PJake /m1020 -- the ELM (515.2) defines a serious medical condition for FMLA as "d. Serious health condition - illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition..."

Thanks NECarrier....just hate the thought of having to go to a doctor and spill my guts. Seems that the PO should want people to try and take time away from problems that they created. Employee well being should be above the operational goals. They would rather see you quit so you can be replaced with another number. How would FMLA work with stress? I thought it was in place for more physical inujuries or birth of a child.

FMLA stress leave. Several people here have been successful with that. You have to be careful that you don't paint yourself into a corner over inability to be at work.

Any suggestions on how to get "leave of absence" approved? Need to take time because of stress caused by the job.

never will happen. the unions have too many friends in congress. people can go to jail for not following union contracts. look at all the trouble the airlines have with the union contracts.

drb /m1014 - In 1970 there wasn't any DPS letters or flats - so that period could not be compared to the coming days when the vast majority of mail will be in carrier delivery sequence.

If, and again this is a BIG IF, USPS just all of a sudden ceased abiding by all contractual agreements and totally refused to talk with all union representatives then at that time there would probably be a work stoppage by most postal employees (not all)- in that case the only people USPS could turn to would be the national guard/reserve/military to deliver this nations mail as new hires are worked into the system.

I have believed for a long time that USPS has this type plan silently being tweaked and probed behind closed doors.

I and others have believed for a long time that the POs goal is to work us like dogs/ and treat us like crap/ and pay is lower wages/ and if we don't like it/ quit!! Automation is the key and they are using it now and are going to majorly use it soon.

Our wages are stalling and on rural side, falling. It is going to get worse. So yeah, but they won't need the Guard. They'll just hire minimum wage people off the street and turn them loose. Service became a non-issue from the Postal bigshots a long time ago and postal patrons have gotten largely numb to the crappy delivery times and slow window service. Our phone used to ring off the hook and I heard complaints about stuff all day long. People are used to it now it. It's old news! So they'll gladly force any and all of us out the door!

been done
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._postal_strike_of_1970

Well, sure, that'll work just fine when the DPS mail is up to those standards, which, conveniently for your theory, ought to be about the same time the last of the Guard returns from Afghanistan and Iraq. Not anytime soon.

Here's a thought and question...

When, and if, USPS gets all of their DPS systems up and running and basically the processed mail arrives at the stations and associate offices with as much accuracy as possible then wouldn't it be possible (according to the USPS HQ mentality) that the national guard could come in and deliver this nations mail without too much problem other than the need to provide them with route maps?

It would be sorta like giving a tray of DPS to a new probationary carrier, pointing them to the first stop, and say go deliver.

Well - if, and that's a BIG if, USPS ever gets to the point where they completely break off negoitiations with all crafts then what would keep them from limping forward with the national guard and street hires until new employees are trained? I know - would be a HUGE undertaking... but wouldn't it be possible since basically no casing would be needed (except small amounts of residual mail)

What about it?

maybe everyone is hap, hap, hap, happy!!!!

pretty funny...I check here every day too, but no motion lately.

Looks like the FAQs are not being asked very F.

pay scales are posted here.

http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/irpayinfo.htm

then click on the link that says this;
Click here for the pay scale that will take effect on March 15, 2008.

custodians start at grade 4 step BB if you are NOT already a postal employee.

Do they really perform a hair strand drug test?

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this question, but can someone tell me how much the starting salary is for the custodian position? This would be for an installation in California (not sure if geographic location makes any difference in pay or not).