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(look for a new password in each issue of our State Paper)
MEETINGS!!
April 3-5, 2024 - Western States Conference -
Chamonix Casino Hotel, Cripple Creek, CO
Registration form below, watch for more details to come:
| 2024_wsc_registration_form.pdf |
Clarification for regular carriers working other routes!
There needs to be clarification on how regulars should be documenting their time when working on other routes. The MOU states all work hours are to be recorded in the actual weekly hours block and that the other route work must be completed AFTER your own route is completed.
What does this mean in terms of the scanner/trip sheet?
Example: Route 1 Trip Sheet:
Clock In: 800 am
Depart to Route: 1130 am
Return to DU: 1445 pm (moved to PM casing at 1500) (switch scanner to Route 2 and do your assistance/scans for the day)
(switch scanner back to route 1) Clock Out: 2000 pm
Comments: 5 hours assist on Route 2
The system will automatically deduct those 5 hours you assisted on Route 2 and classify/pay those hours as overtime thus ensuring your actual work hours on your own route are 7 hours for the day. It is important carriers are tracking all the work hours for the day or their overtime rate will be calculated incorrectly, and they could end up with a Letter of Demand when management goes to correct the hours.
What does this mean in terms of the scanner/trip sheet?
- You clock in and do your route like normal.
- You hit J (return to DU) and complete all your end of shift duties for your route after the route is done.
- You then move to PM Casing on your route to stop the end of shift timer.
- You then change the route number in the scanner to the route you are helping on.
- Perform all the necessary RRECS scans for that route, as needed, EXCEPT FOR CLOCK IN/OUT and DEPART TO DU/RETURN TO DU.
- Once the assistance for that route is completed, change the route back in the scanner to your own route and clock out for the day under your route.
Example: Route 1 Trip Sheet:
Clock In: 800 am
Depart to Route: 1130 am
Return to DU: 1445 pm (moved to PM casing at 1500) (switch scanner to Route 2 and do your assistance/scans for the day)
(switch scanner back to route 1) Clock Out: 2000 pm
Comments: 5 hours assist on Route 2
The system will automatically deduct those 5 hours you assisted on Route 2 and classify/pay those hours as overtime thus ensuring your actual work hours on your own route are 7 hours for the day. It is important carriers are tracking all the work hours for the day or their overtime rate will be calculated incorrectly, and they could end up with a Letter of Demand when management goes to correct the hours.
What happens if YOUR
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
is Decertified!
What's new!
2023 Western State Conference – San Diego
Because of the incredible amount of valuable information in the July issue of the Colorado Rural Letter Carrier, there were some additional articles of equally valuable information that were unable to fit in the 24-page issue. The following three articles, written by Colorado delegates to the 2023 Western State Conference (WSC) in San Diego, are printed here. In addition, for the 2022-23 Annual Reports from CORLCA elected and appointed officers and the NRLCA Steward System, click on the button below.
CO/WY DELEGATION at WSC in SAN DIEGO: (from left to right) George Halcomb, Greggie Byrd (WY), Charles Harper, Lesa Routh-Halcomb, Tammy Smith, David Aldridge, Natalie Gardner, Candie Dyer, and Pam Wright (WY).
More personal experience
This year's Western States Convention in San Diego had members of the NRLCA board and around 25 first timers. This convention is more personalized than the national convention. Carriers have a much better chance to speak with the national board and representatives one on one.
In attendance was Ronnie Stutts, Donald Matson, Patrick Pitts, Bridget Boseak, Shirley Baffa, Paul Swartz, and Michael Gann. We had a meet and greet after registration on the first day, which gave everyone a chance to mingle and "talk shop" or just get to know each other.
This year we had two seminars and they were on the topics of Workplace Bullying and Retirement. Both were interesting and educational as usual. These are two topics that most rural carriers can relate to. The information that you gain at the seminars teaches you how to handle these topics or where to find resources for help.
We had a Q and A session with the NRLCA board, and as you can imagine, there were many questions and comments on the current hottest topic, RRECS. It sounds like most carriers are experiencing issues with loss of pay because of missed scans mostly. Personally, I am not so sure that that is the issue unless it is the scanners that are causing the issue due to malfunctions that carriers are complaining about. Ronnie did say that he was going to set up a meeting with Postmaster DeJoy to discuss the issues the week following Western States.
I am anxiously hoping to have my fellow Colorado rural carriers support OUR State by attending the 2024 Western States Conference in Cripple Creek. It will be in a newly built hotel called the Chamonix, and there is a discount placed at $50 for registration if you prepay by August 18th of this year. The full amount will be $75 should you decide to wait until next year. Keep your eyes open in the CORLCA paper for all information.
—Natalie Gardner
What the Union does
Greetings, I just got back from WSC in San Diego. Colorado was represented by six rural or retired carriers and by Auxiliary President Lesa Routh-Halcomb. It was a nice time and well-run conference.
Patrick Pitts gave an informative talk on the steward system. Currently across the country, there are 1265 offices and 10,136 rural routes. 81 percent of rural carrier offices do not have a steward. There are 8 DRs, 4 full time ADRs, 18 part time ADRs, 16 Area Stewards and 236 Local Stewards. In the 2023 contractual year there has been 2421 grievances—I'm thinking that number will be going up soon—2028 contractual and 393 discipline.
Of those 2028, 1867 have been resolved, 1849 were resolved at step 1 or 2. 99 percent of grievances are being resolved at step 1 or 2. That is a very good job done by the stewards.
Everyone should follow the collective bargaining agreement. This is not being done. Our contract is being violated daily. Making the numbers is no reason to treat employees badly. Of the 393 discipline grievances 175 were letters of warning, 57 got a 7-day suspension, 67 got a 14-day suspension, 58 emergency placement and 36 were removals, 23 of those 36 have been returned to work and, so far, 13 are still working.
From July 1, 2022 through April 4, 2023, $1,794,385 has been awarded because of misdeeds, mistreatment, and bad behavior by management toward rural carriers. I would bet those rural carriers know what the union does . . . Do you?
—Tammy Smith
Faith in the Union
Working all these years in the Postal Service I have seen a lot of stuff happen, this is by far the craziest that has happened since I have been here. I know that people are sad and angry with the outcome of the route evaluations and some carriers are looking for another job and some just do not know what to do.
I was glad to hear that the union is taking action and having people file grievances to remedy the situation. The sad truth is that the mail is nothing like how it used to be; the scans are high, but the mail is low. I am putting my faith in the union to do their best to help smooth things over. This is why I tell people to join the union, so you have a voice to vote and speak up against things like the unfair route evaluation.
I was very disappointed that it took so long to include information about the scanners into the academy's curriculum, even though it has been a part of our daily job for over a year. It was ridiculous to learn that we were getting paid based off a new system that we did not even know how to use proficiently.
The system has flaws and not everyone wanted to, or even had the time, to read about every little thing we should be scanning that is located on the union website. I wish we could have classes again like we did before, because now, instead of having a two-week count for our route evaluations in the year, it feels like it is now everyday with the scanners. Many of the new people do not even know what a parcel is to scan it as an unscannable parcel.
We are demeaned for not doing our scans the right way; getting into trouble and being told we could lose our job if we don't do it right. This after we just had management say we would be written up is we had even one mark on our case labels. Carriers cannot even see the bottom of the labels to determine where the streets ended or begin. The promised plastic sleeves for the labels still have not come. These situations do not make it great for the new carriers to case the mail.
Another thing that I learned at the WSC, was If you get an (x) day you need to use it within 12 weeks or it will be expunged, so use them. The union wanted us to be getting paid for what we are really doing. Make sure you are checking everything on your 4241M and 4241A. Please remember, United We Stand.
—Candie Dyer
RRECS information
Visit the link below, it will take you to the part of the national website that has all the information you will need to understand RRECS, including – 1. MDD Activity scan entry power point training – 2. A quick guide that can be printed out for your easy access on your route – 3. The comprehensive guide to RRECS – 4. RRECS Q and A
(You will need your nrlca.org password to access the training information!)
(You will need your nrlca.org password to access the training information!)
| rrecs_scan_quick_guide.pdf |
This is the latest CORLCA paper, for past issues look in the Archives File.
| 0923-sept-oct.pdf |
CHECK THIS OUT!
***Know your paycheck***
| 0717-dr_paycheck.pdf |
Visit the Steward page for a list of local stewards and their office
***IMPORTANT***
For more information and the proper forms to be filled out, see the FORMS page.
How are we doing today?
The Colorado Rural Letter Carrier's Association started in 1903, the same year Henry Ford started producing the perfect rural carrier vehicle, the Model T. Before the association was formed, Colorado established the 20th Rural Route in the country in 1896 in Loveland (Harvey Palmer carried the route until 1919). The first convention was held on July 4, 1903 at the Edgewater School House in Denver, 16 rural carriers were present. Membership cost an entrance fee of .50 cents and annual dues of one dollar, which could be paid at .25 cents each quarter. At the State Convention 1907, 2 resolutions passed that would still be valid today:
- Resolved by the Rural Letter Carriers Association of Colorado in annual convention assembled that we believe it should be the duty of every rural carrier in this jurisdiction to belong to this Association in order that we may work together for the best interest of the service and we would recommend that the secretary communicate with every carrier in the state and urge all to become members.
- Resolved that we ask the legislature of the State to pass a law requiring the county commissioners of all counties in which rural routes are now established, or are hereafter established, to keep the roads on all such rural routes in good condition for the transmission of the mail in all seasons.
At the 1912 State Convention, it was found that the state secretary/treasurer had a balance of $66.06. It was moved to reduce state dues from $1 to .50 cents. The motion was seconded and after some discussion, it passed. In 1915, the decision was made to divide the state into districts. The 1916 State Convention in Boulder had two interesting resolutions.
- Resolved that we petition the Post Office Department through our congressmen and representatives to cease putting into operation the 50 mile motor routes until they have sent a local inspector over the ground during the winter months.
- Resolved that all carriers on routes of 20 miles or over, who use horses, be allowed 30 minutes to feed, especially during bad weather, whether they are running on schedule time or not.
During the 1938 convention a motion was made that the 2 delegates to the national convention be allowed $25 each toward their expenses. It was defeated by a vote of 101 against and 92 in favor—it would be great if we could see those numbers in attendance at current state conventions. At the 1940 state convention, the state secretary was authorized to buy a new typewriter, but not to pay more than $35.
The details are a little different, but the association, through all the years, is essentially focused on the same things: membership, better job conditions, and fiscal responsibility with association funds.
—In 1903 CORLCA had 25 paid members and 16 attended the first State Convention (64%)
—In 1934 the Credentials Committee reported 201 members attended the State Convention
—In 1957 membership had grown to 249 and over 100 showed up to the State Convention
—In the 70s, membership surpassed the 400 mark and the state conventions continued to record 100+ member attendance (over 25%)
—In 2003 membership was at 1050, the State Convention had 37 members show up on Friday, 47 on Saturday, and 54 on Sunday (5.1%)
taken from Richard Brown's articles October 1986, CORLCA Volume 15, number 4; and
May 2003, CORLCA volume 32, number 3
SAFETY
If you are interested in becoming a local steward, or would just like to see what a local steward is responsible for; visit the Steward page above for more information and proper forms.
Follow the link below to sign up for e-mail alerts when it is time to act on issues that affect all Rural Carriers. The Future of the NRLCA and the Postal Service depend on you.
https://www.nrlca.org/StaticPages/CreateEActivistAccount.aspx
https://www.nrlca.org/StaticPages/CreateEActivistAccount.aspx
Health Savings Accounts
| health_savings_accounts.docx |