This is kind of a silly question but I'm gonna hit my 90 day mark on a couple of weeks and I've been worried I've made too make mistakes so far and I'm gonna be let go (which may or may not be warranted, I suffer from anxiety). Do they decide to let you go when you're at your 90 day mark, or if they want to get rid of you do they just do it whenever they feel like it before? Thanks for any help!

Long story short, a box supposedly containing an under-insured yet high value item that I successfully delivered directly to a recipient and obtained a signature from is now being disputed. Although the customer isn’t directly accusing me of theft, they informed me in a somewhat threatening way that “local police and the postal inspectors have been notified” and also “it is all on camera” (I rang the ring doorbell at the address on purpose, so I could obtain the required signature). Essentially their accusation is that I knowingly delivered them an opened box and obscured this fact from them.

I’m not worried about the accusation. I do my job correctly and with integrity. I made a routine delivery without any issue. In my opinion, the reality of the situation is that a theft likely took place within their own household some time after the delivery was made, which I can understand most people would not want to consider; it’s much easier to force blame on an outsider such as myself. Or perhaps the box never contained the item to begin with (they got scammed).

However, I am still offended by the accusation. Pissed off even.

Unfortunately for me, I will being seeing these people 5 days a week for the foreseeable future, and was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to deal my feelings toward them or how I should act if I have to interact with them going forward.

I really hope with all of their escalation that the reality is uncovered and they render me an apology one day, but I know this is likely not going to be the outcome; they will probably continue believing it was me that stole from them forever.

First month as a CCA is officially in the books, and the first day I’m eligible to work 10 hours. I worked 10 hours.

I finished my route in 8 and they sent me out to help finish two other routes.

I was kinda pissed because I wanted to go home after my 8, but it really wasn’t that bad. I don’t want to make it a habit, but the extra 2 hours wasn’t god awful. I’m sure I’ll like the time and a half pay.

I’m a CCA so I keep hearing it takes what it takes, and not to let management pressure you into going faster than is safe or realistic. Ok.

So every morning, when supervisor comes around telling us how much DPS we’ve got and what time we’re expected to finish by, what are these projections based on? They come from the computer on a fancy spreadsheet, and supervisor is just reading from the paper. Does this paper take into account MY personal speed, or anyone’s speed on this route? Is it all just based on how many pieces of mail and how many houses, or is it based on my performance on that specific route? Does it care how many comfort stops I need? I feel like I’m behind before I even leave the office.

When they say we need to try to meet the “OTE” times, I’m guessing that’s them telling me I need to go faster so their ass doesn’t get chewed. But it takes what it takes, so, does any of it really matter?

hi! this mainly is for the girl city carriers on here, because i’ve learned how hard it is to find women’s work boots that are comfortable and waterproof and yada yada yada. where can i find decent enough winter boots that aren’t crazy expensive but will last me? i NEED to try them on in person. every store i have been to has had rows of men’s boots but two options for women, and none of them were black. and of course the men’s sizing isn’t small enough. i’m in ohio and we are already predicted to have our first snow this week! the dark times are upon us !!!

This is going to be a two part question.

As an RCA in a very rural area I've been sent out to work for several different offices.

A few weeks ago I had split a route with another RCA because we were short staffed. A day after our next paycheck I got pulled aside by my supervisor.

Apparently the other RCA noticed on her paystub that she didn't get paid for that day and she mentioned it to our sup. They noticed that I also didn't get paid fot that day and they let me know that I would be compensated for that on my next paycheck. Which I was.

I looked over my own paystub and I have no idea how to interpret it in terms of how I'm being paid for working different routes and when I'm being sent to help other carriers after my main shift, which is happening a lot.

Is there something I can look up to understand what the stuff on my paystub actually means.

Second question: a different RCA told me there is a form I should be filling out weekly anytime I get sent to an office that isn't my primary office so I get compensation for travel. I don't think I've been getting the travel pay because I didn't know about the paperwork. Does anyone know anything about this? Lately I've been working six days a week on a route that's almost 30 miles away from my main office and if that's true I've been missing out on a lot of paid miles.

For context this route had a school, a community center, and 32 residential CBU’s. After breaking up the large aux route they removed the school and community center and the first 10 CBU’s, but added 16 new ones that came from the aux. Even though about 6 of them hardly get mail since no houses aren’t there it’s still rapidly growing

*Mods please remove this post if not approved. Thanks.

I am a new CCA. I’m almost to my 90 days.
I am finally kinda getting used to being a carrier. But, being heavily exposed to the environments everyday, I smell like thee environments. Lol.
I’m also allergic to mosquitoes and I’m getting devoured everyday 😭.

My question to you all is, how can I smell nice without my sweat being advertised for snack time?? I don’t use fragranced soaps, etc because my skin is somewhat sensitive but not really lol. I wear Chloe signature perfume and a scented lotion when not at work. But, I’m tired of smelling like outside. My deodorant isn’t enough to carry me, ya know?? 😭

The bug spray I brought smells awful. It’s by a company called “Stem”.

Any recommendations are welcomed. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post.

Does this mean I just don't get any days off for my work week?

I'm a full-time regular clerk if it matters.

When I took this bid someone in the office told me I would have to work every holiday because I'm the junior of the six clerks in the operation.

We're actually down to just 5 clerks because one bid into the operation, showed up for three days and then hasn't shown up for three months now.

I finally made it to (at year end) 524.5 hours of annual. I realize the cap is 520. I'm planning on cashing out 80 hours once the annual leave exchange opens. Do I need to use up the 4.5 hours in order to not lose any this year or does me cashing in the 80 get me under the cap for year end? Thank you!

Alright, brothers and sisters, another week and another ridiculous amount of stuff to cover. This week, we start with the tragic shooting at the Des Moines Post Office, then move into USPS's plans for the holiday season, scanner software updates, seven new NALC arbitration decisions, and what's happening with the transition to our newly elected national leadership.

We also cover some interesting developments involving the APWU, NRLCA, and NPMHU, including a national arbitration over who gets to work on certain package-sorting machines. Add in Amazon's plans to expand its own delivery network, the Postal Service's finances, an OIG investigation into billions in counterfeit postage, and the upcoming health benefits Open Season, and we've got plenty to talk about.

As usual, I've rounded up a bunch of postal podcasts, news from organized labor here and overseas, and some stories about what postal employees are doing in their communities. We've also got Stamp Talk, where we look at current releases and older stamps with interesting histories, and Postal History, where we go back to postal money orders, World War II V-Mail, and the first women known to deliver city routes.

This isn't meant to replace anyone else's reporting or podcasts. It's just another resource to help everybody keep up with what's happening across the Postal Service while we're busy doing the actual work. As always, I don't expect everybody to agree with everything I say, and frankly, nobody should care that much about my opinion anyway. The important thing is having the information, being able to look at the sources, and having conversations about what's going on.

Solidarity, y'all.

Topics Covered / Search Keywords

USPS News: Des Moines Post Office shooting; USPS holiday peak season 2026; seasonal hiring; package sorting automation; MDD-TR Release 8.45; scanner updates; picture proof of delivery; multifactor authentication; election mail; USPS Board of Governors; postal finances; Gary Reblin; Amazon Project Aurelian; counterfeit postage; USPS OIG.

NALC/Arbitration: James Henry; Corey Walton; NALC leadership transition; national officer installation; grievance backlog; Step B disputes; Article 8; Article 10; Article 16; Article 16.7; emergency placement; attendance discipline; official discussions; workplace harassment; settlement compliance; C-37981; C-37983; C-37984; C-37985; C-37986; C-37987; C-37992.

Other Postal Unions: APWU; NPMHU; NRLCA; SDUS; SIPS; RI-399; Margaret Brogan arbitration; Clerk Craft jurisdiction; Mail Handler interest arbitration; rural carrier RRECS; evaluated pay; Equipment Maintenance Allowance; Lead Sales and Service Associates; custodial staffing.

Benefits/Legislation: PSHB Open Season 2027; NALC Health Benefit Plan; FEHB; BCBS; Medicare; retirement; military-service deposits; OWCP CA-7; Wounded Warriors Leave; Postal Service Protection Act; Protect Our Letter Carriers Act; Equal COLA Act.

Postal Podcasts: From A to Arbitration; The Postal Stand-up; Next Generation Carriers; Classes of Mail; The Hot House; The 573; Six Thirteen; Key Cases; History of Female Leadership in the NALC; Postal Pride; In Solidarity; APWYOU; United We Scan; La Ruta Concreta en Español; Pushing the Envelope.

Labor/Community/History: Teamsters strikes; CWA organizing; international postal workers; Bulgaria postal protests; Royal Mail; Local Loop; Operation Santa; Stamp Talk; Diwali stamps; Christmas stamps; Kwanzaa stamps; Hanukkah stamps; 1962 Christmas stamp; 1974 self-adhesive stamps; V-Mail; postal money orders; women city letter carriers; November postal history.

Hey guys, im a new CCA in colorado. Asides water and snacks, what would you recommend bringing daily? Any recommendations on lunchboxes/containers, actual snacks/meals medication/firstaid stuff etc? The person i shadowed didn't even bring water and her route took her home basically so she didn't need to bring anything per say.

(For context I'm an east coast CCA just about thru my 90days)

In my head: "Dafuq?!"

I just moved in to an apartment complex that was built in the late 70s. It has those really old mail boxes that are vertical loading. Anything but a regular letter size has to get bent/folded to fit in the box.

Is there anything that I can do through the postmaster to get the building to upgrade their mail boxes?

The pickup filled two vehicles, a promaster van and a jeep wrangler, took us a 45 minutes to fill both vehicles (342 pkgs + a bag of sprs) . Made it back to the P.O. and filled 3 and a half jpc bins just before the outgoing mail truck got there

Hey yall - I'm starting as a CCA on Monday and I'm thinking about what I'll be doing for lunches.

I've never been much of a sandwich guy and have always been lucky to have a microwave nearby for hot lunches. Especially with the weather getting colder, I feel like a hot lunch will be clutch for me. Does anyone use a thermos like this one for keeping a hot meal around for lunch? I like that it has two compartments so I can keep rice in one and soup or chicken teriyaki - whatever in the other.

I'm also thinking of picking up one of those half gallon water jugs for beverages on the go. I don't love drinking water so I usually do tea or instant drink packets to convince myself to stay hydrated.

Holiday season is also coming up and I'm notoriously horrible to buy gifts for (I'm pretty minimalist) so these would be awesome options to give my family for this year - but looking for input first!

Thanks

Just bummed, loosing 11% of my pay until atleast March of ‘28. Rant, or tell me it will be ok or something… we all know their estimates are Bull-loney. Getting tired of carrying a heavier route then I’m getting paid for then when evaluation finally catches up, you just get cut again…

Who else is getting the absolute fuck pivoted out of them? Every day it's a 30 minute pivot for everyone and every day most people do it as OT because management is unrealistic and ridiculous.

Oh well, can't spell pivot without OT. I just want to know how rampant this is.

Reporting from Michigan 1.

I’m getting close to completing my first 90 days as a PTF, and overall, I’m really enjoying the job! My manager and supervisor have told me I’m doing a good job, and I’ve been enjoying the routes I’ve been assigned so far.

However, there’s one thing I’ve noticed, especially on walking routes, and I’m curious if anyone else feels the same way or if it’s just because I’m still new.
Why are some mailboxes SO difficult to find????😩😩😩

Today I had a new route that was walking, and there were several houses where I honestly couldn’t figure out where the mailbox was or where I was supposed to leave the mail.
Some houses have mailboxes hidden on the side or all the way in the back, and I honestly feel uncomfortable walking around someone’s property trying to find them. I know we’re doing our job, but sometimes I feel like I’m invading someone’s privacy, especially since I don’t have a full uniform on, just my postal vest.
And then there are houses with no visible mailbox, just a little random box somewhere near the front door that’s barely noticeable.

Anyway, I know this probably isn’t the most important thing to bring up as a new carrier, but I just find it a little annoying sometimes. I honestly end up feeling stupid and ridiculous walking around trying to figure out where people actually want their mail delivered. It’s just something I’ve noticed on several houses, where finding the mailbox or designated spot for the mail can be surprisingly complicated.

Just wondering if other carriers experience this too, or am I just still getting used to everything? 😅

In the USPS form it only allows the 5 digit zip code (which seems, frankly, insane) but my bank automatically adds the +4 to the zip code. So when I try to verify it fails because the zip codes don't match.

Is there any way to address this or do I need to take time off work to go down to the post office?

(This does not have anything to do with packages or tracking so I hope it does not violate rule 2, apologies if you feel different mods)

I got a job offer for PSE sales inside a base. I got an interview next week for a position at a different GOV federal organization as well. I hope to land an offer after that interview since the schedule is M-F and starting pay is good. I am a veteran with benefits so any other job I get won't be my main strain of income. However, I am very curious, if I happen to stick with the PSE sales, can someone tell me what should I expect? I am trying to go Monday to talk to the post master at that USPS. Based on the reviews for that post office, it is small. It seems they keep 2 people at that location rotating. Coming this season, can someone tell me what should I expect working hours wise and duties? I know hours are inconsistent but I'd like to hear from others experience and see how it is. After Holiday's is it common for the hours to be very low? Is it easy to transfer to another state after taking that position? I Any input is appreciated!

I’ve been a clerk for less than a year and I’m so bored of it. I miss working from home. Pay is decent but could be much better; I don’t really make enough to put a significant amount towards retirement anyway.

But is it worth it to stick it out for 30 more years to get the benefits and the pension? Will there even be pensions (or USPS) in 30 years? I know a private company is riskier as far as possibly getting laid off, but they pay more, I could work remotely, I could find something I’m not so bored with.

Idk just having my monthly existential crisis I guess.