Cell Phones
More and more I hear carriers especially CCA carriers telling me about the supervisor or postmaster calling them on their cell phone to come to work early, to report to another station, to come back to the office to get more work or to go to another route to assist that carrier.
As far as I am concerned you don’t have to use your private cell phone to be contacted by the USPS for any orders or instructions. You are not required to give them your cell phone number. If you still have a land line at home give them that number, so during the day they will not be able to contact you on your cell phone (that you pay the bill) while you are working.
When management asks you for a cell phone number you should ask them are they going to pay your cell phone bill? That cell phone as long as you are paying the bill is your private phone not the postal service phone to use and bother you whenever they want too.
When I go into stations some offices have the cell phone policy posted on a bulletin board. Here are some of the instructions by management. Cellular telephones are prohibited from use while operating a postal vehicle of any type. Letter carriers should not: talk or text on mobile devices during street activity; text or create video while driving. Letter carriers can: make calls or text during breaks and lunch; use mobile devices in emergency situations.
Also it is a New York State law that prohibits you from using your cell phone while driving a motor vehicle.
According to the National Agreement article 41.3.E states: When the Employer (USPS) requires the use of certain supply items for the proper performance of a carrier’s functions, such items will be supplied by the Employer (USPS). So if the USPS is requiring you to give them a cell phone number ask them are you providing me with a cell phone or are you going to pay my cell phone bill. If not you are not required to give them your cell phone number.
What happens if you can’t afford a cell phone are you not hired? No. Cell phones should not be used to communicate between management and the carrier. Years ago before cell phones a carrier would have to go to a pay phone (phone booth), ask a customer to use their phone or drive back to the office.
And back then if you used a pay phone, when you went back to the office the old time carriers requested to get reimburse the dime or quarter it cost them to use the phone.
With today’s technology, there is no need for you to give management your cell phone number.
Today’s scanners have a way you can communicate between management and the carrier. Tell management if you want to get a hold of me while I am on the route you can either come out to see me or text me on the scanner.
