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May 25, 2010
Legislative REPort
Before we break for the summer, I want to touch on a very important Resolution, HR 173. This resolution strongly supports the continuation of 6 day delivery. We have 53 new co-sponsors in May, for a total of 180 sponsors in the House. The union feels that 5 day delivery would be the death of the postal service. We have gone over the talking points several times, and they are available on the national web site. Here at home, only 5 or 10 reps have signed on. Frank, Neal, McGovern, Capuano and Tierney are on board. Olver, Tsongas, Markey, Lynch, and Delahunt are missing. Please take a minute to write or call these reps and remind them of the needs of their supporters, and the need to keep a viable postal service in our country.
On the Massachusetts side of things, our legislators passed a strong anti bullying law. We have all seen the heartbreaking news stories about kids who were so overwhelmed by bullying that they found the only way out was to take their own life. The more recent ones were from 11 to 16 years of age. People in authority were aware of the problems, but decided to push them under the rug as an expeditious way of handling things. Now, those in authority will be held accountable. The cure for this problem is sunshine. Putting a strong light on it so no one can enable bullies and enablers will face serious consequences for their inaction.
Today, at my nephew's confirmation, Bishop Tobin spoke on this subject, and his talk echoed that of a speech given at our multi state convention. We had the benefit of a talk by Sheilah McCarthy, who is the Councilor for the R.I. APWU. She advises that we shine this same sunshine on postal supervisors who are abusive toward employees. She advises that we call bullying what it is, whether on the playground or the workroom floor. These new laws that have passed in several states are just the beginning of a new revolution in this country. People do not go to work or school or social events to be bullied. When they are, let's shine that light on it, and call it what it is. Management, the media, and politicians will understand what's happening to some of our brothers and sisters on the workroom floor, if we just call it what it is.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
In Solidarity,
Art MacNeil
As predicted, we finally have a National Health Plan, and the sky did not fall. It's far from the health plan that we need, but at least the door is open to real health plan reform. Reform that will guarantee decent care to everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us. It is the beginning of the end of insurance companies cancelling policies on sick people, and denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It is just the beginning, but it goes a long way toward health care for all. Not a single republican voted for this, only because they wanted our president to fail. Their tactics failed, giving other pieces of legislation new life. Now, financial/bank reform is on the way. Our president is doing the job we asked him to do.
The bail-out of the auto industry that was criticized by so many on the other side of the aisle has also proved quite successful. GM has paid us back 5 years early, with interest. They've put a quarter of a million American auto workers back on the job, a true blessing in this economy. I'm not sure where we stand with Chrysler, but that deal doesn't appear to bo too promising. Hopefully we will one day recoup some of that loss.
On to House Resolution 173. This resolution is to maintain 6 day delivery by the U.S. Postal Service. It has 100 sponsors, but so far only Barney Frank and Jim McGovern have signed on as co-sponsors. I have corresponded with Niki Tsongas and Richard Neal. Brother Donnie Sheehan spoke with Stephen Lynch just this morning. We need every one of our members to contact their Congressman and let them know how critical this resolution is to us, and the impact 5 day delivery could have on universal service.
On a brighter note, next week will mark the first New England States joint Convention in Newport R.I. It will be attended by many national officers, including National President Bill Burrus, and National Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth "Liz" Powell. Hopefully this will be the start of a great new tradition of solidarity and cooperation between the New England States. I hope to see many of you there.
I feel like we’re losing the battle on so many fronts, I just don’t know which way to turn. Sometimes it’s hard to keep fighting when you’re getting pummeled from all sided, including the ones you thought were on your side.
We fought hard to convince our peers that we had the right guy for governor. It wasn’t that we were trying to prove we weren’t bigots; it was because we had a guy that was offering to govern on a level playing field. It was because we drank the Kool-Aid labeled "Together We Can". Right. Together we can destroy collective bargaining. Together we can close state hospitals, and dump people into the streets. Together we can put these people in jails and shelters, or have them die on our streets as homeless paupers. Bull Shit. And the odds right now are on his re-election. It’s kind of scary. We don’t want another republican. Charlie Baker is a very personable guy, but a diehard republican none the less. We don’t want a guy masquerading as an independent because he didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to run in a primary. Tim for Governor won’t fly. The only candidate I would be comfortable with is community activist Grace Ross. Not that she has a shot at the democratic nomination, but I would have no problem supporting her if she actually won. I can’t say that about any of the others running. Hopefully someone will emerge that we can support, but I just don’t see it happening.
As for national politics, I’m almost ready to throw in the towel there also. Come on Mr. President. You have a larger majority in both houses than W. ever had. Let’s knock off the nice guy stuff and make something happen. There are 3 vacancies on the NLRB. That only leaves 2 people on the board. You could have and should have made recess appointments. You don’t have to appease the minority. You won. You need to act. Being nice to these people is not paying. Please just do it while you still can. You can still count on us, (Labor) if only you will show us we can count on you.
On a brighter note, thank God we still have Congressman Jim McGovern to represent so many of us he has been the one sure thing we’ve had to count on, and he never wavers. He is one guy I truly look forward to campaigning for. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow. I hope to see you at the union hall.
I really don’t know where to start this month, so how about the recent special election to fill Ted Kennedys’ vacant senate seat. I really do know it’s the people’s seat, but after fifty years, I don’t feel too wrong. At any rate, it’s Scott Browns seat for at least the next three years, and we can only hope he is anywhere near the independent voice he professes to be. Time will tell, and I will not cast the first stone.
Many friends and acquaintances have asked each other how the democrats managed to lose this election, and there are as many opinions as there are questions. For my money, we needed a candidate who was willing to actually campaign. Somebody like the endorsed candidate of our great local, Mike Capuano. He would not have just assumed victory because he had the democratic nod. He would have campaigned to the end, and would have won this election hands down. I am proud of our local for making the endorsement, and for doing their part in the election.
Also, I think it’s about time to bring back the fairness doctrine, which guaranteed equal access to the airwaves. I don’t mean the broadcast ads of the candidates, but rather the 24 hour commercials that are thinly disguised as news shows. Every time I hear fair and balanced, I cringe. Since the day President Obama took office, he has been accused of not fixing our problems fast enough. After 6 months in office, all we heard was "here we go again, blaming the last administration for his shortcomings". Who in their right mind, given all the facts truthfully, instead of" fair and balanced", would expect anyone to fix the problems created over 8 years of G. W. Bush to be fixed in less than one year. However, I know many in the Democratic Party are to be blamed for worrying more about getting re-elected than solving some of our nation’s worst problems in decades.
We can look forward to more adversity in our future elections, now that the Supreme Court has given corporations a free hand to purchase as much political advertising as their budgets will allow. I am so glad the president called them out on this in public. Maybe the legislature or a different Supreme Court will fix this problem.
Finally, I am sure most of you have read or heard about the U.S.P.S. 75 Billion dollar screw up. Not the first time they have over paid civil service retirement funds. The last two times they goofed, it took congressional action to get the money refunded. Think about it, they say we’re 5 Billion in the red. Not if you look at the big picture. That picture shows the service is solvent through 2012 at least. I’m sure we’ll be hearing lots more about this situation in the near future. I hope to see youat the union hall.
Let me start by wishing you a Merry Christmas, or if you celebrate something different, Happy Holidays. I also wish each and every one of you a healthy and prosperous New Year. And now, my legislative report. Everyone must know by now that the health care bill is now going to be debated in the full senate now that the move to kill it procedurally by the Republicans has been thwarted. The real debate will begin November 30th , so we very well may have the bill on President Obama’s desk by Christmas. I’ll just say " more to follow".
As is way too obvious, the management at the USPS continues to strive for failure. It was certainly a lot better a few years ago when their goal was mediocrity. Now they have proven beyond all doubt that they won’t be satisfied until they facilitate our complete demise. The rush to close stations and branches is unconscionable. The places they are trying to close are often very profitable enterprises that serve the elderly, the poor, and the disabled. People who find it a genuine hardship, and in many cases nearly impossible to travel several blocks to the next postal facility. There are many folks who purchase our money orders to pay their bills at a still fairly reasonable cost. These folks will have to purchase bank checks at several times the cost of money orders. These are people living on fixed incomes with minimal resources.
A mile away, in an affluent neighborhood where the residents would be inconvenienced, a couple of phone calls to influential friends can halt plans for closure in a heartbeat. Oh well, that’s the world we live in, and many times in the last couple of months, our union brothers and sisters have done the necessary work to stop closures. We have alerted the media and the local authorities. We have told our friends, neighbors, and customers about the service they were about to lose, and joined forces with our allies to try to keep the service honest.
As I’ve said so often, we could be profitable, or at least break even if the service would stop giving away the store. President Burrus has challenged the service to give us back our work, and let us do it for the money they are giving away for in the form of outrageously deep discounts. I know folks are tired of hearing this song, and quite frankly, I’m tired of singing it.
I have to take a couple of minutes to discuss health care reform. The spin on this is the worst I’ve seen in my adult life. WE all know we need reform. Reasonable people can see that the cost of health care is burying this country faster than any war is. Unfortunately, those who seek to derail reform seek only to see our president fail, so we will be vulnerable in the next election cycle. They have publicly called health reform his Achilles heel, and that trumps doing the right thing by the constituents they represent. They want to retake the house and senate, and don’t care about the price. They have sold their souls to the FOX party that parades itself as a fair and balanced news agency. And when our president sees them for what they are, they cry foul. Let me tell you my good brothers and sisters, when you are the leader of a political party, and you have to march in lock step with Limbaugh the junkie, Beck the idiot, and O’reilly the molester, you are not representing your peers. You are representing FOX. These morons have called our president a racist and a bigot. And the big boss, Rupert Murdoch has publicly agreed with them. An idiot screams in the house chamber that the president is a liar, and he becomes the darling of the FOX political party. There was a time when they would temper their behavior in congress with a little decorum, but unfortunately, that time is gone. Thank God they live in America, because it’s the only place in the world you can treat the leader of the free world with such disdain, and just shrug it off as though you did nothing wrong.
On a brighter note, 2010 marks a great year for our great organization. We will have a joint convention with the other New England states in Newport Rhode Island. This is a goal we have had for many years, and it is starting to become a reality. It won’t be perfect, but it will happen. While Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are fully committed to a New England convention, Maine and Vermont are expected to have some representation at this first joint convention. This too, could only happen in America. We are hoping this works well, and it will be a catalyst for Solidarity. I promise it will be well attended by national officers, as it provides them an opportunity to communicate with many members from several state and local organizations at one time. It’s an event whose time has come, and I hope to see many of you there. In the meantime, please stay engaged, help us keep our service alive, and fight like hell when you hear about a branch or station on the postal chopping block. We can’t save them all, but we must try. Together we have a much better chance to succeed than we do alone.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
For the 1st time in over 50 years, we do not have a Kennedy representing Massachusetts in Congress. However, we do havethe benefit of having his voice heard until the election in January. Newly appointed Senator Paul Kirk promises to keep the flame burningwhile he is the interim senator. He will not be a candidate for theoffice, but several people have announced, including Attorney General Martha Coakley, and Congressman Mike Capuano. Democrat activist Alan Khazel is almost a candidate, and Pretend Democrat Steve Pagliuca is already advertizing.
Candidates have until October 20th to return nomination papers to the local registrars, and they only need 10,000 signatures to qualify. That means that a Kennedy may still emerge as a candidate. Both Ted Jr. and Vickie Kennedys’ names are still afloat. Time will tell, but we won’t have to wait too long.
On the republican side, state Senator Scott Brown has finally decided he is a candidate, but only after those he considers more qualified have declined. Christie Mihos doesn’t know for sure if he wants to run for governor or senator. I guess we’ll learn of his intentions soon enough.
With all of the problems created by the economy, and exasperated postal management, we all must stay engaged in the political process. Our only real shot to survive lies in our ability to deal effectively with those who represent us. From the local select board to the city mayor, from the city council to the U.S. Congress, we need to continue communicating with these people, and we need to continue electing our friends and defeating our enemies. At least 1 congressman who forgot who helped elect him is now out of the senate race because he left labor behind and if he doesn’t come around, he will have union opposition when he runs for re-election. We do have a voice, and we do make an impact.
With the help of Boston Metro Area Local and our NBAs, we passed a resolution at the MA AFL/CIO constitutional convention to "Keep Postal Stations Open". The convention voted its adoption unanimously, .Besides the obvious; the resolution directs the Massachusetts AFL/CIO to officially notify members of the MA Congressional delegation and all MA AFL/CIO affiliates of its strong objection to the closing of these stations and the loss of union jobs.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative REPort
It’s about 80 degrees here at my computer, and looking out my window, I somehow don’t have the ambition to write anything. Especially as
depressing as everything seems at the USPS. I don’t have to tell anyone that management’s race to the bottom of the delivery service
industry is nearly won. They continue to hand out deep discounts like there is a fire sale. What other explanation can there be for
conducting business in a manner that seems to guarantee continued losses? Are the powers that be receiving some sort of quid pro quo?
Are they assured some special positions in the private sector delivery business when they’ve finished the job of doing away with the people’s
delivery service? It certainly looks that way. The only ways to combat the threats to our service is through continued contact with our legislators
and our customers (friends relatives, and neighbors) We need to educate folks at every opportunity. We need people to know why there are more and
more long lines at our windows. Why service is suffering. Why they are never sure of delivery times. Customers used to have an idea when they might
get deliveries, but now we are more like the cable guy. You know the drill. Sometime Wednesday between noon and five. I don’t claim to have
all the answers, but I think less management and more staff would be a good jumping off spot. We certainly don’t need this ridiculous mystery
shopper fiasco to keep our clerks on edge all of the time. Most of our people recognize the shoppers. The problem is, their observations are
so subjective, it’s not always assured you will get a decent score even when you perform a good transaction. Think how much we would save
if we did away with this ridiculous program that only serves to keep our customers waiting while we ask stupid questions and aggravate them
instead of serving them.
On the brighter side, I am happy to report that CMAL member’s contributions to COPA are second only to Boston Metro. in Massachusetts. These COPA
dollars work for us every day, getting our views to congress. Please continue to support our legislative agenda through your generous donations. The
job you save may be your own.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative REPort
Its about 80 degrees here at my computer, and looking out my window, I somehow don't have the ambition to write anything. Especially as depressing as everything seems at the USPS. I dont have to tell anyone that managements race to the bottom of the delivery service industry is nearly won. They continue to hand out deep discounts like there is a fire sale. What other explanation can there be for conducting business in a manner that seems to guarantee continued losses? Are the powers that be receiving some sort of quid pro quo? Are they assured some special positions in the private sector delivery business when they've finished the job of doing away with the peoples delivery service? It certainly looks that way. The only ways to combat the threats to our service is through continued contact with our legislators and our customers (friends relatives, and neighbors). We need to educate folks at every opportunity. We need people to know why there are more and more long lines at our windows. Why service is suffering. Why they are never sure of delivery times. Customers used to have an idea when they might get deliveries, but now we are more like the cable guy. You know the drill. Sometime Wednesday between noon and five. I dont claim to have all the answers, but I think less management and more staff would be a good jumping off spot.
We certainly don't need this ridiculous mystery shopper fiasco to keep our clerks on edge all of the time. Most of our people recognize the shoppers. The problem is, their observations are so subjective, its not always assured you will get a decent score even when you perform a good transaction. Think how much we would save if we did away with this ridiculous program that only serves to keep our customers waiting while we ask stupid questions and aggravate them instead of serving them.
On the brighter side, I am happy to report that CMAL members contributions to COPA are second only to Boston Metro. in Massachusetts. These COPA dollars work for us every day, getting our views to congress. Please continue to support our legislative agenda through your generous donations. The job you save may be your own.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative REPort
It seems there is truth to the old adages, the more you know, the more you don’t know, and the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The service tells a new story almost daily, and sometimes twice a day. I asked Brother Rigiero for his interpretation of some of the recent leaks, or rumors or whatever these stories circulating around the small AO’s or the large workroom floors mean, and he had the same incomplete information I was privy to.
So there you have it. We don’t even know which district we will be working in next week. And as upper management releases just enough information to make everyone very worried at worst, and very uncomfortable at best, we just don’t have the answers. I want to thank them for being so vague. Frank suggested that was the reason for putting out a little information on a Friday afternoon. The unions didn’t get enough information to give a real response, so they were able to upset almost everyone, and all we can say is “let’s wait and see what happens next.” A new VERA ? Or the same one in different clothing. Will they offer years of service to make it more palatable, or maybe see how many fall for this deal with no incentive to leave? If they give time and don’t get enough volunteers, maybe next round they will offer a severance package? I think that it’s time for the service to just tell the truth. Most of us will hear a mandatory stand up talk this week (liteblue.usps.gov)and I’m sure it will be full of the same half truths we’ve become accustomed to. Talk about thousands of management jobs being abolished. If anyone remembers the re-org of the early 90s, it seemed as if they created 1.5 jobs for every 1 job they did away with.
We’ve always said the service is top heavy, and maybe they are finally admitting it. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
Dear CMAL Sisters and Brothers,
It is truly
heartbreaking to see our Postal Service slip further and further into the abyss
that reeks of profit before service. The powers that be are the catalyst for our
demise, and they continue to operate unabated. The lines are getting longer and
the delivery service is deteriorating before our eyes. There is no way to meet
the demands of management, and each level makes demands on their subordinates
that are more ridiculous than any reasonable person would or could expect of
them. And as the stuff continues to spiral downward, it's our customers and
members who take the brunt of it.
The PMG tells us how broke we are, while lining his own pockets with an outrageous salary, and end even more incredulous bonus. They call it pay for performance! I call it unabashed greed. And a bunch of his cronies are getting salaries in the half million dollar neighborhood.
Nice Neighborhood, huh ?
We, (all postal unions) will not rest until congress and the president hear of the plight of the service. Our own Congressman Stephen Lynch is the chairman of the house oversight committee on postal affairs, and if it's not too late, the Democratic majority and the Democratic President should be able to help stem the bleeding, and restore the service that we used to provide.
Also, when your friends and neighbors ask what happened to the dependable service they used to rely on, tell them to ask their elected officials for assistance in restoring it. Advise them to contact consumer affairs with their concerns.
All that is needed for them to succeed in killing the postal service is for us to do nothing. I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative REPort
To Paraphrase President Gerald Ford, "at long
last, our national nightmare is over". George W. is back in Texas, and we are
back in the saddle again. I believe we have done the right thing in electing
Barak Obama as our 44th president, and things will improve during his
administration.
However, things will get a lot worse before they can get better. Bush has put us
in such an awful position; it's got to take some time to improve the conditions
in this country. But at least we have hope. If a handful of republican senators
will co-operate, or at least stop throwing up road blocks with obscure rules and
procedures, it won't have to take as long to make improvements in our current
financial condition. Let's hope for the best. What we need is to bring back some
of the manufacturing jobs that have left the state and the country. We need to
improve our infrastructure, by repairing our roads and bridges. We need to
repair our schools and other public buildings. These kinds of projects will
create decent paying jobs, which in turn will create spending, which in turn
will create more jobs. I don't claim to be an economist, but I'm pretty sure
that's how it works. We'll just have to wait until President Obama can get some
of this stuff started.
Here in Massachusetts, the financial picture isn't that good either. With 10%
unemployment in our immediate future, it's hard to believe we are better off in
that area than most of the country. I guess we all either know someone, or have
someone in our family that has lost a job. It will take time, but things will
improve.
On a brighter note, I'm happy to announce that one of our own members has been
recognized by Governor Patrick. He has appointed sister Kathy Manson, the
legislative director of the APWU of MA to the position of Director of the Office
of Safety at the Department of Industrial Accidents. This is truly a great
reflection on our organization, all women in the labor movement, and Labor in
general. I wish Kathy the best in her new position. She will retain her position
with the APWU as well.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative REPort
Sisters and Brothers, not much has changed in the political arena since last we met, although Senator Clinton’s huge primary victories in the interim went mostly unnoticed by the national media. Virtually any man who beat any opponent by 40 points would have been headline news, but Senator Clinton was lucky to see her name below the fold if on the front page at all. No one will ever be able to convince me or any reasonable person that there hasn’t been a strong publicly displayed bias against her. So much for a fourth estate.
No matter how they spin it, the former first lady and current senator from New York will be a major player at the Democratic Convention, and no matter the outcome she has provided an immense service to the people, by raising the status of women as equals in the political arena of this country.
I really don’t think anyone has to be told how much Senator Obama has done for our country either. He has done for minorities and people of color what Senator Clinton has done for women. I will proudly campaign for the Democratic nominee regardless of race, color religious beliefs or gender.
Whatever happens, history is being made, and we are privileged to be a part of it. Instead of watching it happen, we should all help to make it happen.
Please indulge me while I take a minute to pay respect to out great Senator, Ted Kennedy. He has served in the senate since he won the seat that President Kennedy left in 1962 he is without a doubt, the best friend labor had ever had, and the service he has provided to working families is unmatched by any public servant. Let’s wish him a speedy recovery. Imaging the good things he’ll accomplish with a democrat in the white house, and a majority in both houses of congress.
I hope to see you at the union hall, and on the campaign trail.
Legislative REPort
As most of you are aware, on 11/12/07, Congressman Stephen Lynch filed a bill that would require the Postal Service to bargain with the unions before doing any substantial subcontracting. With the exception of Congressman Markey, the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation has signed onto this bill as co-sponsors.
The bill, (HR 4236) would affect private contracts involving surface transportation, mail processing and mail handling. This piece of legislation would definitely slow down G.W.’s plans to privatize America.
While giving away our futures to private companies like Halliburton is one of Bush’s goals, he would also like to weaken the Family Medical Leave Act for the employees who survive his devastation. The really sad story is that the Department of Labor is spearheading the attack on working families. For the benefit of those who have worked only under this administration, the Department of Labor was created to serve working folks. However, this president has appointed Pro-Business Anti-Labor people to the department. It’s not about being anti-business. We need successful businesses to keep our country working. We also need respect and dignity in the workplace, and not just on posters.
Again, we can easily remedy this situation by winning in November. We can also make some positive changes in the meantime, as long as we have access to the politician on Capitol Hill and right here in our own state. This access is achieved through our own political activity, (phone banking, sign holding, knocking on doors), and our COPA contributions. I realize that times are tough and keeping you gas tank full is expensive. I know the cost of living is up because virtually everything we consume gets to us by the trucking industry. I also know that we are nearly the last workers in this country that get cost of living increases, and a no lay/off clause to boot. If you are a COPA contributor, I thank you on behalf of the APWU. If you are not contributing, please reconsider. The job you save could be your own. I hope to see you at the union hall.
Legislative Report 2/23/08
I guess we'll know for sure (pretty sure) next week who the Democratic Presidential nominee will be.
Either one, Clinton or Obama will be quite acceptable to me. Either one will become the next
president, and will make history in the process, and I will work for the nominee as though he or she
was my first choice. There is little we can do at this point, other than stay engaged, and be ready for
the fight ahead. Maybe it's just me, but the media sure hasn't seemed very fair in their coverage
of politics this season, especially in regards to Senator Clinton. And it's not just FOX, it's all of the
media from political cartoons to the nightly news. If not questioning her emotions, her motivation,
or her ability, they suggest she is part of some sinister plot to continue some sort of white house
dynasty. You've had to hear it even if you're just a little political, Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton, and
then maybe Jeb Bush. Please. Talk about a non-issue. Whatever happens, we will have a candidate
we can support, and I will do whatever I can to help our cause. Closer to home, our good friend from
the Worcester 2nd senatorial district, Senator Ed Augustus, has announced he is not a candidate for
re-election. While I consider that a loss to the labor community, a strong labor leader has stepped
up to the plate. Brother Doug Belanger from UFCW 1445, financial secretary for our own labor
council, the Central Ma.AFL/CIO, and Selectman in the town of Leicester for the past 10 years,
has agreed to run for the position. Doug is one of us. He's been there for virtually every labor
event I can remember, be it a picket line, a phone bank, or walking and knocking on most of the
doors in Worcester County and beyond. Having Doug in the state senate will be like being there
ourselves. We have our work cut out for us for the next few months, and we need everyone to help.
The last thing we need is 4 years to regret that we didn't work hard enough.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
2/7/08
PUT THE SERVICE BACK IN POSTAL SERVICE
Not much has changed since we last communicated. Actually, looking at the big picture, I’m not sure how much has really changed in the last year.
We continue to be under attack from within. It seems the Postal Service won’t be satisfied until they eliminate the very last craft job, and turn the keys over to the private sector. What’s really funny is that so many folks in management are working so hard to make their own jobs obsolete. They didn’t realize that’s what they were doing, until their superiors told them to start looking for available positions elsewhere.
As has almost always been the case, the service continues to raise the bar whenever anyone even comes close to achieving goals. Whether in delivery, customer service, retail, bulk mail, or customer satisfaction. You name it, and the service will be glad to help you achieve mediocrity. One of my carrier friends once told me that “you’ll never be good enough.” Now I understand.
I think the best example is the mystery shopper farce. Our brothers and sisters on the window service are understaffed about half of the time. Not always because there aren’t enough window clerks scheduled to wait on our customers, but because they are always being directed to the workroom floor or the box line to do the work of the other clerks who have been excessed, or had their jobs disappear through attrition.
In our 5 minute or less waiting time, the service often times sets them up for failure, by using a window clerk elsewhere, while the line to the window service is out the door. And really, just how many more questions do you have to ask a person trying to purchase a single stamp. I know that most clerks try to up sell when it’s appropriate, but how about a little common sense here. Even when a clerk asks all the right questions, he or she is criticized for not giving more detailed information about each product or service offered.
What would be a good solution to this 5 minute problem? I know, let’s get rid of the vending machines. We can slow down service and lose a couple of good jobs at the same time.
What can we do? If they don’t manage to privatize us completely in the next year, and we manage to win back the White House, we might be able to put back the SERVICE in the Postal Service. In the meantime, we need to stay engaged in the political process through out activism, and our COPA contributions.
With just less than one full year left of our long national nightmare. The White House is ours to lose. We can’t lose sight of the prize, and the consequences should be pretty clear to all of us.
The Republican candidates are all talking about keeping the war effort going until we achieve victory. The Democrats are all talking about bringing our troops home.
The Republicans want to continue cutting taxes for the wealthy, saying they’re sure the benefits will trickle down to the working folks.
The Democrats want to close the loopholes, stop the corporate welfare, and give breaks directly to working folks.
The difference in party philosophy, between Democrats and Republicans is enormous. The difference between the candidates within each party is not so large. I would have no problem voting for any of the Democratic candidates, or any ticket consisting of any combination of the serious Democratic candidates in the race.
Any discussion of the American peoples’ readiness to elect a black candidate, or a women candidate, is nothing more than a smokescreen. We the people are a little smarter than we are given credit for. At the end of the day, I firmly believe that the majority of the people who vote will not allow another Republican administration to continue to ruin our country further. Please stay engaged in the political process. Continue to support the candidate of you choice. When we do have a ticket, please get behind it, and push ‘til the end. If we stay united, we can and will change the course of history.
I hope to see you at the union hall.
In Solidarity....Art MacNeil
Legislative Report
It’s only been a couple of weeks since our last meeting, so not much has changed since we last communicated. Actually, looking at the big picture, I’m not sure how much has really changed in the last year.
We continue to be under attack from within. It seems the postal service won’t be satisfied until they eliminate the very last craft job, and turn the keys over to the private sector. What’s really funny is that so many folks in management are working so hard to make their own jobs obsolete. They didn’t realize that’s what they were doing, until their superiors told them to start looking for available positions elsewhere.
As has almost always been the case, the service continues to raise the bar whenever anyone even comes close to achieving goals. Weather in delivery, customer service, retail or bulk mail, customer satisfaction. You name it, and the service will be glad to help you achieve mediocrity. One of my carrier friends once told me that “you’ll never be good enough.” Now I understand.
I think the best example is the mystery shopper farce. Our brothers and sisters on the window service are understaffed about half of the time. Not always because there aren’t enough window clerks scheduled to wait on our customers, but because they are always being directed to the workroom floor or the box line to do the work or the other clerks who have been excessed, or had their jobs disappear through attrition.
In our 5 minute or less waiting time, the service often times sets them up for failure, by using a window clerk elsewhere, while the line to the window service is out the door. And really, just how many more questions do you have to ask a person trying to purchase a single stamp. I know that most clerks try to up sell when it’s appropriate, but how about a little common sense here. Even when a clerk asks all the right questions, he or she is criticized for not giving more detailed information about each product or service offered.
What would be a good solution to this 5 minute problem? I know, let’s get rid of the vending machines. We can slow down service and lose a couple of good jobs at the same time.
What can we do? If they don’t manage to privatize us completely in the next year, and we manage to win back the White House, we might be able to put back the SERVICE in the postal service. In the meantime, we need to stay engaged in the political process through our activism, and our COPA contributions. I hope to see you at the union hall.
In Solidarity.....Art MacNeil
Legislative Report
I don’t have too much to say that wouldn’t be redundant, considering our current state of affairs. We are still in a lousy war that we don’t want to belong in. We still have a matter how much evidence of their dirty lying cheating stealing from the treasury ways. He still thinks Brownie did a hell of a job. He still awards no dib contracts to the Halliburton’s of the private sector business world. He continues to stand behind his crooked lying attorney general, even as the whole world is on to him. Now he goes even further in his fairy tale world as he tells us how sorry he is that his buddy, the president of the World Bank, has been forced to resign. Just because he gave his girlfriend a big job with a huge raise in salary, it doesn’t seem to be of any concern to our president. Where is the conflict of interest here he wonders. Why did it have to come to this he asks? Imagine one of our brothers or sisters being caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Out the door you go if they even suspect something is amiss. Not W’s BOYS. You get canned from one of those jobs, and you leave at the end of next month. That must be so you can hang around long enough to negotiate a great severance package, and maybe get a hefty bonus to go along with it. For some folks, getting fired is a dream come true. On a more positive note, we have won most of the elections this past month, and our state is looking bluer than ever. And I don’t want to jinx anything, but is this the year, or what? You know what I’m talking about, but I’m afraid to outright say it. I understand that this is probably Brother Healy’s last meeting as a working stiff, and I certainly wish him well, although I know he’ll miss the day-to-day B.S. that only the USPS can offer. Good luck John, it’s been a pleasure. I hope to see you at the union hall.
In Solidarity.....Art Macneil
Legislative Report
Here we are in the fall of 07, with the Christmas advertising already hitting us over the head like an 8-pound mallet. And the saddest thing is not just the commercialization of the holiday, and its diverse meanings to most of mankind, but the fact that we aren’t safe in celebration in the manner that most of us have become accustomed.
What toys are safe enough to purchase for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends? What toy doesn’t contain lead paint, choking hazards, and God only knows what other perilous parts. How far have we gone to save a buck, so that greedy CEO’s and wealthy speculators could make more of what they already have too much of? Last week I overheard a conversation between two customers lamenting the fact that their kids’ Happy Meal contained lead painted toys, and wondering how things got to be so bad. The topic changed to tainted pet food, and how sad it was that so many family pets died as a result of imported pet food and pet food additives from China. I couldn’t help but give them my take on the situation.
How about a little NAFTA, CAFTA, and of course my favorite, SHAFTA? How about a little bargain from Wal-Mart where low prices and even lower wages are always guaranteed? This company has driven more manufacturers out of our country, and destroyed more living wage jobs here, in the U.S.A., than anyone can imagine. It’s way past the time when folks need to realize there is a difference between cheaper, and less imagine. No one can manufacture anything better than we can, and if there were real competition on a level playing field, with fair wages safe working conditions, no one could hold a candle to the American Made Union Label.
Of course this would include stopping child labor and slave labor. It would mean protecting the environment. It would require workers rights.
I believe Americans would pay a little more for safe products. As it stands now, we can’t be sure of anything we give our kids or our pets. And we can’t even be sure of what we consume. We used to read labels to check nutritional content, and now we need to read them to see the country of origin, and decide if it’s worth the risk. Just ask anyone who saved a buck on pet food, and then spent hundreds at the vets. Ask any parent who is having their kid tested for lead because they’re not sure how much he ingested chewing on what they thought were safe toys.
On a happier note, I was honored to be present at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, where Governor Patrick signed the states new Card Check Legislation. The governor brought the Secretary of Labor and the Commissioner of Labor with him. Can you imagine? Mitt Romney never met with President Bob Haynes of the MA AFL-CIO, and our current Governor looks forward to sitting at the table with labor. Believe me he is not at all uncomfortable with us.
The National Labor Relations Board, (owned and operated by your friendly neighborhood republicans) which was created to protect employees from unscrupulous employers, has gutted the employees free choice act, by allowing a 45 day cooling off period so that employers can find a way to decertify newly formed unions.
This, Brothers and Sister, tells of the real danger of republican administrations. The make up of so many boards and panels both on the state and national level. Even after the war criminal is removed from the White House, we will still be subjected to the Supreme Court and the other right-wing federal judges and appointees he has saddled us with.
Why do I go on and on you ask? Because we began turning our state around and we were able to elect people who are friends to labor. Sure, they can be friends to industry also, but they are able to strike a balance. Because labor stayed engaged in the political process we were able to take back our state. We were able to assist our neighbors to the north elect democrats like they’ve not been able to do in years. We were able to take back the House and Senate. And if we stay engaged, we will take back the White House and our country in 2008.
In Solidarity.....Art Macneil
Posted January 19, 2006
(l-r) Boston Metro
Legislative Director Lynda Lynch, Senator John Kerry,
CMAL VP Mary Toohil, APWU of MA Pres. Nick Zeo.
.
l-r) CMAL Legislative
Director Art MacNeil and Candidate for Governor
of Massachusetts Deval Patrick.