Marvin Runyon - Postmaster general
U.S. Postal Service
L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC 20005
Mr. Runyon,
I write to you for myself, and my members of Local 10 1 APWU, Scranton, PA. Contract negotiations begin in approximately five months. I have read where you are already posturing that we USPS workers are 30% overpaid compared to the private sector. I ask what "sector" you refer to? Employees of UPS, Emery, Federal Express, and other carriers AVERAGE over one dollar more per hour than a top step Level-6 Clerk. They also enjoy benefit packages that are proportionately better than ours!
We USPS workers are forced to work ungodly hours and irregular shifts. Many of us do not have any weekends off all year long! The effect of these ungodly shifts takes its toll on our personal lives in physical, social, and psychological difficulties for each and every Postal worker. We are also forced to work on mechanized and automated machines that are ergonomic abominations. Many of us suffer aches, pains, fatigue, and serious injuries as a result!
We have endured these ill effects and been part of a national work force that has propelled the USPS to the highest service standards and profits in history. The USPS is the fastest, surest, and cheapest postal service in the industrialized world! Our reward is your posturing that we should be cut 30% in pay and benefits. WHY?
During the UPS strike, most of us worked above and beyond to maintain service standards and schedules. This was done all over the country! We received picnic sandwiches and pizza as thanks. Federal Express employees received approximately $220 per person for their efforts! WHY NOT US? WHY do you ignore and refuse to reward workers who have attained the highest standards for the USPS EVER? Where is your responsibility to YOUR workforce? We have achieved unheard of results in spite of tremendous obstacles and at the cost of normalcy of life!
YOUR payback to us is to contract out Priority mail! YOU are either afraid of facing the challenge of competition, or quietly destroying the USPS from within. YOU are subsidizing Emery - a competitor -- by giving them plenty of equipment that is Postal property. BMCs, ERCs, racks, sacks, etc. Will this equipment EVER come back to the USPS? Or is it a gift?
I am publicly calling upon you to show accountability and act responsibly to the workers who have demonstrated their ability to compete and excel for the USPS. We, the workers, want a just contract with decent and fair raises and a stop to the contracting out of our work! YOU must act fairly and responsibly towards us! WE HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO SUCH A CONTRACT!
If you refuse to give the just merits properly earned by YOUR workers; I will consider you a man devoid of quality, honor, or dignity. YOUR workers have given a lot -- both in effort and personal sacrifice for YOUR Service! I ask you to reciprocate with a fair contract. There is a saying - "One hand washes the other." We have cleaned you up very well. NOW it's your turn! I request a written response. I will post it on the Union Bulletin Board next to this letter.
I STRONGLY urge each and every reader to write to Runyon to ask for and DEMAND a decent contract. Force some accountability on the Postmaster General. YOUR future is at stake!
Kevin Gallagher
General President
Reprinted from "101 Facts"
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