Getting Hot in Here
First, I would like to say that I hope each and every one of you has had a good summer. It was a hot one and I know many are welcoming the cooler temperatures of the fall.
Unfortunately, the heat keeps coming everywhere we look. Whether it be in politics or with the USPS, we are under the bubble daily. When we took this job, many did not realize the political nature of what we do. Many carriers say to me that they are not interested in politics. They just want to come to work, do their jobs, and go home. I think we all aspire to those goals. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of what we do. We are part of a constant political battle. A battle that has been going on since long before I started in 1983. These battles have been fought in the halls of Congress since at least the 1950’s. Prior to the NALC being granted the right to bargaining we used to have to beg Congress for a raise. Many times, we did not get raises for years. There were no safeguards or guardrails to protect us from abusive management. This constant “collective Begging” of Congress for a raise and rights was the impetus to going on strike in 1970. After the strike ended, we went from the Post Office Department to the semi-independent US Postal Service. We were granted the right to bargain for wages and working conditions. Things turned for the better at that time.
Ever since we won that battle, we have had to fight again and again to maintain those rights and benefits gained. Unfortunately, we are at the doorstep of having all of these benefits and rights ripped away by the Trump Administration. An administration that doesn’t care about workers’ rights, or anything else for that matter. Almost every Federal union has been decimated by President Trumps decisions regarding their rights to collective bargaining. All of those agencies were Federal agencies. Fortunately, we are currently not considered a federal agency. The president has made numerous comments regarding the either the privatization of the service or actually placing us under the cover of the Commerce Dept. which would then place us as a government agency. Guess what! He could then void our contract and deny collective bargaining. This is a real possibility. Once that is done, who would represent you against the tyranny of the management of the USPS? NOBODY, that’s who! Whether you like the union or the elected officials who administer it at every level, take a minute to think of what would happen without them. We are the guardrails and safety net for all of the letter carriers across the nation. If the administration does that, the head of the Commerce Department, Howard Ludnick, could just fire or lay off anyone they desire. Just like they did to the union members from, The Veterans Administration, The TSA, EPA, HHS, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NASA, USAGM, with more to come. Tens of thousands of union members from these agencies have been laid off, fired, and excessed out overnight. Many reported to work and were told they were out with no prior notice.
As a side note the new PMG, David Steiner, is a close associate of Mr. Ludnick. What do you think that will lead to? There is no doubt in my mind that they are planning to hit the road running if they are under the Commerce Dept. This is not a scare-tactic on my behalf. It is to educate you, so you are not shellshocked if and when it occurs. You must be diligent in paying attention to what is going on. Contact your Congressional people every week to remind them that the USPS is vital to our country. That 250 years of service to the communities we serve should not be messed with. Tell them to leave the USPS and the unions alone. This is the only way we will have a chance of survival. We need Congress to step up for us as they have done in the past.
You must remember: ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!
The district informed me of 9 offices that they want to have inspections done during the fall. We have a tentative agreement to work jointly in doing those inspections just like we did last spring. Those offices that are being done already know who they are. If you have not heard from your fulltime rep, then you are not scheduled. You should just remember, everything you do, every day, will be under the microscope and used in the possible Spring inspections. Do your job correctly and safely.
