I'll never forget the day I received notice that I just barely passed the Postal Exam in Oct of 93 and I had an appointment to be interviewed in Essex County.

Nervously I refused that appointment because thats not one of the 3 places I chose on the application form. I was working on getting out of a bad Marriage and had 2 middle school age children. I didn't want to be out of range if my kids needed me. I thought sure I was going to lose my chance at being hired.

To my surprise, I received another notice to report to Georgetown for the interview. I really didn't want to go there either but I went anyway because I thought surely I would not be hired if I refused a second time. Nervously AGAIN, while there, I told the supervisor it would be a hardship for me to work in Georgetown and told him I'd like to work at the Bradford PO. Its only a 3 minute walking distance from where I live. IT WORKED. I got hired to work out of the Bradford PO and have been there since.

WOW I was so PROUD to be employed by the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. When people would ask me where I worked, I'd say "I WORK FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE".... Can't ya just hear it bursting out of me with PRIDE? What a MORON LOL...I felt like I really accomplished something. Little did I know that the Post Office is just as dirty and underhanded if not worse than any other business. WHO KNEW? Gawd I'm so freakin nieve still today being close to 59.

I mean, come on, we're brought up to have morals. I don't remember ever taking a Business course stating the 4 rules to staying successful in business is to forget every MORAL thing you were ever taught, and then LIE, CHEAT & STEAL. Maybe one could find that in a college course that I never took.

Even though working as a Sub with no benefits or garranteed hours, it worked out good for me while my kids still needed to be carted around ie; leave school early, staying home sick etc.

I did have to work a second job to make ends meet but that one, also made it possible for me to be available for my kids. I was lucky at the time that my mortgage wasn't so high and I wasn't strapped with other debt and my Ex was ordered through my divorce to maintain our health insurance (bummer 4 him)  :)~~~~

My first upset with the PO was when my sister was having open heart surgery in Boston. I had spent most of a Friday night at the hospital waiting for the doctors to come out and say all went well, which they did aound 2am. I checked in on her in recovery. Did you ever see what a body does after a surgery like that? Her body was almost convulsing, I'll never forget it. I went home to get a few hours sleep and was going to go back but where Satuday was my assigned day to work at the PO I knew I had to call and say I wasn't coming in. Just because the surgery was done doesn't mean she would be alright and I wanted to be there in case.

I called at 7am to make sure the supervisor had plenty of time to find a fill in. When I told him I wasn't coming in, he started to yell at me saying he had no coverage and when I explained why...(I was expecting..ohhhhh Barb, I'm sorry, I hope your sister is ok...give me a call back and let me know). No Instead, he said nothing and SLAMMED THE PHONE DOWN.....the Jerk HUNG UP on me. It was bad enough I was worried about my sister, now with his attitude being as it was, I was left with thinking I was going to lose my job to. Guess what..I DIDN'T CARE..Ask me if I was UPSET!!

When I got back to work on my next scheduled day, I was never asked by management how my sister was. I know your only hearing my side, just know that I always show up for work and never BANGED IN before, so I'm not an abuser.

Is management taught to be insensitive? I'd love to go to one of their trainings just to see what they are told to do.

To be Cont;