The Post Office

Originally Posted by miked

Very, very strange management techniques, it truely makes no sense to me but it seems to be traditional.



The postal workers I met in the sixties told me that the sorting room, where the would put togeter their mail for the route that day, had fake walls. They said the room had a hidden walkway that the managers could watch them through peep holes. One told me that the manager would follow him on his walking route and hide behind bushes trying to catch him doing something wrong. They must get promoted by the number of employees they are able to write up. So the post office has significant problems besides the regulations put on them from congress. Mike.

Yep we have that same walkway in our building. They have a tinted viewing window about every 6 feet so you cant see if anyone is up there. Also the supervisors do hide out on your route and try to catch you doing things worng. They also will walk with you on your route and nag you about how slow your going and what not also.

Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

Yep we have that same walkway in our building. They have a tinted viewing window about every 6 feet so you cant see if anyone is up there. Also the supervisors do hide out on your route and try to catch you doing things worng. They also will walk with you on your route and nag you about how slow your going and what not also.

I don't think the public even knows a little about what goes on in the post office. I am anti-union(I have my personal reasons) but the postal workers union is missing the boat with all this. They should be shouting from the roof tops what has been going on at the post office. It makes me question if the union isn't in the bag. Maybe more conflict leads to loyalty from the union members rather than solving the problems. Mike.

Originally Posted by miked

... It makes me question if the union isn't in the bag. Maybe more conflict leads to loyalty from the union members rather than solving the problems. Mike.

You probably didn't realize it, but you hit the nail on the head. Supervisors are recruited from the ranks of the union stewards. I was an effective steward and resisted the overtures for a long time. They finally made an offer "too good to refuse". I accepted and resigned as steward. The day before I was to start as supervisor (and at the end of the shift) I was told "Sorry but I was told by upper management to select a woman as I haven't had a female supervisor". I was to stay as a carrier. Since I'd accepted the offer, I was barred from being a steward again. The next steward was more acceptable to management.