‘Overtime breeds incredible stress’

Letter carrier sees post office for sale in Queens, N.Y. WW photo: Charlie Twist

Regarding developments in the Post Office, Charlie Twist, a 10-year Bronx letter carrier and assistant shop steward in Branch 36 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, told Workers World:

Of the 34 facilities targeted in New York City, 17 are in the Bronx, the poorest urban area in the country. This amounts to a racist attack and an attack on all poor people. So as early as last fall, I was active with community organizations going to hearings on this issue. I saw how people on my route were reacting and saw a need to speak up at the hearing and fight the closing.

At work, there has been a hiring freeze for the past five years. The only people hired at all are given one-year contracts and don’t get benefits. Right now, certain routes won’t be covered on a given day. Instead of hiring a new worker to fill slots, management has us work overtime, even if this means being paid double time.

With centers closed, the mail for the Bronx is processed in Manhattan. This might delay our last trip because we have to wait for the last load of mail — again increasing overtime. It takes an exhausting physical toll and creates a lot of stress. Management has unrealistic expectations, increasing the work load and at the same time telling us to come back earlier.

There’s a lot of verbal conflict with supervisors. But then, everyone goes back to work. The stress is incredible. The workers are beginning to think that management is purposely sabotaging the whole mail delivery process in order to destroy the Post Office.

Now, because of the angry response and resistance in New York City and around the country, the Post Office was forced to declare a moratorium on any closures for the rest of the year. Now, we need to go on the offensive and on March 17, the 42nd anniversary of the 1970 strike vote, hit the streets.

My union local backs the action. Some co-workers said they’d call in sick to join the protest on March 17, despite threats from management. Some Manhattan shop stewards met with management, who because they wanted to avoid people calling in sick, agreed they could start their day early, so they could still join the action.

This is just one of many activities planned. There are postal workers and locals around the country that want to take action nationally.