Welcome to 1997 ...

... and a new look for Postal Life. If you are wondering why we changed something with which you've grown familiar over the last two years, the answer is simple: it's for you, our readers. We want to make Postal Life more reader friendly, interesting and useful. To that end, you will notice we've created a bold new look for our name and our department headings and have given them a "family" look throughout the magazine. That look is in contrast to the more creative appearance of cover and feature stories. The contents page is clearer as well, offering more information about what you'll find in each issue. We hope you find reading the magazine more enjoyable. Let us know what you think. We'd like to hear from you.

Pamela York, Editor

Injuries are real

After reading the article on workers' compensation ("Down but not out," September/October 1996), I can only assume the system works better for some people than for others. I was injured on the job 13 years ago but am back to work under the rehabilitation program. When your injury is not as visible as Mr. Holman's loss of his legs, you are not always believed.

I agree that fraudulent claims cause problems, but employees with legitimate claims should not be harassed. I have always been proud to work for the Postal Service and hope to continue until retirement. I only hope those years are not filled with harassment from departments set up to "help" injured employees.

Betty Schaeffer

General Clerk

Reading, PA

Who's listening

Is anyone listening to the "voice of the employee?" Our office recently installed aluminum ramps to access the trailers where the rural carriers work. Pushing carts on these ramps creates an annoying, high-decibel noise. I've suggested different wheels to lower this noise which I feel may be harmful to employees.

Managers disagreed saying the wheels were too costly. Their solution is to shut the doors. So much for the voice of the employee.

J.C. Phillips

Rural Carrier

Sun City, CA

In dialogue, I hear frustration coming from craft and supervisors directed toward upper management and the policies they institute.

Decisions often are made without consulting those affected by them. The bigger the decision, the more removed the decision maker. Choices involving hundreds or thousands of employees are made by people in distant offices who haven't handled mail in years, if ever. Ask those doing the work daily. They often know best what to do.

David Horsley

Small Parcel & Bundle Sorter Clerk

Salt Lake City, UT

Postal pride

I am proud to be a postal employee. If you hire contractors, though, you lose this pride. We care about our jobs, but will they? Take a look at the quality of work done at Valujet.

Kathie Vincent

Human Resource Specialist

Manchester, NH

More on harassment

I foresee a short postal career for the letter writer who thinks sexual harassment isn't a big problem (Dialogue, November/December 1996). I'm sure he won't have a problem with his wife having sex with her boss to get ahead in her career, or a supervisor or co-worker who gropes his daughter at her job. He can just tell her to "grow up."

It's amazing that people find nothing wrong with their own or others' behavior until a loved one becomes a recipient of it. Hint: If it would upset you to have a family member treated that way, then don't do that to anyone else.

Sheryl L. Horst

Postmaster

Uniondale, IN

If sexual harassment is going on at the main post office in Greensboro, NC, I believe it's going on nationwide but just isn't being reported.

I think we need to quit talking about sexual harassment among ourselves and start doing something about it. If regular measures don't work, consider a substantial lawsuit against the perpetrator, not the Postal Service. Maybe that will get the person's attention.

Rick Greene

Distribution Clerk

Greensboro, NC

Your article was a long time in coming to print. I also had uncomfortable situations with my boss. I hope the article has made others aware of how emotionally painful it is and how hard it is to forget.

Vickey Snyder

Window Clerk

Vinton, VA

Delivery redesign

Who is responsible for the lack of evaluated routes on the city (carrier) side ("The Real Story Behind ...," July/August 1996)? I heard it was Vince Sombrotto, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. If this is true, I think all carriers should be informed so they know where he stands on the issue.

M. Davis

Letter Carrier

Toledo, OH

Pulling together

So often I read negative remarks from postal employees, or see craft against craft, arguing over petty things. In our office, clerks, carriers and the postmaster are very close. But it wasn't until the week of Thanksgiving that we realized what a "family" we really are. Rural Carrier Associate Diane Pipgrass was killed in a motor- vehicle accident while on duty. The sudden death of this lovely woman has affected her family, her "postal" family and her community, all of whom mourn her loss.

It's time for the negative people to stop feeling sorry for themselves. Time is so short. Let's start acting like a team and work together.

Holly Sharpe

Distribution/Window Clerk

Red Creek, NY

Uniform woes

I would still like to know why postal uniforms cost so much. Our uniforms are overpriced. Please do something because our uniform allowance doesn't buy a lot at the "uniform store."

P. Santos

Letter Carrier

Los Angeles, CA

One last word about postal uniforms: The allotment is generous, but vendors ask $70 for squeaky shoes, $100 for a jacket that snags your hair and $7 per pair for simple white cotton socks. Why can't companies like Wal-Mart and Kmart sell postal uniforms?

Lloyd Allan

Letter Carrier

Bellflower, CA

Fear poor service

In my opinion, the biggest waste of money in the Postal Service is the marketing department. The cost has to exceed any benefit. We have the business. All the "cute" commercials do is support the average person's perception about more government waste. Our mission statement for the 21st century should be, "Don't fear competition; fear poor service." And then, it will have to be through each employee's efforts that customers see good service. People make the difference in a successful organization, not policies.

Daniel R. Tuggle

Rural Letter Carrier

Chicago Heights, IL

Desired service

I was very disappointed when they canceled the pilot project last year to allow bulk mailers to saturate "carrier routes" with a simplified address (postal customer).

When some of my postal customers realize they must first buy an expensive list that is in line-of-travel or walk-sequence order, they decline to mail. Instead they find a less expensive medium or hire an alternative delivery service.

It is not too late to reconsider the benefits of this proposal. All customers want is saturation mailing, and they want us to provide the service.

Loran Joens

Bulk Mail Technician

Sioux City, IA

Talking to customers

I agree with Richard Harjo's comments (Contents, September/October 1996) that his favorite part of his job is talking with customers.

But my supervisor, who has timed me talking with customers, does not.

If I am not spending more than two to three minutes talking to a customer, I'm not taking overtime due to the "chit-chat" on the street and I have no customer complaints, then why is postal supervision complaining?

Rebecca Aldridge

Letter Carrier

Anaheim, CA

Tell Gerold Henderson (Dialogue, September/October 1996) that the Domestic Mail Manual does charge higher prices for those bulk mailers who do not automate their mail. That is what Classification Reform is all about. (See business on page 14.) But the Postal Service sure missed the boat when it did not tack on a surcharge for letter-size "open ends" that are unable to be processed by machine.

We also could save money by limiting bulk mail acceptance to those facilities that generate enough revenue to accommodate a full-time bulk mail technician.

Lori Williams

Clerk

Greeley, CO