After carrying my route today, I got back to the post office about 3:40 PM. That's about twenty minutes early, since my end time is 4:00 PM. The station manager, a person I don't think has ever carried mail, asked me why I was back so early. I was puzzled, since I'm thinking the goal is to get back as soon as possible. I told her that I could leave and come back later. She thought for a second and declined my offer. But she explained to me about the current policy that all carriers should clock in with no more than five minutes left before the end tour. I explained to her that this is nothing new for me, that I got in trouble with the last supervisor for coming back early. I told her I get in more trouble coming back a few minutes early than people who come back several hours late. The problem (if you call it that) is that I don't want the overtime, and I finish my route in a timely manner so I can go home. But the dumba$$ postal management doesn't know what to do with someone who comes back early, as the rest come back late. I'm often the only one who doesn't use any overtime.

I told my plight to a fellow carrier, one whom I consider one of the best carriers I have ever known in my life. He told me that he was actually given a Pre-D (pre-disciplinary interview) for coming back early. It was his day off, he finished his route, and he came back a little early to make sure he didn't go into penalty time. The dumba$$ supervisor actually gave this stellar carrier a Pre-D!!!!! How's that for stupidity?

So this afternoon the station manager calls me into the office. She says she remembers someone telling me I'm good at something, but can't remember what it is. I'm looking around her office, and it looked like a hurricane had hit it. I'm assuming she wants some help, so I answer the question by telling her I used to be a 204B. She says no, that's not what she heard. I tell her I'm pretty good with the Internet. No, that's not it either, she says. I tell her I'm also good with the computer. Nope, that's not it either. Then she remembers. She tells me that she heard I was good at hanging things. Well, that's a new one for me. Eventually she told me she heard I was good at hanging bulletins on the bulletin board, and she had a lot of them, judging by the mess in her office. Bizarro is the word.

We recently got a new "enforcer" supervisor. He's a 204B, I believe light-duty, and from what I've heard he can't get promoted to full-time supervisor because he can't even pass the initial, qualifying ASP supervisor test. I also heard he was one of the worst carriers at his station. In fact, one of our carriers who's not known for being that great, said they used to send HIM to help the 204B! The 204B started off on his first morning by telling carriers they can't report to the clock area to clock in until five minutes before the start time. He's new, but he's telling carriers that have worked at my post office for 20 or 30 years or more they can't be on their own workroom floor. It's not like carriers are reporting too early - maybe 15 minutes early so to give a little leeway as to not be late in case of traffic etc. For decades, we've stood around the clock waiting to clock in. Can't anymore. Now we have to wait in the parking lot or the small break room.

The unsatisfactory supervisor has continued his antics, including giving Pre-Ds and Letters of Warnings for one missed scan and for going over DOIS time one time. He's been there a week and already he's got several EEOs in the process of going against him. Plus, he's blatantly violating the contract by giving discipline based on DOIS alone. I think he should get a Letter of Warning for failure to follow instructions.

Anyway, all the carriers at my post office are raw from the abusive managers that are paraded through our station. And we're not going to take it anymore. We're going to file our EEOs and grievances until this unsatisfactory supervisor is gone and we get someone who is somewhere close to being professional. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with the Dallas management team. There are still a few good ones left, but most are not qualified, are unprofessional and just plain mean people. Back when I started in 1990 there were many good supervisors. They had been hand-picked once they proved themselves as carriers and showed some leadership qualities. Today, the ASP system picks people based on demographics, not proven managerial abilities. Now, we have a bunch of unqualifed people supervising in Dallas, and the work environment has never been worse to my knowledge. The sorry supervisors band together and watch each other's backs, forming an impromptu coalition against competent managers and upper management. Bizarro is the word, and the Postal Service in Dallas should be ashamed of the way they are treating people. This is the 21st century, yet they're using late 19th century intimidation and coercion management techniques. Until the USPS resolves this problem, the workplace in Dallas, and I'm sure in other cities, will continue to be marked by inefficiencies, incompetence, and confrontation.