thanks for the info

Our TEs don't do so great either, but I feel that it is in part because our PM refuses to send them to carrier academy saying that there is a "national policy" not to send them prior to the completion of their 90 day probation period. I know this is not true from hearing from other stewards and TEs themselves; TEs in other parts of the country are attending academy very early in their 90 days. It only makes sense to teach them the job you want them to do.

anyone hear talk about 5 day delivery

I've been to the academy.

Twice!

See you tomorrow NEC - with "the papers" in hand

chachi /m1665 -- every day for the last 30+ years.

Badleg- you won't see me, I'm in North for the week, but leave the papers in my box in the union office and I will get them!

is it really fair? Article 8

I am not on any list whatsoever except for the well neverrmind.
I get back after 8 hours of work on my assigned route and mgt tells me that I have to go back out (I never do because I have small children that need to be picked up from daycare) I politely remind mgt of my situation and that is that. As for my fellow carriers not on any list do as they are told, the non ODL carriers working OT are rewarded with time and a half pay and possible V time pay. Come to find out that mgt did not exhuast the 10 and 12 hr list do to the fact that they have a 1700 window to get carriers off the street. A grievance is filed and the 10 and 12 hour list carriers that did not work 10 and 12 hours are rewarded with the difference ($$$$) and the carriers who do not desire OT are rewarded with time and a half pay and getting it shoved up their asses by mgt. So who makes out on this deal? This is a totally ridickulous article in the contract. The union guys are somewhat brainwashed into thinking that they re-invented the wheel and have dictated to uncle sam what benefits that letter carriers will be granted, i.e. 40 hr wk, vacation and sick leave, health insurance TSP and so on, and any of you disagree, just ask any other federal employee what their benefits are, then ask them if they are NALC members. I am not bashing NALC but enough is enough the unions made their presence known in the first half of last century, it is not all about money, people have lives, families and other interests outside of the USPS, and not everyone lives beyond their means and has to steal time and take advantage of the system.

NEC - Roger that. Holding something down up there? See you soon. t aka BLB

CommonSense - I must say that your last post resonated with me. Especially the last part about what the NALC can or cannot do.
    
I remember when I was new to this game (the last part of the last millenium: 1980's) I read a union news piece about how, in the old days, if a carrier wanted a DAY OFF they had to find their own replacement and pay 'em to boot! Overtime? Forget it! It was yours, baby, just find some way to get it done.

The NALC fought long and hard and was eventually sucessful in negotiating the 5 day, 40 hour workweek! YAY !!!

So I'm thinking, if that was one of our original success stories, why in hell are there so many union people (officers too) on the stinkin OTD list??? What is wrong with ordering one's life in such a way so that one can turn their nose up at that ODTL and honor that hard-won victory of yore? Jeepers!

Seems unfortunate to me, like a major chink in our armor.

Somebody a whole lot smarter than me once said, "If you can't get the job done in 40 hours per week, there's a problem somewhere....".
AMEN !!!! YOU HEAR THAT, POSTAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT ?!?

/m1671 I gotta tell you, I am a little disgruntled to see you say that OTDL people are not honoring the sacrifices of union workers gone before, particularly union officers?? I'm sorry, do you have something against me maximizing the amount of money I can earn from my job? I "order my life" to make the most money I can while I am still able to earn money. Does that take away work from you who wish to be 8 hour carriers?? Phooey!

Does everyone else wish we would stop the food drive? IMO doing anying to help Potter and the PO rubs me wrong. They get millions of free publicity and we just get screwed. I have volunteered countless hours both as a literacy teacher and youth soccer coach and I make my own food/money contributions to help the poor. If the carriers voted on continuing to have to food drive does anyone think it would pass? If a majority of carriers are against it than it should be dropped.

 Just don't pick it up.

the hammer /m1673 The food we pick up is crucial to hundreds of thousands of people, many children included. I think for one day a year I can put aside everything and just be a part of something decent. I think the majority of carriers feel more like I do than you.

let's vote.

I ain't pick it up because I am not a NALC member! Damn you, Young!

the hammer /m1676 -- in a sense, the carriers have voted. Participation is voluntary, and very few refuse to do it.