Change is Constant
Every day we look around us and see change. The weather changes, so does the news. Even we change with the passage of time no matter how slowly it may occur. The Pandemic of the mutating COVID virus and its variants which does not seem to want to go away also has changed and could change in the future. The wearing of “masks” has also changed us and no one could have predicted that future event.
The Union and its membership are no different. We have “new” City Carrier Assistance (CCAs) constantly being hired. Some of it is due to retirements but all too often, there are many other reasons that CCA carriers are leaving (this job is too difficult and too physical, not enough pay and benefits, mistreatment of employees by managers, too many “forced” work hours, understaffing, injuries and illnesses, etc…)
The November 2022 Congressional elections and local elections are another major “future” change that will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. This could have a major change in the direction of our country. We well may have a new Congress and in New York State we will have a “newly” elected Governor. How will these changes affect us and our Families? Elected officials make decisions that impact and change all of our lives. Your ONE vote on this election day could make a huge difference. Will the COVID keep many of us from participating, especially if some will make it more difficult to “VOTE?”
Our letter carrier wages have increased but so has the cost-of-living and the cost of purchasing items. Regular mail seems to have dropped off, but parcels have increased (at least temporarily). Will that continue? Will the competition become tougher?
This past year we have seen gasoline prices gyrating from between two dollars and now well over 3 dollars a gallon. What excuse will change the price of gas in the future? I will leave that kind of speculation up to the experts and the oil industry.
New NALC National Leaders may also emerge in various positions and may be taking the reins at the end of 2022 after nominations at the “summer” National Convention. It is inevitable that there will be some form of change. We must look to these “new” leaders for guidance and direction, but most of all, inspiration.
The membership will also be changing in our organization. As many of our senior letter carriers retire and new members will join our ranks. These members unfortunately, have no history of where our organization has come from and what our future course of action may be. I encourage Veteran letter carriers to mentor these new members. It has been said: “Those who fail to learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat their mistakes.” In a world and organization that is constantly changing, none of us can afford to fail!
Our strength and our survival as a union may depend on how well we teach those who will become the future leaders of our Union. Change is constant! Yours for the Union!
