“Loosely-based on seniority” is pretty accurate. Years ago I was full time, but had to downgrade due to family needs. I’ve been trying to go back to full time but I’m not allowed to bid on full time routes as a part timer. I’ve been told my only option is to take a PM swing position for 18 months, then I can bid on a full time opening. So as it is right now, I have 20 years with the company but am being leap-frogged by people with fewer than 5 fir open day routes. I contacted HR and the district head and they affirmed this is company policy.
Yeah, you'll have to get in a FT category first. PT can't bid on FT routes and vice-versa. What positions are those with less seniority vacating?
Operational needs is right that you'll have to bid in Workday. Are all the AM routes filled? Were they filled internally? How is hiring/staffing at your location? There's some discretion at the station level how routes are staffed. Some locations bid every open route and others after 2 shifts/routes are bid, then they place the next person on the route left open to stop a seemingly never-ending rotation that makes scheduling more challenging.
I am an advocate of bidding everything. It's better to give all current employees a chance for any opening. For me, if I would ever get to the point of an external hire (or even a transfer into the station) I would allow my PT to move to an opening. I just think it's better for the people there. It is not required and both approaches are within policy. There is nothing that can be done if existing employees are FT and they are taking all the open AM spots. What
could happen is a Workday posting for in station candidates only to make sure a FT from another location doesn't get it.
If all the routes are being filled with FT from RESPONSE and PM moving within the station then there isn't anything within policy until you get in category.