my experience and that of others that the grievance process is a joke.
As a result of my actions the PM is now working in an office whet she manages 1 instead of approximately 30. That being said, the PO has not to date disputed any of my claims. The report remains on file with HR.
I guess you just want the money… but don’t want to Work for it!!! If it was an EASY Job Everybody would do it.
If they treated their RCAs like human beings, more would stay with the post office instead of quitting.
You’re right… It’s not a job for the weak…
You know what sucks,I had to put up with a lot of shit but I liked my job.i had to go out on disability when I was thirty three,with fourteen years in the PO. I can’t work so shut the fuck up and do your work !!!
Agree with you 110 percent Reeda Alford Sessum!! 🙂
Whatever babies.
Tell me where you can go and make what you brought home friday. Yes it sucks working so much but your going to have a great Christmas I bet with the money you earned. And FYI 49 packages ain’t nothing. Come carry my rt on any Givin day. It would blow you away. Just sayin.
49 pkgs on SUNDAY, not sure the regulars are aware of this but that’s AMAZON ONLY on sundays…
Oh my bad….. butt look at the overtime. Cha ching. It’s not like it took you all day.
No no, I love the over time, I’m going to miss it as I have just transferred from said office. I will be at two days and Sunday. I’m happy with that and calls as needed. The office I come from is very lacking, their is no qualified superior for clerks city or rural, o ly authority figure in the office is the PM who was forced to run a pice of a route. Thus person is lacking in so many ways. I would love to explain more that would blow your mind but not on the open chat of course. I will say that for a fact we had a specific Carrier of a similar ethnicity that called in many Saturday mornings and still has a job, she had accidents that were not reported and another who refuses to work sundays…
The money is fantastic. I work at an amazing post office. If my post office can function with respect for everyone, including RCAs, then every office can. It’s worth trying for. It is worth fighting for. Being treated with compassion and respect is a wonderful thing and only makes the work environment better for all. Why do you all hate that idea so much?
A lot depends on the people in management. After 15 years of service there has only been one manager in my time who had a sense of honor and respect for employees to go along with a broad command of issues. Put another way there was little, if any, grey area. Unfortunately, he died of cancer. Ironically, all others could be considered a cancer.
The real PM in my office is a vindictive, vengeful, lazy, incompetent a-hole. After years of trying to get him removed, our new poom succeeded, kind of. He’s currently on detail in other offices while a PM from another office runs ours, and his own. Needless to say years of dealing with our real PM has drained our morals so far I don’t think it’s possible to raise them again =(
Funny. The city CCAs are treated like they have diplomatic immunity.
For all you poster children for postal slavery, it’s easy to point your finger at the guys still getting poo’d on… thats what all the “one percenters” are doing to you… try voicing out so that other people don’t have to live “what you lived through”. Try pulling with your hand rather than pushing with your foot!!!
I worked hard when I was a sub I knew every route in my office and work 7 days a week back when we delivered Express on Sundays but I have to admit the way things are today for subs there is absolutely no way I could work under the pressure that they have to deal with I thank
each and everyone of you subs that stick in and wait for the time that you become regular thank you for the great job that you guys all do
If you all worked just 1 day a week like your hired for you would complain about that to, it’s a no win situation.
That’s an over simplification. Many RCA’s, myself included, worked other jobs to supplement whatever work gained at PO. PO CAN’t guarantee hours, so what…do we all just wait by phone waiting for the call. I don’t think so, yet that is the attitude management adopts because they understandably want things to run smooth. In fact, it is a violation of labor law for PO to demand availability unless they are willing to pay for it. For example, a pm cannot require RCA’s make themselves available the day after a holiday. It is against the law unless they are willing to schedule at the moment of making such a statement and if they do schedule they are then bound to payment when that day arrives. Of course, we all know that isn’t how it works.
Check with DOL for more information.
OMG! As someone else stated, times have changed! When I started with the Post Office 24 years ago, we drove POVs, all of our mail was raw, and we had to be available 6 days a week! Those who have only dealt with DPS have no idea what it’s like to case all your mail raw. Driving POVs, you are responsible to keep them in running order and have a backup available at all times. If you broke down on the route, you better have a way to either fix it or get your backup to you. Yes, 7 day delivery just started. Hopefully there are enough RCAs in each office so not everyone is working every week. This time of year is always hard on the RCAs. It was my favorite time, dressing up, delivering parcels. Children, as well as adults, loved it! How about working the best we can given the situation and working towards changing it in the near future! I think that is better than all the name calling and everything else on here.
It’s the same way in my post office I agree 100% the way they treat RCA’s is repulsive. I am one of them and I have been told I’m “dirt”, “replaceable”, and that I don’t matter.
But on the positive side look at your paycheck. You subs get OT and regulars dont…
Roughly 30 of our regs did today. And last week. But on the positive side, we RCAs will simply drop from exhaustion before the posters here will stop telling us to find another job. Yes, there is a paycheck. No, it’s not worth it outside of December, which we knew would be like this. However, based on last year, I’ll average 6.5 days/week and 55 hours. Ludicrous to not even get the benefits that all other crafts get, let alone be able to schedule a teeth cleaning or have a family. You don’t have to agree, just hear and understand.
I love being a sub and know just about every route in my office and have had to learn a new one over the holidays. But the money you make as a sub is better than a lot of full time jobs. If u have a great postmaster and supervisor, like our office, i guess it makes a big difference. There are plenty of days that suck but that is every job. Most days are pretty great especially if your regular carriers are great.
Rural carriers in general….part time or full are treated like the step children in the P.O. just sayin…..
Damn…some people need to get a hobby…make time.
As you are, I once was. As I am, you some day will be.
This time of year makes up for all the days we get to go home early the rest of the year…it’s only temporary…stop being so negative…that’s not going to make it any better…js
Oh please. The regulars citing OT should stop. We get paid to be at home on holidays. Subs don’t. We get benefits, vacation, sick leave, pension and TSP. Subs don’t, or if they do they pay even more for their benefits. They make far less an hour than we do (and make even less starting out than majority of us did when we subbed.) We have a steady income, whereas subs may have feast or famine.
Knock if off with the “just wait until you’re a regular, then you REALLY are screwed” moronic commentary. RCA’s work their asses off and would trade places with you in a heartbeat. I was a sub for 9.5 years, been a regular for 14 months. Trust me, you couldn’t pay me enough to go back. The subs, in all crafts, are vital for us to function as the USPS, and we should be grateful to them for allowing us to function.
Sign me up! I’ve been waiting over 9 years to go regular! I can’t wait to complain about all my bennies and steady pay haha! 😉
Thank you!!
Thank u … RCA 12 yrs
My office have now only 7 rca for 20 route and 6 aux routes all the rca have aux or vac route plus sunday i rca for 9 years never working like this
Lots of good points on here, some not so much. Being an RCA is what it is especially this time of year. It’s a piece of cake 10months out of the year. Again, depending on your office. I absolutely love my job. My only gripe is the slacking regulars who can’t seem to make their evaluation, so we have to carry the rest of their route!!! I show up 6am, do a 3hr parcel run, run my primary route and am still back by 5, 6 at the latest. Then have to pull and carry part of a route a regular left!!!!
3 More Days Everybody!!!
I know this holiday working has been so hard on most of us but it’s almost over!!!
“”This is OUR Season””
We got this!!
He makes almost twice the minimum wage. Quit whining and be glad you have a job.
I hate when people say XXX more days and it’s over. Yes, only 3 days until Christmas is over, 3 days until I have missed seeing my kids and husband during my favorite time of year.
Last year we carried UPS’S screw up through January 1…..I have my doubts this will end in 3 days
You are NOT “junk mail”; and I appreciate each and every dedicated individual delivering packages and mail ~ EVERYDAY of the year. Thank you ALL for your continued service! 🙂
Not good days to be a sub unless you like money. Taking the Sundays sucks, but we regulars do not get the best treatment either.
Yes and they’re go after you working for them second time with bogus application issue 12 yrs ago. Can anyone remember that? Oh and this second time I was working 3.5 yrs. Same PO told me they were hacked and they have my info and medical info. Is there anyway to make them accountable?
I see it everyday at our office. I an 1 if the union stewards in our office as long as the sub comes to us and has tried to first go to Managment themselves and work the pay issue out And our supervisor that does payroll will work with the carrier to fix this issue but put that aside most of our RCA work 5/6 some 7 days a week 12 hrs a day and I agree there should be benefits for the subs that work like this every week
HAZING????? Anybody listening????
I appreciate the extra work my postal crew does ~ being in Gillette, WY bas made me see how rural rural can be!!! Thanks for going the extra mile to deliver my packages!!!
I’ve got news for you all! After working 28 years for the USPS, I have retired. Do you all think that I am getting a Great Big Retirement Check? Think again. I was a sub carrier for 19 years and during that time; was also an Aux Carrier for 13 years before becoming a Regular Carrier. So basically, I bought back about a year (all that was allowed) I worked 6 days a week for 13 years and my Big Thank You from the USPS; was a certificate stating that I had worked 10 years for the USPS! Not only that, My Retirement pays for mine and my Husband’s Health Insurance and I get a whopping check of $14.00 a Month! I am Humbled…………..thanks for nothing!..
Thanks for your service, you can die now. If PO could find a way to eliminate your $14 check they would in a heartbeat. PO highly trusted by public. I’d like to see that poll directed to employees past and present. I’ve been out of PO about a year. Whenever I run into other retired employees the only comments I hear are negative and that is despite the benefits received. What does that tell you?
It’s really sad we put in all those years & get so little in return 🙁