A Slippery Slope
Two years in and we are still dealing with the effects of the Pandemic. The stress levels are still elevated. People with underlying conditions are still susceptible to severe adverse reactions to Covid. We have lost too many friends and family members over the past 24 months and the pain lingers. I pray for a full regression of this Pandemic and a return to what we once called normalcy.
As we come out of this pandemic, the USPS seems to be targeting its employees to squeeze more out of you. The reality is that over the past 24 months many of the things we do has changed. Management took a more laid-back approach to how we worked. They were just happy that they were able to get the mail delivered each day. In many offices mail was left behind due to a lack of employees caused by Covid. Now, as we take baby steps in the recovery, management wants to clamp down. Whether it is use of unscheduled leave or just general work-related issues, they are taking action again against us. Unfortunately, many are vulnerable because they do not understand the rules and the language in the contract. We have so many new employees on the rolls since 2013, over 50% of the City Carrier Craft has less than 9 years of experience. With the loss of tens of thousands of well-seasoned carriers retired during that period, we are deficient in having knowledgeable carriers to lean on and learn from. It my experience over the past 8+ years to find that many of the new employees do not want to educate themselves or get involved. This is a great loss to all city carriers. Our contracts were negotiated over many years of hard work by our predecessors. Thousands of hours and hard work formed our organization and put us where we are today. Without an infusion of “new” blood and vitality in the organization, we may lose many of the benefits earned and fought for over those years. I urge all our newer carriers to get involved with the local union. Branch 6000 has a long history of being one of the leaders in the country. If we hope to maintain that mantle over the coming years, you need to be a part of it. Too many people want to take whatever they can and give nothing in return. It is a slippery slope we are on, and I hope you follow my words with action. There are numerous offices without shop stewards. Without a steward in the office, the members are at a disadvantage. A full-time officer can act as a steward, but we do not work on the floor of that office. We do not know all the nuances that go on in every office. A steward is on the front line of the union’s representation. He/she is the person that the members associate with the union. They are the “face” of the union to its members just like the carriers are the “face” of the USPS to the public. Too many refuses to donate to the letter carrier political fund. A fund that we use to educate or local politicians about the issues that are important to us. This fund along with the fact we deliver to every household and business in the country keeps us in the spotlight. Have you called your local Congressperson or Senator when the NALC asks you too? Why not? It is in your best interest to join the fight to save the USPS and our benefits.
I leave you with this; if you want to continue to enjoy the salaries and benefits, we have fought for and earned over the years, I suggest you get involved. If you don’t, the result lays at your feet. If you ask what happened, I suggest you look in a mirror to get the answer.
