Postmaster General, Jack Potter met today with the leadership of the three management associations and craft unions representing all craft employees and EAS employees of the Postal Service.

The meeting was scheduled to brief the leadership of the employee organizations on the current situation in the Postal Service and to request the cooperation from all of the representative organizations in working together to get through this difficult period.

While the members of all our organizations are well aware of the lack of mail in the system, we were briefed on the dynamics of the revenue losses and the impact that it is having on our ability to operate. PMG Potter advised the association and union leadership that the financial condition of the Postal Service was poor with revenue falling considerably short of our objectives due to the overall poor U.S. economy.

Potter added that the Postal Service would need the help of the unions and associations in working with the Congress as the Postal Service attempts to develop solutions to our problems that will involve discussions and Congressional approval. Specific plans were not discussed at the meeting.

Potter advised that there are meetings this week with the Board of Governors of the USPS followed by a meeting with the Postal Service Area Vice Presidents. Potter added that it was his intention to increase the frequency of meetings with the association and union leadership to keep everyone informed of future plans.

NAPS will keep our members updated on information that is received from the Postal Service.

NAPS Headquarters

Signed, Sealed and Delivered: Labor Struggle in the Post Office

36 Minutes

On July 21, 1978 thousands of postal workers across the country walked off their jobs when their contract expired, saying "No" to mandatory overtime, forced speedups and hazardous working conditions.

As a result of this wildcat strike, six hundred thousand postal workers won a better contract. But two hundred workers were arbitrarily fired by management to teach all postal workers a lesson. SIGNED, SEALED and DELIVERED... is the story of the struggle these postal workers waged to win back their jobs.

It follows their fight into the streets, onto the floor of the American Postal Workers Union's National Convention and among workers and communities nationwide. But it took the tragic death of Michael McDermott, a 25 year old mailhandler who was sucked into a conveyor belt and crushed to death, to bring their hazardous working conditions to national attention. SIGNED, SEALED and DELIVERED... speaks loudly and clearly to people everywhere who are organizing for safe and humane conditions in the workplace. By Tami Gold, Dan Gordon, Erik Lewis 1980

 

 

To most of us, labor day means a day off along with a grueling day after. But while most of us enjoy our family and friends on this holiday, we should also remember what this day really means.

On Sept. 5th, 1882, thousands of workers took a day off without pay to march in what was the first Labor Day Parade. They showed up to honor the workers of America as well as voice concerns they had with their employer.

Labor unions in some form are as old as this nation. While most of us are covered by a craft union in the USPS, most American workers are not so lucky. Labor unions have been declining since World War II, and took a big hit in the 1980's with layoffs and reduced pay and benefits.

While some of us have gripes and problems with our own unions, there are many things that the American worker could never have achieved if not for unions. Below are just a few:

• End child labor

• Establish the legal right of workers to form unions and

collectively bargain for wages, benefits and working conditions

• Establish the 8 hour work day and paid overtime

• Win workers' comp benefits for workers injured on the job

• Secure unemployment insurance for workers who lose their jobs

• Secure a guaranteed minimum wage

• Improve workplace safety and reduce on the job fatalities

• Win pensions for workers

• Win health care insurance for workers

• Win paid sick leave, vacations, and holidays as standard

benefits for most workers

• Win the right for public sector workers to collectively bargain

• Win passage of the Civil Right Acts and Title VII which outlaws

job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin

• Win passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

• Win passage of the Family Medical Leave Act

American labor has a dark history filled with violence and bloodshed and tragedy. The rights we enjoy today were earned through blood and sweat of our early union brothers and sisters.

Here are a few key events in labor union history:

The Haymarket Riot

The Bayview Tragedy

The Triangle shirtwaist Fire

The Atlanta Washroom strike

Here is a photo slide show of 100 years of American labor

http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/history/history/100years.cfm

So, on this labor day, I will try to remember the true meaning of Labor Day.

While it has become a day off for a BBQ, or an argument of whether or not to wear white shoes after Labor Day, I will remember our struggle through the years to achieve fairness and equality for the working men and women of this country.

The American union movement is intertwined in the fabric of this country. Even today, as we all know well, this struggle continues, although not in such desperate terms as our early union brothers and sisters. Every labor day, lets try to honor the sacrifices and bloodshed that gave us the working benefits we enjoy today and remember what Labor Day truly means.

And, I will end with one of my favorite quotes:

Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.

Molly Ivins

 

 

Text on photo in case you cant read it...

Postal workers face the ravages of the repetitive motion injuries of modern technology, along with the rigidity of nineteenth century management attitudes. They are charged with running the world's most complex postal system. At the same time they are unjustly stereotyped as lazy and inept by a top management eager to sell off postal services to private profiteers. Restructuring, automation, and out-sourcing make the postal environment a bellwether for trends affecting the broader workplace environment.

 

I was reading Mark's last post about "Craig's List"...lol and it reminded me of a couple of websites I used to visit frequently.  One site is where people send stuff in that they find.  Love letters, notes,  poetry, etc.

The other site is where people send in their secrets on a post card anonymously.

In my busy days with ruralinfo, I had all but forgotten these websites that satisified my voyeuristic side.  

I dont know what it is about reading other people's stuff... But, I can sit and look at these sites for hours.

Maybe it is because I know I am seeing something that I was never supposed to see. 

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do..

 

http://www.foundmagazine.com/

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/