Been working for the postal service almost 29 years, The guarantee period has started the end of Oct. for as long as I can remember. But the Christmas overtime period starts the first of December, and runs three weeks. This year it starts Dec. 5th and ends Dec. 25th.

old timer----you are right. I was thinking about xmas overtime. Could I ask you this question? We had a vacant route in our office and the postmaster readjusted territory on several routes, mine included. I thought that every route involved had to come back what they were, example: 42k stays a 42k. However, 2 routes in our office went up in evaluation because of the adjustment. Postmaster says they had enough time already to go up without the adjustment, but I know for a fact that one of the routes only had 24minutes in the bank and some boxes was taken off of my route to his route and made him go up. My route stayed the same evaluation except now instead of being hour away from going up I'm 2minutes from going down. I have filed a grievance. Any input from you or anyone else would be helpful. thanks!

I read it wrong. I thought "stavanger34" was referring to the Christmas guaranteed-your-not-going-to-get-any-overtime period... not the "guaranteed period."
My mistake. 25 slashes with a wet noodle.

"hojo" ... from what I've witnessed, management can (and will) do whatever it feels like when consolidating a route, with the district prick's blessing of course.
Instead of posting our last retiree's route (which was one of our largest) it was split up among 5 other routes. Four of those routes went from H's and J's to 43 K's while the other went from a low H to a 41 K. That carrier has no high/low option.

The supervisor had to prove to the district that the restructuring made sense from an office stand point. He did take suggestions from the routes affected and all were quite pleased. All 5 of these routes had touched up against the route being split.

Of course it pissed off other carriers, but its not an issue of seniority or even favoritism. It was all about "operational standpoint."

And..I might add, if the next route to be consolidated butts up against the pissed off carrier's routes, THEY'LL be the one's gaining territory.

Thanks to all for info......Have another situation.....another Reg was told by Administrator of nursing home she delivers to that her RCA smelled like liquor and acted drunk last time she was sub on her route......Does she have responsibility to report this?

According to the ELM, which of course we all have a copy and training on, and all are expected by USPS and the OIG to live by and have memorized, anyone havang any knowledge of any violations is obligated to bring it to the attention of the appropriate levels..

Then again, A reg was TOLD by someone, then the reg doesn't have first hand knowledge, as in hearsay.

I would hate to take that report to management and be wrong about the individual, but I would hate to have the sub involved in an accident, then have that Administrator call management and say "I told so n so about it last week"

Would be best for the Administrator to report it.

Sorry, but I don't have a "correct" answer to give you

Prove you told me that. C'mon, you know the rule.... Deny, deny, deny....

How does this happen???

Ex-postal worker gets 46 months in gasoline scam

A former Philadelphia postman was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in selling about $20,000 worth of gasoline bought with U.S. Postal Service gas cards to hundreds of friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Steven Gilbert, 23, a part-time letter carrier based at the Market Square Post Office, was also jailed for participating in an effort to smuggle 57 pounds of marijuana through the mails.

In the gas scheme, Gilbert or an accomplice, Richard Boykin, would go to a gas station and pump gas for customers, using the government cards and selling the gas at half the posted price. The scheme ran from December 2006 through fall 2008, Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise S. Wolf said.

Gilbert was convicted at trial; Boykin pleaded guilty and is in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe said she hoped Gilbert's sentence would serve as a deterrent--------------------
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In my office WHENEVER you fill up the LLV you turn in the gas slip. Management records these purchases and writes them on logs which also indicate your mileage.

And this went unchecked for over a year?

One more question....with $20,000 worth of free gas, why the hell did he need to try and mail 57 pounds of weed. Seems like you could drive to Columbia in any gas guzzler and pick it up yourself.

bah humbug!!! they aint going to have anyone answer the SANTA claus letters this year?? JEEEEZ!!! these poor little children are your future customer base....wait til little Jimmy grows up and remembers..the letter he sent to santa...via the MAILMAN and the most TRUSTED goverment agency NEVER got there!!!

I got an idea!!! they are worried about child molesters answering kids's letters right? well..what about all those Idle light duty folks we got? Or the ones sitting on their ass's in break rooms on stand by time? remember how much THAT practice was costing us? ((bunches-more than enough to pen a reply from old HOHO!!))

You want to keep a positive public image? What happened to big business HELPING the community? we do the damn food drives...ohh but get this...GOD forbid you should look at one of those letters left in a mailbox for Santa...and decide to do a good deed and answer...Can you say OIG? I think its sad...they cant print up some formatted response letters..for offices so the carriers can sign them from santa..(( if they wish) and leave it for the little darling that still believes in the magic of XMAS.

If the PMG was really HARRY Potter ...he could wave a wand and pull a form letter out his....ahhhemmm..... HAT: from santa...wouldnt cause A BIT more financial hardship..than billion dollar FSS machines...(( that arent workable without mail.)) MAybe just perhaps every one of those kids that recieved ones parents would send a few more things ...or look more favorably on the USPS for their shipping needs in the future..since they made little Johnny or lil sally so HAPPY at xmas...ya think?

I seen that too..and this one...

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/tundra...this-holiday-season

I got to thinking..there has to be a better..more personable..CHEAPER way to handle this...but hell..what do i know...LMAO!!!

I cant make up my mind...which side for sure I want to take on this issue..so im kind of playing both...im just bashing both sides...cause i can...

Does anyone know how much longer the routes are going to be held because of FSS? We have 3 routes being held. I just figured we would have heard something by now. RCAs doing the routes are cheaper than releasing them I guess.

they are taking a look at some routes now...reviewing them on a case by case basis? thats how they put it...seems like you have nothing to lose by hollering for them to take a look at yours.!! good luck

hmmmmmm how long will management continue a process that saves them money, and disadvantages a carrier...... Until hell freezez over unless someone makes them do otherwise.

Has anyone had to certify they were actually at a doctors appointment that was not on restricted sick leave? Our super is threatening to have us provide proof of appointment. Just more harrassment at attendance review

Sick Leave - Medical Certification

 
MEDICAL CERTIFICATION (M-00991)
INTRODUCTION
Section 513.361 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) reads:

For periods of absence of 3 days or less, supervisors may accept the employee's statement explaining the absence. Medical documentation or other acceptable evidence of incapacity for work is required only when the employee is on restricted sick leave (see 513.36) or when the supervisor deems documentation desirable for the protection of the interests of the Postal Service.

Stated simply, ELM 513.361 establishes three rules:

1) For absences of more than three days, an employee must submit "medical documentation or other acceptable evidence" in support of an application for sick leave, and

2) For absences of three days or less a supervisor may accept an employee's application for sick leave without requiring verification of the employee's illness (unless the employee has been placed in restricted sick leave status, in which case verification is required for every absence related to illness regardless of the number of days involved), however

3) For absences of three days or less a supervisor may require an employee to submit documentation of the employee's illness "when the supervisor deems documentation desirable for the protection of the interests of the Postal Service."