Our Retirees - The Men and Women Who Have Built the Foundation of the NALC

It was my absolute honor to attend our annual Retiree Brunch on September 19th at the V.F.W. hall in Farmingdale. Every year I am just astounded as I look around the room and see old friends and co-workers who carried the torch for those of us to follow. It was wonderful to see past President Dominic Prestano in attendance along with Rick Hubert as well as other former board members I worked with over the years. It was this group of dedicated Letter Carriers who forged the strength of the NALC. Without these members we would not have the rights and benefits we do. I know management and many in Congress have been attempting to water down the strength of the unions over the past 25 years. We have lost a couple of battles, but we have stood strong on most. If it was left to management, we would all be CCA’s with no benefits. You can take that to the bank. It was the prior generations of letter carriers who fought the fight to gain the rights and benefits we now enjoy. They marched in demonstrations. Made trips to their respective congressmen/women to push the NALC agenda. They wrote the letters to let congress to let them know our agenda and that they were watching how they voted. They forged the connection to the public. It was the generation that made the public fall in love with their letter carriers. Without that love and support, we may not even be here today. These members cared. They treated their customers like family and visa versa. This has always been our ace in the hole. Congress knows how dearly the public holds their letter carriers and they do not want a revolution by bucking that bond.

I bring this up because many of our newer members do not have the inner drive to protect what was gained in the past. Too many members are running their routes and not protecting themselves. Too many are being careless with the mail and the parcels we deliver. Too many cases of disrespecting our customers in the street is driving a wedge between us. I know many just want to get home but, management uses that knowledge to push us even harder. I have said this many times over the years, knowledge is your weapon of choice when doing battle with management. Understanding the contract will make you more knowledgeable and a better letter carrier. You need to learn what management can and cannot do. Many managers and supervisors have no clue about the contract and obligations it mandates. They were never taught. Upper management started dumbing down the supervisory staff over 15 years ago. They want a staff who cannot think for themselves. They want a staff that just follows directions without giving it any thought. At least in my early years, most managers knew the rules and contractual language. Those that did not, I made sure to educate them. In the end, it was better for both sides if we jointly understood the rules and how to apply them. Not today. Today it is push, push, push and don’t ask questions. Unfortunately, management’s lack of knowledge (along with a lack of empathy) is a hazard and danger to all employees. So, I suggest you all try to learn something about the past and how to defend yourself in the future.  We are in this together so we must stand up together. If we continue to head down the road many are taking, we will all be robots in the end after abdicating the benefits and protects given to us by our past brothers and sisters. Our benefits can be reduced or even wiped out by the ink of a pen if Congress so desires. Lets not give them the ammunition to do so.

I end this by saying that, may God Bless our retirees for all they have given us. May they enjoy their well-earned retirement in good health and happiness. I also say, may God bless our newer generation with the knowledge and wisdom of those of the past, so they too shall have the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned retirement.