STINSON'S STUPIDITY STILL STINKING
Though it has been weeks since he was given the boot it seems that the odor of Stinson's blunders is still hanging over the local. It is bad enough that he continued to attack the Clerk Craft throughout his stint, unfortunately it seems that he now has turned on his own craft. The lame-duck agreement signed by Stinson on his way out the door is just another typical bit of Stinson stupidity. I was provided a copy of the agreement and have shown it to others and the response has been unanimous; how could he put his name to an agreement that purports to be for 18 months, when it can be canceled by either party with 30 days notice? Which means that management is probably going to cancel the agreement, resume subcontracting, and refuse to negotiate any changes to the split days off on MVS routes. Thanks a lot Greg, you really know how to screw over your fellow employees, oh wait, they are not your fellow employees as you have not come back to work yet. I mean you failed your DOT physical and have refused the light duty offer from your friends in management. I have heard that you are currently on sick leave, hiding again, from those you screwed over while you were in office. So, the effects of your agreement with management will not affect you since you will not be driving. Well, I guess that is what MVS gets for helping put you into office. Now, your little minion Steve Clinton will have to fend for himself. No experience, no knowledge, makes me wonder how he will handle any issues for the Craft. Oh, wait, he is going to run to you for help. How just, you will have Clinton handling your grievances with your guidance, wow maybe then you can screw yourself. How poetic. Maybe it is time to look at that 204b detail.
Whatever happens it will not be long until Stinson fades into oblivion and anonymity. His stink will soon be gone and with that this blog will change its focus. For the people who follow this blog, the time has come for this writer to put some of the heat on management. We have some pretty awful people in management who deserve a bit of the heat; maybe some of the supervisors or the FMLA office who knows. There are lots of issues that need to be exposed. I would like to address issues that matter to the local and the members of the local. Some ideas would be FMLA, FECA, leave issues, and such. If anyone has any topic or question in particular please leave a comment on this blog and I will contact my sources in the local and give you the best opinion I can.
Along with that, though I have great confidence in the new local executive board, I will continue to monitor and report on issues affecting the local and will apply heat as needed. Let me know what you want to hear, otherwise I will write and post as I can. I do have some good tales to tell about some of the folks in management that will be quite entertaining.
Whatever happens it will not be long until Stinson fades into oblivion and anonymity. His stink will soon be gone and with that this blog will change its focus. For the people who follow this blog, the time has come for this writer to put some of the heat on management. We have some pretty awful people in management who deserve a bit of the heat; maybe some of the supervisors or the FMLA office who knows. There are lots of issues that need to be exposed. I would like to address issues that matter to the local and the members of the local. Some ideas would be FMLA, FECA, leave issues, and such. If anyone has any topic or question in particular please leave a comment on this blog and I will contact my sources in the local and give you the best opinion I can.
Along with that, though I have great confidence in the new local executive board, I will continue to monitor and report on issues affecting the local and will apply heat as needed. Let me know what you want to hear, otherwise I will write and post as I can. I do have some good tales to tell about some of the folks in management that will be quite entertaining.
51 comments:
what is FECA? Thanks
Federal Employees' Compensation Act, administered by the Department of Labor.
As the postal service continues to compress, where will the light duty employees go? Even managers (and ex-presidents)are worried about being excessed-seems like there's a Walmart job waiting for each one of them.
Maybe they should start-up their own union, like the APNWU (American Postal Non-Workers Union)? For full representation see any light duty person who knows the ropes.
Why go work at WalMart when the P.O. pays us good? WalMart can even fire you. You know, a private sector job. We have it made in the shade as light duty personel. Really!
So how long should one get paid on light duty for a hangnail, cramps, diarrhea, an earache, ect...? Don't you realize that you also cause other workers from your craft to do extra work in your absence? Is it any wonder that they might just be a little pissed off about it also? This is still an area that the financially strapped post office needs more focus on. How about sending some of the long time light duty folks off to another federal job, or even McDonalds, Buger King, Taco Bell, K-Mart, or WalMart to earn their wage? Pumping gas may also be an option.
So just how many folks are on light duty status as of now, and milking the system untill they are elgible or able to retire? Kind of pathetic isn't it? At least for those who choose to stay there rather than accept another job that they might be able to do. And why should they be able to refuse any post office job offer if they can't return to their craft? Take the job offer or be let go. Sounds simple enough to me.
Where or where has the Bullfrog gone? Anyone seen him?
He is doing his 110% dedication 24/7 working 40 hours a week somewhere, but not in MVS.
He may be getting ready to run for President of the APNWU. He knows the ropes as well as anyone I guess. How to get paid without working.
As we get older, it would be wise to remember that the next person needing light duty might be you.
We are only as strong as our weakest link.
Hey Tears4Fears- That is an old saying with some truth to it. However if I knew I wouldn't or couldn't ever return to my craft, I would either be applying for another P.O. job or accept any job they offer me. I wouldn't be screwing the craft I came from. And if we are only as strong as our weakest link, then we are weaklings indeed!
Don't get the idea that I'm trying to defend the actions of that moron of an ex-President. I'm not. I was a bit disturbed by the general nature of the previous comments that slammed all Light/Limited duty employees.
Our weak links are weak because we haven't done our part as a Local to empower them and make them stronger. Hopefully the new administration will work in that direction. Peace.
Peace! And yes, hopefully the new administration will take the appropriate action. But one must admit that when one gets used to free money, rent, food, or anything else; it is hard to get them to go back to working or paying for it. It has to be a little bit of a moral question they have to answer, and the desire to do so. That is if they are capable. Otherwise some people tend to look at them as freeloaders.
I haven't yet received the latest version of the Poker, and after the election am looking forward to what may be in it. Will there be some Stinson bashing? Or will there be no mention of the Bulldog? I am glad as to how the election results came down, other than the MVS Craft Director. Some people don't actually know many of the things Ralph McEvers did do. All they whined about was his non driving and what did he do. Well; we will now get a chance to see what Steve Clinton will do, provided he learns first how to file a proper grievance. Am giving it time, but expect little for quite some time from him. He's too busy running to Greg Stinson for tips on how to do things. Yes; the minion!
Change is coming. Yes; in this time when layoffs are rampant in the private sector jobs, don't expect the post office to be immune. We currently pay light duty folks their craft wage to do almost nothing. Can this continue in a recession? I think the time is coming when the bell is going to toll with the post office. They may even be in line for the Federal Bailout Package. As a P.O. employee it may soon be time to ship up or ship out. Are you pulling your weight? Are you doing the job your paid to do at that wage? How is your attendence? Change may be just around the corner my friends (A John McCain phrase on the "my friends" part), are you ready? How is your seniority? Things to ponder!
What a thoughtless, careless, ignorant comment that was made by the last commenter. It not only lacks in knowledge, it lacks in humanity. Are you a supervisor or what? What will you do when you are injured or ill? Will you give up half of your pay? Do some people take advantage of the system? You bet. Who gets to decide who is cheating and who is not? Who gets to decide who is worth keeping and who is not? I certainly hope it is someone with more understanding, compassion, and humanity than you show with your comment. Also, attendance, what the hell is that? Are you in management or what?
Lone Wolf- You are entitled to your opinion or expression as is anyone else. But I sense in your posting that possibly either you have never worked in the private sector or have been a Federal employee for so long that you have completely forgotten just how easy it is to not have a job. I haven't. People out there today are being laid off right and left in this economy. What is your suggestion, that the P.O. keep all the light duty employee's and get rid of the actual worker bee's? Then how is the mail going to get into your mailbox and how long will it take?
Let's see, can't make a good argument so you attack the background, knowledge, skill, experience or ability of the person. Just for the record, along with my postal service I have been self employed, worked for the private sector, oh and I still work for the private sector along with my post office job. I have not seen rampant layoffs in my field of work. I also served in the military and when I left the military I worked for two more years in the privated sector before getting on at the Post Office. During that time I used my VA benefits and food stamps, that ought to stick in your craw, and went to college and earned a degree in two majors one of them being Business Administration. I continually look for other jobs and I know full well how difficult it is to find another one in the private sector, it is even more difficult in the Federal Government, especially one that pays as well as the Post Office. I hope to find one that meets my needs and wants. I have also been on light/limited duty occasionally during my time at the post office as injuries or illness required. At my private sector job they allow people to be on light duty as well, without being sent away. I have been there and done that as they saying goes, how about you?
People need help occasionally as they suffer the ups and downs of life. What is wrong with helping people through difficlt times?
Your question as to who to get rid of the light duty people or the workers is such a weak argument and it clearly demonstrates a bad mind set of some people that there has to be a choice between light duty or no Post Office. Well, there doesn't. You make it sound like employees on light duty are pushing the Post Office under, that it is breaking the budget. Well here's a thought; the USPS budget is not being broken by the few employees on light duty. They are working, they are doing something. So many people buy into the management arguement that the light duty employees are causing the problem that it scares me, you seem to have taken that idea hook line and sinker. By the way how much does the Post Office to pay people on light duty? Do you have some real hard figures or are you just talking out your backside? My feeling that you do not have a clue.
As far as fixing the problems at the Post Office, my experience leads me to believe that the management side of the house is far more bloated and overpaid than the craft side. EAS gets paid alot more for doing a lot less. I say reduce the numbers of supervisors and managers. Oh, and you still sound like a supervisor.
Folks, you forget light and limited duty folks are not our enemies. Stupid managers and their policies are our enemies. Is it not managers making the decision as to who works and where? If there is not work available why is management allowing these people on the floor? If there is light/limited duty people ripping off the PO then why are you not questioning the managers? I am sick and tired of hearing people complaining about light and limited duty individuals.
Has not anyone heard of the equal opportunity act. The postal service and the private sector has a legal obligation to accommodate these individuals within their capabilities if suitable works exists for them. It is the law. Do you really want these people to lose their jobs and go on unemployment or welfare. Do you not want them to be as productive as possible and to help pay taxes and not just use our tax dollars?
The mail will always get out because we have on the whole a very dedicated work force. The worker bee's will always be there if there is mail. There will always be work for light/limited duty folks because we have automation. Can you not see how much mail is mutilated everyday? Who is going to do that work? It might as well be those who are on light duty.
Remember to point your finger at the right folks. Stupid Managers!!
I also agree with Lone Wolf, lets get rid of some of the overpaid managers. Let's also stop the over blown corporate welfare called presort and qualified business returns.
I see this has stirred up a bit of a hornets nest. Well let me state for the record I also understand that people get injured and are in need of light duty. However, there are also others who are continually on light duty. And there is a little thing called fit for duty status. And yes, there are laws pertaining to their rights. But when it comes time to cut some fat off the budget, management and supervisors and the like are over bloated for sure. But after that, then where do you look? All I am saying is in this economy there are going to be some changes coming down the pipe. The Post Office isn't in good financial health as is the rest of the economy. So where do you start?
1. Corporate Welfare
2. Excessive pay to managers that do not deserve their pay.
3. Getting rid of equiptment and manaement directives that do not work.
4. Stop sub - contracting that actually costs the PO more money than having one of their own employees doing the work.
Patching, nixie, manual cases is not fat. It is a vital service to our customer.
It's not the endless light duty employee (hesitate to say worker), but the nooks and crannies where protected workers hide from the contract and accountability.
If you are a subcontractor, get out.
If you are a casual, thanks, but no thanks.
If you are a tranistional worker, get the message and leave soon.
If you are a part-time worker, with less than 6 years, forget it.
Get out of the way. The ship is sinking.
The stations have a laughable ratio of craft to management-with supervisors having little to do but insult the customers.
With USPS corporate give-aways where customers pay as little as 32cents for first class service, no wonder the company is in jeopardy.
The postal service continues to provide poor service, with computer access denied on Sundays, limiting work; to improper staffing and lack of products and services.
Postal management continues to fuel the fear of its workers with supposed announcements of impending doom. These actions present serious issues of trust and confidence in postal management's decision-making skills.
...baby, it's cold outside...
I can agree with the latest anonymous posting. And the non-union worker, even though an open shop, should be walking quietly!
Here is another thing the P.O. just doesn't seem to get. When you order anything online, how often do you even get the option to ship USPS over UPS or FedEx? I mean really, in todays technology world, where is the P.O. in this?
Since some here concerned enough with the post office's financial health that they would throw light/limited duty out onto the streets-there is some good news. The next COLA will probably be nothing...0....zip. I bet these same people will be cursing God and union because they didn't get their extra $.xx/hour.
I'ld rather have the injured workers patching the cusomer's mail and staffing the offices over the inexplicable number of 204b's we have in the plant whose sole responsibilities seem to harrass good workers, party with management, and kiss the bloated asses of the absolute FREAKS that we have in charge. At least as things get tighter and more stressful I can get a good laugh as management starts turning on each other....you know its coming.
Whe the luxery liner boat has sprung a leak and you have been using duct tape, superglue, and what ever else you could find to slow or stop the leak, and it isn't working, you are left with lightening the load and removing excess weight before it sinks and goes down. Looking around, where do you start? Something has to be tossed overboard to keep it afloat. You look around at the crew, passengers, luggage and such and try to figure what to keep and what to toss.
Amazing how we can justify throwing others under the bus with one or two simple analogies. Who will be next? How about limited duty employees? How about slower working employees? Who will judge who is "good enough" to keep their job? You? Me? Sorry, but this thinking is as anti-union as I can imagine. We're in this together, and looking for others to sacrifice makes me ill. I hope you never are judged the way you seem to be so willing to judge others. Whatever happened to "An injury to one is an injury to all?"
After reading these posts it sure seems that now bullfrog is out of the way now we are bashing employees. LEAVE that to MANAGEMENT and their minion 204B's. Most of the 204B's would be a waste back in craft since they didn't work as craft employees when in craft. As for the light and limited duty, they perform tasks I wouldn't want to do from patching (I hate jigsaw puzzles) to PARS waste (recycling over a million pounds of paper a year)to culling NetFlix to scanning trailers. Now here is a good one. Why do we need 3 MDO's on shift 1 and 3 when 1 or 2 could accomplish the same thing? In the public sector when they cut employees they cut management. In the PO we cut employees revert jobs and increase management. To all the light/limited duty nay slayers here is a point to ponder. All it could take is a car wreck or a miss step on a ladder at home and YOU could be the next light/limited duty person sweating extinction.
Well; I'm sorry, but when a limited light duty employee is in that role for 10,15, or maybe 20 years, it is no longer "limited" light duty. That is making a postal career of it. The union should fight for them, but when that much time goes by while they remain on their crafts roster, then maybe that's managements fault also. The Goodwill,Salvation Army,and many other handicapped organizations are better suited for that. I applaud the postal service for making it possible for individuals with handicaps,and I assume they passed tests for their job position for their craft. When they dissappear from craft to light duty for better than 10 years; I think that's more than enough time to rehabilitate any injury of a minor nature that doesn't cause an early retirement or disability. They at the very least should be removed from their crafts roster. Is that bashing?
Sorry, but you still don't seem to get it. These employees are exercising their rights, and there seems to be some confusion between light and limited duty (there always is). Not sure what harm is being done to you by light or limited duty employees being found work within their restrictions. This sounds like a self defense/survival mechanism has kicked in causing some to look for the next victim to blame for the economic hardships at the PO. I refuse to buy into this thinking.
No, I get it, but you may not. You sound like a psychatrist. I have never liked them or their thinking. What harm may be done is the bidding on routes and the drafting for your off days. If you are in some other craft you may not get it. This may expose me some; but let me say, Pony Express Courier Corporation went out of business due to employees forming a union. I was there when it was in the process. They where partly owned by Borg Warner I believe it was. They would have no part of it. I left before the downfall, but eventually they shut the company down. It was a Nationwide courier company. It knew the union was going to make it go broke. I even was photographed at one of the union rallies at downtown Portland. Now they didn't go under due to anything other than union organization. I worked there, I know that. And when I see the post office let people be on light duty for 10 years or better, and knowing that the economy is in a recession, I have a hard time backing the union when they allow and support this for years. In fact, I got out once, then rejoined, and am capable of getting out again when I see them doing the same thing that drove Pony Expess Courier Corp. out of business. You just don't get it in this economy! Believe me, I could have my union dues work much better for me and hire a lawyer to take care of any legal matters. They might be more professional anyhow! Currently I am a dues paying member and many times wonder why? Nothing but infighting and corruption.
I believe you just made my point.
Looks like the Postmaster General just recently made his too.
I don't think Potter mentioned light duty employees.
Oh Please. If the day comes when management pressing you beyond the limits of safety comes or just not being able to keep up with the 20 year olds. If that day comes, and you end up on limited duty, then please let me know how it works out for you in drawing out a possible years long litigation with your $36.00 a month (I think thats what the dues are) lawyer. in the meantime by all means follow your "convictions" and run off to a non union job. There are more of those around then union jobs/shops so you could have your pick. Maybe even a greeter at Wall-mart. You wouldn't have to be bothered with union pay scale, protection, vacation, seniority, Health care plans, and retirement. you know, all that business busting stuff you don't mind taking advantage of now. Write and let us know how things work out for you.
No, your absolutely right. Potter didn't mention light duty employees. But have you read Burrus's reply to Potters statement the following day? You should read the fine details under lay offs.
To Matt T- My seniority has been put on hold as far as moving up the seniority roster by someone above me on light duty for 10+ years who doesn't know if he is gonna sh*t or is constipated. I in the meantime am waiting for him to either sh*t or get off the pot or wait till he retires. In the meantime, our seniority list is stagnant! Been a long haul so far!
Part Time employees and those with less than 6 years in with the post office ought to be worried some!
Is it any wonder the post office is losing money? Too many managers and supervisors, too many on light duty, too many sick calls, union grievances. Too much wasteful spending. How do we turn it around?
Man, you are so right! Let's get rid of the union, now! Save the PO from the union! I can't wait to come to work for $8.40/hour. I'll leave when the supervisor tells me to, 'cause there is no guarantee of hours. I'll check the schedule to see if I'm working tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. Thank God I don't have that no layoff guarantee, so I can look for several other jobs to fill in my week. I'll come to work sick, 'cause there's no sick leave. Besides, I won't have any health benefits. I'm glad I won't need to worry about signing up for vacation, 'cause there won't be any annual leave. Retirement? Ha! Who needs it? Injured off the job means no hours for me! I can beg the supervisor for a day off for my kid's graduation, or to go to my mom's funeral. Damn stewards won't be hassling me about the union anymore. This is great!
Nobody is saying get rid of the union, those are your words. But they do also cost the post office some money. We love our current wages and benefits. Along with that come's a responsibility to work maybe?
This could go on endlessly. Our Collective Bargaining Agreement allows us certain rights, and one of those is being provided work when we are injured. The Service must make efforts to find us work, even if we are hurt off the job. You seem to have a burr in your saddle about light duty and the union:
"I have a hard time backing the union when they allow and support this for years. In fact, I got out once, then rejoined, and am capable of getting out again when I see them doing the same thing..." "too many on light duty, too many sick calls, union grievances."
You're right, you didn't say get rid of the union. So, collect the benefits while cursing the organization that gets you the benefits. Leaking ship, throw things overboard, like the light duty employees, right? The union defends the employees' rights when the contract has been violated, but you're unhappy that they defend the rights of those employees you don't think deserve them. I hope everyone doesn't feel the same way that you do, but I guess tough times will test us.
Your right also, this could go on endlessly. I also pay union dues and there is free speech. I am not unhappy with the union defending the rights of those who deserve them. And I do have a burr in my saddle so to speak of someone being on light duty their entire career at the P.O. while they work elsewhere from their craft, yet stay on the crafts roster and collect their crafts wages while not doing their crafts work. I have seen many in my time at the P.O. who stay on light duty till they retire, when they could possibly be removed from their crafts roster after a period of time, then re-instated if willing and capable to return. This would allow the hiring of a replacement to fill the gap in their absence and possibly allow others to move up the seniority chain instead of being stuck frozen going nowhere untill who knows when. Only God knows who the fakers are or the fraudulent claims, but I have my suspicions at times myself. Don't you? When you have worked in the private sector most all of your entire life as I have in non-union jobs, I can honestly say this wouldn't go on as long there as it does with the postal service and a government job. I have never seen anything like it in my life!
I'm one of those "Permanent Limited Duties" people you are talking about. I was injured on the job. I don't enjoy being this way. It was a 'Life-altering Injury'!
I'm glad the Union protected my Rights! Yes, I'd rather not be injured, which also affects my life outside of P.O.. I would rather be back on my old Crafts Job. Being injured on the job, makes me wonder how you feel about Disabled Vets too.
The effects of losing one to light duty is more deeply felt on the smaller craft than it is in a larger craft. We would rather lose nobody. But after time we would also like to replace someone into their former position. The impact on the smaller craft with fewer employee's is quite different than the larger craft with a lot of employee's. God bless the disabled veterans who served this country with honor.
Never a popular subject or discussion. However it does require a look. Opinions vary depending on what side you may be on. It was never an attack so much on those on light duty as to how the post office and possibly the union deals with it. Anyone offended, I appologize. But it does require some thought. One's rights should not really impose on anothers rights. Get it?
Please keep in mind that the Union keeps Management in check. Management never stops harrassing the Permanent Injured On The Job Workers, time after time. We have some darn good Stewards watching out for us. It never stops.
We love screwing the P.O with our FMLA case numbers. They don't know the difference between actual problems and made up one's. It get's us time off. Yahoo!
After reading the postings on this site; it ain't no wonder why the P.O. is operating in the red all the time. Some of it is management, some of it isn't.
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