probation and hours spent on delivery

[anxiety ridden]

I am a new rca. I have spent 23 days now working for my reg.(Sloppy, abusive, etc.)  It actually took 2 weeks to get the boxes marked and the cluster boxes numbers and labeled. He has done it for 23 year now and does it all by memory.He would always yell at pm, i don't have time. He was suppose to be in at 7 and would stroll in about 8. Sometimes with a wake up call. Another sub and i had mark the cluster boxes because he wouldn't . He is a K route 8 1/2 hours. he is in at 8 and home at 2:30. I am slow casing and mainly because he would put up the new labels or fix the boxes. I am finally getting a little better. He delivers in 3 1/2 me about 4 . But he cases in 2 me in 4. the pm is on back i am way to slow. I should be way faster now. Saturday i have to do the route and be back beforre  3 or she don't know. I think she wants to get rid of me. Just doesnt like me. I have done nothing but shown her respect and work hard. I do put in more hours and it freaks her. She said they don't like my hours. Who ever they are? Can i be fired not for not meeting the time evaluation before my probation. Especially when he wouldn't do anything to help. Don't i get my 90 days. What should i do. I loved it before. I was a trc that transferred to be an rca and they never had a problem. Were verysuportive/   I feel she hates me and wants me out  Nothing pleases her. And actually the customers love me. They wish i was the reg. He drives too fast , rood.  runs in their yard, etc. Why does she let him get away with all this and more and is always on my back. I feel like quiting. i feel sick avout going in tomorrow. Do i wait the probation or can she can me now
Thanks
anxious rca

[Casca]

Hang in there.

What it comes down to is a report that ranks RCA hours against all the other offices in the area and she is probably showing up higher than offices she wants to be under.  That and your hours will reflect on her performance rating.  She's just wanting to save face at your expense.  If the pressure gets worse, or you get something in writing, call the union.  If your customers have any complaints, they can call 800 askusps.

[daboysdada]

Find your local steward and tell them everything you posted. If they can't/won't help, call your state steward. They can't tell you to be back by a certain time before you last dispatch time "or else". Keep us updated as to what happens. This also sounds like harassment.

[daboysdada]

Find your local steward and tell them everything you posted. If they can't/won't help, call your state steward. They can't tell you to be back by a certain time before you last dispatch time "or else". Keep us updated as to what happens. This also sounds like harassment.

[z1916d]

your supervisor has the right to make the regular fix the case labels... talk to your steward and show them this.
M-38 MANAGEMENT OF RURAL DELIVERY SERVICES

343 LABELING
343.1 General
The postmaster or designee must assure that all cases in the unit are labeled
efficiently and uniformly

Methods Handbook, Series M-38http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/USPS_hbks/M-Series/M-38%20Management%20of%20Rural%20Delivery%20Services%207-80%20(243%20KB).pdf

[z1916d]

your supervisor has the right to make the regular fix the case labels... talk to your steward and show them this.
M-38 MANAGEMENT OF RURAL DELIVERY SERVICES

343 LABELING
343.1 General
The postmaster or designee must assure that all cases in the unit are labeled
efficiently and uniformly

Methods Handbook, Series M-38 http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/USPS_hbks/M-Series/M-38%20Management%20of%20Rural%20Delivery%20Services%207-80%20(243%20KB).pdf

[middle of nowhere]

   you said  you are taking 4 hrs. to case and 4 hrs to deliver on an 8.5 route. i see no problem with that at all.  your casing time will drop over time and that is really the only thing that matters.  driving faster is not an option,  to cut time down, it has to happen in the office.  if  you look at how you do everything, stop and think if there might be a quicker or easier way. unless you have someone for a postmaster that won't allow it, case all your flats first, case dps if possible. ask others for advice on anything that you struggle with.  everyone has gone through this, and most will help with any time saving tricks that have worked for them.  find efficient ways to do each thing.  always put your keys and the scanner in the same place in your vehicle.  accountables go here, signed pink slips go there. carry a spare pen someplace that you can find in 2 seconds.   not having to look for anything saves time.  the office is the same way- organize forward cards and keep them in order. - i use lightweight  1 inch- 3 ring binders cut to size for the forward cards.  they fit in the slot in the case, and are always in order.
     also i keep a note paper with the hold names stuck to the light fixture - when you pull the holds, you never miss anyone.  - one trip only to the hold case. one trip to the throwback case. ever step takes time.   don't give up and good luck

[daboysdada]

Organize EVERYTHING that you can in the office. I have Five big wings for my 950+ deliveries, when I do my parcels I start at the  top right of the first case where the route starts That is A-1 and the bottom of the last case where my route ends is E-6. I sort each wing into a separate tub and then I start at the end of the route E-6 and sequence them back to the front of the route A-1 that way when I am on my route I only have to look at the next sequenced package in my tub. I also scan everything for my stop before I get out of the LLV to deliver that stop that way I don't have to backtrack for a scanner I forgot.

[me]

i used to be super slow at pulling down mail because i did it like my regular did which is strapping.  i was "borrowed" out to other offices which used tubs, so i tried them and man, does that save a LOT of time for me.  the usps won't buy them, i bought them myself at walmart for i think they were about 7 bucks each...totally worth it!  get the rubbermaid or sterilite tubs that are like (i'm guessing here) about 24 inches by 18 inches and about 6 inches deep.  just be carefull putting them in the car, i've shoved the seatbelt "thinger" through a few of them. duct tape will hold them together though for a while!

[daboysdada]

Why spend money to buy tubs from Walmart? Use the trays your letters come in. Number them on the end, I like the majority of the carriers in my office keep mine at my GPC.

[me]

the trays the letters come in are too flimsy. ya need something more rigid, after all the flats are in the tray, they'll bend in the middle and you'll end up dropping the whole thing.  also, the trays aren't deep enough, especially if you case any small parcels...they tend to push the mail on either side of them kitty korner and it'll come flopping out the side of the tray....but that's my take on it, gotta find your own groove!

[just me]

We use deep trays, these are not the ones dps come in usually.  We would get about 3 or 4 a week and hoard them to use lol.

[anxiety ridden]

Thank you for all your suggestions. My sub just took off 2 weeks for vacation and i covered it. All but one day, she let some one else. Why i don't know because i am the sub of record. It went better after i labeled the cluster boxes and cases because he wouldn't. @ rcas were hired after me. There are 3 ahead of me, also 1 filling in for one on suspension till trial or ?. The 4 of the know all the routes and rotate constantly. I only have my route. She said I would learn one later. After me came 2  more rcas ( which i heard her say she wished she didn't get, figuring not everone would stay. Since then another rca was filling in for a reg who was out for doing something wrong but the union got her back in. So her sub became her sub again. But what is bugging me the two behind me, one guy she already is training him on his second route. And the last girl she is trainging on her second one and whe can't even do her first one. I called to day to ask and complain that i never was let to train for another route and they already are. She said we can't put you where you will only work once every 6  months. What? I feel like she isn't letting me go anywhere. When the second girl was training it was on my route for her 2nd pic. On the second day the regular just called off and didn't come in so there was no one to even train her. He get away with everything. Why don't i get a second route on this matrix. What should i do. I thing she will get rid of me before the 90 days. Just because she don't like me. I  honestly do my work , am respectful, and don't back stab like everyone does on each other. Is it me or are other offices like this. She calls in one girl constatnly and then says it was an emergency and no time to call the real sub.I want to make probation. When probation is over what happens. Do you get a grade or something or will she just say you made it or you are not meeting expectations and we are letting you go. And if she does, can i do anything/
Thanks

[Anxiety]

West virginia carrier, Can you explain this probation to me. I am getting 10 diff versions. I ws a trc at one office and transferred here to be an rca. What are the 90 days mean. 90 days from when you start at the office working or not, or only working a full day on your reg route. What about training days or the days i green carded to help the other girl. Then I work some out of 2 other offices once in awhile. The one i started in as a trc on a k and then in another on 1j and 1 h. Does it have to be a full day to count as a day or only a couple of hours. I'm trying to figure out when my probation is up.
thanks

[z1916d]

forget TRC time............ TRC time does not count....................... RCA time only.............. each day you are paid as an RCA............... any day you are being paid as an RCA counts.............. if you are riding along, training, going to rural carrier academy, orientation that day counts as one day as long as you are getting paid for time worked on that day................. whether its  a 2 hour day or 11 hour day it counts as 1 day........... if you work in another office it is one day.................

[putzheimer]

all of your time counts from the day you were hired as an RCA. your probation is 90 days or 1 year, whichever comes first. all days count, whether on a green card or an aux route or training, as long as you were an RCA, they count.

[anxiety]

Thanks so much! I will ride out my probation. I don't have much left if all those days counted of training and green cards and other offices. I just don't understand why she lets one hired after me work more. I will be patient and let you know how things go. thanks!!!   :)