Greed is King in the USPS

By W. L. "Bill" Pick, APWU Steward

SOOOOEY!  Damn y'all.  Guess who's back at the trough?  Yep, it's time to slop the hogs again.  Obviously you've read, seen on the news, and been fed the USPS corporate line about how we're in the red big time, we need to cut hours, and the USPS is going broke.  BULL!  Excuse me while I shake it off my shoes.  This line appears to be just an echo from the "Voice of the Bonus."

Management stated during APWU contract negotiations that the USPS would be $1.2 billion in the red this year, and losing more money every year thereafter.  Then the USPS propaganda department releases a news flash that the USPS will be $600 million in the black.  After that, management negotiated their contract with approximately a 10% raise, without having to go to Binding Arbitration.  I think somebody has been less than truthful, or maybe they've hired Arthur Anderson to keep the books or is it "cook the books?"

If things are so tight and we all must learn to do more with less, why does the USPS still have so many 204B's?  It couldn't be that there are too many managers detailed to other positions, could it?  Why has management taken what have historically been craft positions and filled them with supervisors?  Maybe they are trying to put a buffer between themselves and unemployment.  It's pathetic to see roaming teams of supervisors who evaluate operations and recommend where to save money.  They could start by returning a portion of their salary, if they truly care, but I won't hold my breath waiting for that.

Management is cutting clerk hours at the stations, which will aggravate the already negative impact on customer service caused by POS, coupled with the 5-step inquisition the window clerks must perform upon each customer.  Never mind that the customer has heard the same questions posed to all customers that were in front of them.  Management has apparently forgotten that public service is the main objective of the USPS, and not to subsidize management lifestyles.

Why doesn't management comply with the contract?  Some managers feel that since they didn't personally sign it they don't have to abide by it.  When management loses a grievance involving money being paid out for violating the contract, you may hear them say, "Oh well, it doesn't come out of my pocket," or "It comes out of a different budget/account."  Translated this means it doesn't affect their BONUS!!!  Yet it's these same managers who blame the craft employees for the demise of the USPS.  These managers remain blissfully ignorant of the fact that no matter which budget it comes from it all affects the "Bottom Line."  If these managers had to personally pay for the losses in the grievance/arbitration procedure, or if it had an impact on their "BONUSES", there might be more compliance with the contract.  

Earlier this year the maintenance management team at the P&DC conducted an alleged maintenance staffing survey and decided they are overstaffed and need to cut positions and excess maintenance employees.  At the same time, management was busy attempting to gut the maintenance workforce, a certain manager was telling some of the Mail Processing Equipment Maintenance Mechanics that the USPS was going to hire a new maintenance supervisor!  When one of the mechanics asked how they could possibly need another supervisor when they are reducing the workforce, the manager stated in all sincerity that the employee would be surprised how many supervisors management was entitled to have.  Unbelievable!  Remember, management hours also count against our work hour budget.

So, you say you want to know what has the South Florida District management done to help preserve the financial health of the USPS?  At the Employee Appreciation Day Festivities some of the craft employees were served what could hardly pass as food.  Management got a very nice dinner at the Signature Grand or Miami's Rusty Pelican.  And then, for those overworked upper crust managers, a two day (September 19 & 20, 2002) retreat to the South Seas Plantation, Captiva Island on the West Coast of Florida (not a part of the South Florida District Service Area).  The dinner at this getaway was unlimited steak and lobster on the grill.  During the awards ceremony, raffles were held consisting of weekend packages to resorts around the state of Florida, season tickets to the Florida Panthers, Miami Heat, and Miami Dolphin games.  Each manager also received a collectible Hero stamp plaque (that will cost you $60 at the window), and gift certificates.  These do not appear to be sound financial practices.  These awards were far too extravagant for the lean financial times we are allegedly facing.

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Last modified: July 13, 2007