Pros
There are really none! Unless you want to count the fact you get insurance now which is crappy. Union sold us out big time so they are unreliable!( referring to TE's and PTF's) getting let go at a nice 22/hr or more pay rate only to be rehired as CCA's at 15.08!!! Oh wow we got insurance. Pay the yearly fine its cheaper! Being a City Carrier you can work up the managerial ladder for better jobs via postal INTRANET but thats only available to career employees. So you need to wait till you get hired! If you have good schooling, find a better job! Use the post office as a stepping stone.
Cons
You are not gaurenteed 40hrs weekly! You are on call. Depending on size of office...and how many CCA's are ahead of you in seniority you might end up working 2-10'hrs in random shifts...morning at 7:30 or maybe come in at 3pm and do an hr pivot and evening collection run. If you are in your 90 Day Probabtion management WILL treat you like a mule. You will bend and fold to there will...you read the NALC contract...union cant help you until after 90days..you are run ragged! Management can terminate you in that 90 day for ANY REASON WHAT SO EVER(example: john smith - this is an 8hr and 20 min route...we are giving you 2 hour pivot to deliver the mail. Sooo you are to be trained by an On the Job Instructor OJI...dont be fooled some offices dont have one...probably vast majority! The route you were trained on was a mounted route- drive box to box. The pivot you recievd is called a park and loop - you park at a certain point - gather your mail - and walk the loop - but YOU WERENT TRAINED ON A PARK AND LOOP. So it took you 4 hrs to deliver the mail and you can reamed by management) Because there is a no strike policy our union is worthless! Management knows this and workers are stuck filing grievances that in the end only add money in you check and slum lord managers and supervisors dont fear for loss of there job! When you did manage to survive your 90 days read the damn NALC contract, know your shop steward, and your Union Branch phone number. Dont rely on carriers since some are left with a few year before retiring and allow management to literally break union rules and make you do things their way and you are non the wiser! You cant record conversations and use it against them. You will be called into the office for a talking too....ASK FOR UNION REPRESENTATION even if they say its just a review...dont trust management! The Less the union hears the say too you the more they are off the hook, they will lie, and use indirect statements just to confuse you! Uniform allowance is crappy...shoes and jackets are the most costly...to get all your gear in one shot for winter/summer/ fall...yours looking at about 1600$ if you wanted everything one shot deal out of pocket! Vehicles are probably the worst! In summer they are like ovens! Does OSHA care..nope. Some are so poorly maintained or never written up by the normal carrier that the fleet vehicle FFV and LLV should be taken off the road!
