TRC (Temporary Relief Carriers)

February 8, 1997 — 1995 National Agreement, Article 30

Q. With the implementation of the temporary relief carrier (TRC), were all rural carrier relief employees (RCR) eliminated?

    A. No. Only those emergency RCRs were eliminated with the implementation of the TRC. RCRs hired without time limitation (non-emergency hires) will remain on the rolls as Designation 75-0.

May 1997 — 1995 National Agreement, Article 30

Q. Can a TRC be a dual appointment?

    A. Yes. A TRC can be given a dual appointment to a casual position only. However, the TRC’s primary responsibility is to the rural position. When performing work in other crafts, these employees must be paid at the appropriate casual rate of pay.

Q. When would a TRC be hired as a primary leave replacement?

    A. A TRC may be hired as a primary leave replacement when there is an existing leave replacement vacancy. In addition to this, when a substitute, RCA, or RCR elects to serve the auxiliary route six days, a TRC will be hired for the residual leave replacement assignment. However, in each of these instances the number of bargaining unit leave replacements in the district must be equal to or more than 80 percent of the number of regular routes in the district.

Q. When would a TRC be hired as the leave replacement for an auxiliary route?

    A. If on a frequent and continual basis there is no substitute, RCA, or RCR available to provide service on the auxiliary route in accordance with Article 30.2.G.4., then a TRC may be hired as the leave replacement for the auxiliary route. The TRC would provide relief to the auxiliary route at any time the assigned substitute, RCA, or RCR is unavailable.

Q. If a TRC is hired as the "primary" leave replacement for a regular or auxiliary route, may he or she serve on other routes in the office?

    A. Management is not limited on the number of routes on which it may train a TRC. Only after specific provisions regarding the use of substitutes, RCAs, and RCRs are complied with, may management utilize a TRC to serve a route other than his or her primary assignment.

Q. Do TRCs receive any hiring preference if their names are on a register of eligibles?

    A. No. If the TRC has taken the competitive examination and is reached on the register of eligibles, the individual would be hired as an RCA using all appropriate selection and hiring procedures that would be used when hiring a person from the general public.

Q. Can a TRC be converted to an RCA position if he or she is reached on a register of eligibles in another office?

    A. No. A TRC must take a competitive examination and will be hired at the office where the individual was reached on the register of eligibles.


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