March 2004

What has happened to working together?  what has happened to problem solving?  Oh.... that's right.... WE are apparently the cause of the USPS problems.

Writing this article is never easy.  Too often, it seems that I have just finished writing one when Basil calls to remind me that I must do another.  And, I suppose, my real message is summed up by my usual closing comments:

Be Professional.

        Be Safe.

            Be consistent.

                Be Proud.

However, even though the issues remain fairly constant I still need to remind you that there is a need to be vigilant in making all possible attempts to: Be Professional. Be Safe.  Be Consistent.  Be Proud. 

Management feels that we don't know how to be safe whether we are in our vehicles or while performing other duties.  They assume that we abuse our attendance.  They insist that we inappropriately complain about our route adjustments and about having to work our days off all the time.  They constantly tell us that we are the worst workers and, if we don't like things, we can just leave....

So, obviously, things in our world have changed - and not for the better!

But, let's look at where some of the real problems lie.

Management has the responsibility to hire sufficient employees.  So, how is our staffing level???  Would they let staffing drop to a level that would cause service to suffer or to have to mandate all Letter Carriers to work their scheduled days off?

Carriers ARE being mandated all the time.  Can this affect attendance?

Picture this:  You are not on the Overtime Desired List.  Months in advance, you make reservations for your long weekend...and they mandate you to work at least one day of that anticipated long weekend!!!

Do you think that this leads to "team building"?  They have really earned loyalty to this organization and have instilled in you a desire to "go above and beyond"?

As reported in the media, we have had numerous Letter Carriers out delivering mail in the dark, sometimes after 9:00 pm.

A reasonable solution would be to hire more employees and bring the staffing up to complement.

But, no, management has chosen to repeatedly violate the National Agreement by mandating Letter Carriers (not on the Overtime Desired List) to work "off their assignments".  That way they can get most of the other Carriers back in b y 5:00 p.m.

Add to this mix that they are constantly pushing carriers for "more"!

Management is doing "safety blitzes".  But do you think that this is to properly instruct employees to work more safely?

When I was at a meeting of Van Nuys District managers, they stated that they wanted discipline.  They insisted that a better and quicker way to correct unsafe practices was to issue discipline.  Van Nuys indicated that, as a strategy, they wanted discipline!

And that's what they've gotten.  Disciplinary grievances are up over 300%.

It is interesting to compare actual circumstances (real life) to the way that employees believe circumstances should be.

Sometime, I compare working for the Post Office to being like a small child living at home.  The parent tells the children, "I know what is best for you and you will do what I say".

Postmasters, managers and supervisors are not parents.  And, the employees are not children.

If they continue to treat the employees as children, they will not receive the effort abilities and talents that a full-grown adult would provide to this organization.  they will receive what they are expecting.

Welcome to Bakersfield, Van Nuysers!

There is, sadly, another very important subject that I must address.

Every Postal Service Employee must recognize and understand that the "sanctity" of the mail is absolutely paramount!"

The USPS is entrusted with valuables, money, gifts, merchandise, and many important personal items.  As a Letter Carrier it is absolutely essential that you have the trust of your patrons, management, and those with whom you work side-by-side every day.

It is a sad fact that- even thought it is extremely rare- a Letter Carrier will sometimes break that trust.  Some have even stolen from the mail.

This is one infraction which will not be tolerated.  And it cannot and will not be tolerated by anyone in the Postal Service.

You will be fired if you take anything from the mail.

Once that trust is broken, it can never be restored.

Do not....DO NOT...DO NOT....DO NOT!!!! risk your job by taking anything from the mail.  If waste mail contains a writing pen or some small change, DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO TAKE WHAT IS NOT YOURS!

You could lose your job, your health benefits, your retirement benefits ....  and the respect of everyone you know.  And for what?

I was recently talking to a manager about ill and injured employees.  I was explaining why I felt working conditions were sometimes better under our previous Postmaster, Art Ornelas.

This manager responded that he was sure employees enjoyed coming to work better then than now; however, now "we" are much more efficient.

Our discussion centered around a female Letter Carrier who has permanent and stationary injuries caused by the casing and carrying of mail over the course of twenty years.

When Mr. Ornelas was here, the employee was worked productively and efficiently within her limitations.  Now that we are in a "more efficient reign", management is trying to force the injured Carrier out of the USPS.  By not providing work for her they are putting such a financial and emotional strain on her that they are trying to force her into a disability retirement.

They don't care about her.  They only care that if they can replace her with a much younger and healthier person...which (in time) they can try to force out somehow if that person can't perform to management's "efficiency expectations".

Before I forget, "Welcome to the Van Nuys District'.  Sure make me proud ....NOT!

This month, YOUR General Membership Meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2004.  Please make plans to attend.  Make a commitment to learning more about what is going on which may well impact on what you do daily in this job of being a USPS Letter Carrier.

Hillcrest Station recently completed their scheduled route count and inspection.  I am sure that we will probably have a contingent of Hillcrest Letter Carriers in attendance to discuss a variety of issues related to what they recently went through.

Once again, as I close, let me urge you to really try to abide by these comments that I make each month as I end my message to you.

Be Professional.

    Be Safe.

            Be Consistent.

                Be Proud.

In Solidarity,

Frank Thomasy, Branch 782 President