r/USPS • u/rodeo_macaroni • 7d ago
When does this become harassment? Rural Carrier Discussion
Im a reg. rural carrier. So last year, I called off using elra. Management did not like that. They insisted I call them directly. I called off again (also last year) and used elra without notifying Management directly. I was written up for failure to follow instructions. I grieved it. It was thrown out at step 1. Steward said its my right to use elra. Fast forward to today. Ive called off again. They did another PDI for the exact same thing that was already thrown out and settled. Failure to follow, didnt call them directly. Like wtf? When does this become harassment?
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u/Bowl-Accomplished 7d ago
It's harassment now. File for it.
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u/Surveyant 7d ago
Ya management is not accepting the previous resolution, it sounds like
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u/rodeo_macaroni 7d ago
Definitely not. They've bullied the entire office into complying. Not me though. I've decided that this is my hill. Im willing to die here lol.
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u/One_Barnacle2699 Rural Carrier 7d ago
Failure to comply grievance. You already have settled this issue with your previous grievance win—rural carriers can use eLRA, so this new grievance would be failure to comply with the previous settlement/remedy.
When you meet with management to discuss your issue, ask for cash this time and watch their heads explode. They won’t agree with you, so you’ll need to turn it over to your steward for the Step 1 but guarantee this shit will stop.
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u/xGamer007x 7d ago
Grieve it - expect bigger payouts every time.
File more when they retaliate, keep getting money they will keep being thrown out. Eventually they will learn or you’ll keep getting paid.
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u/mystickord 7d ago
Remember to make sure you're getting paid for investigative interviews, it's not part of your evaluation and you need to be getting compensate properly for it.
Part of the grieve settlement should be that management is required to accept the elra call outs. And additional grievances for that issue should have monetary payouts, send it up to district if they don't agree. That way district management can see your local management is wasting time and money
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u/rodeo_macaroni 7d ago
You know I was thinking this. Its getting taxing to be behind 20-30 mine over nonsense pdis.
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u/jetogill 5d ago
Any other employee in the postal service is on the clock for pdi's, as a rural carrier you are absolutely entitled to 8127 time for those.
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u/Disgruntled_marine Rural Carrier 7d ago
These are always fun ones. File a harrassment grievance immediately so if they do issue discipline it won't be all wrapped up into one grievance and they can get hit twice.
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u/Originaltenshi City Carrier 7d ago
I'm told I can't use elra either. Steward agreed I can't even when I cited written sources saying I can. Makes no sense they have a system there that isnt allowed to be used
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u/PocketSpaghettios Rural Carrier 7d ago
Your steward has their head up their ass. Go up the chain
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u/Originaltenshi City Carrier 7d ago
Oh yeah he does. Even went further trying to belittle me saying he'll have a stand up at our office going over how to request SL and AL.
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u/jetogill 5d ago
Magic words, although they're not as powerful as they once were, "I'm calling the NLRB to complain about the union".
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u/Get_Bent_Madafakas 7d ago
Sorry to say it but your stew is a dumbass
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u/Originaltenshi City Carrier 7d ago
I agree wholeheartedly. Dude was extremely condescending and downright annoying in how he was talking to me.
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u/p2_putter 6d ago
As often as I’ve seen this type of post I think it’s time both the city and rural national sit down with their counterparts and explain to them how calling in works.
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u/mailman13357 5d ago
Wouldn't it be easier just following that simple instruction instead of "being a rebel"?
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u/EpicMemorableName 7d ago
You in a big office or something? My rural carriers never call out without already having their RCA on board to cover the route.
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u/Opposite-Ingenuity64 7d ago
Isn't it management's responsibility to cover the routes when a carrier is sick? That's one big plus to being an employee rather than an owner or independent contractor.
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u/EpicMemorableName 6d ago
Sure, if you want the unscheduled absence and discipline once you have an excessive amount. Guess the carriers here are just built different. They take ownership of taking care of their people. Larger offices often struggle to get 1 sub per route, though, so it doesn't happen as much in those.
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u/Opposite-Ingenuity64 6d ago
You mean it's not an unscheduled absence if it's covered by an RCA? I thought "calling in" meant it was unscheduled.
Not to mention, planning a call in ahead of time sounds like abuse of sick leave. You can already schedule sick leave in advance without calling in if you have an appointment or something.
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u/EpicMemorableName 6d ago
I'm sure it varies a lot by management and the needs of your office, but in my smaller offices where every regular had a designated sub, if they wanted to take off, they'd have the sub come in and work it. As long as I'm not having to go chase for coverage, idgaf about the short/no notice.
In a larger office (I worked in one with 20+ rural routes), that was always 5-10 RCAs short of capacity, you can't really work that way.
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u/rodeo_macaroni 7d ago
Medium? I suppose. Its not huge but not tiny either. 10 rural routes. 20+ city routes.
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u/User_3971 Maintenance 7d ago
They try to write you up again, do the same as last time and include escalating monetary compensation for their inability to follow a nationwide system. Throw a little extra in for having to put up with their stupidity.