When new employees are hired at the United States Postal Service, they have no rights, essentially. Speaking from the carrier side of things, we don't start accruing time toward retirement, gaining sick leave, begin to make retirement contributions until we convert to a PTF or Regular Carrier. The maximum time one has to work as a CCA is 2 years, before becoming a PTF which is considered a career position with full benefits and finally gaining time towards retirement.

CCAs are run ragged, working ridiculous hours doing the exact same work as regular carriers, for less pay, less benefits and no credit towards retirement. So essentially, we have to work 32 years to get the same exact 30 year retirement as those who didn't start as CCAs.

This is beyond ridiculous. I would be fine with this system IF, once we reached career status, the time we spent as a CCA was credited back to us towards retirement. Personally, I just became a PTF this past year, after working 2 years as a CCA. If once I converted, I was given the 2 years back towards retirement, that would be acceptable.