On November 14th Postal Unionist across the country observed Accountability Day on the sixth anniversary of the tragic murder-suicide in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Letter Carriers in the Royal Oak Office instituted this Observation as a way of highlighting the fact that abusive management and harassment led to the horrible incident.  They saw it as a way to also show that managers are not being held accountable for their role in precipitating the events and that similar circumstances persist everywhere in the Postal Service.

At the 1996 National Convention, the APWU went on record giving its support to November 14 as Accountability Day.  The NALC Presidents and the Fall Meeting of Mailhandlers' locals in 1996 endorsed the Activities.  In postal facilities in most states, postal unionists paid their respects to the fallen postal workers.  They reaffirmed their determination to get Postmaster General Marvin Runyon to take action against the hundreds of abusive managers that make work life miserable for our brothers and sisters.  Union members at various locals wore black armbands and buttons.  This paraphernalia represented workers demand for respect!

The National APWU program to expose abusive managers continues.  Your local has forms available that employees can use to identify managers who are abusive.  Employees will be required to provide details and have the form certified by the local President.  This program may not be enough, but it is a good start on the road to flushing out bad supervisors.  Postal workers deserve respect!  We must demand and struggle for it.  Hold management accountable!

Ajamu Gordon Dillahunt

Excerpted from an article in the Nov. 1997  "Rank and Filer"

This site was created by Jack Ball.
Please address all comments and corrections to him at apwuqcy@adams.net