Why can’t this damn union do anything?

I was asked this question this morning by a steward. He was upset because he disagreed with what management was wearing while doing a route inspection. The supervisor was wearing shorts and a golf shirt. If I were carrying on July 7th, I’d be wearing shorts and a golf shirt. I’ve know of literally 100s of 3999s being done and the supervisor usually wore clothing suited for the weather. Was it professional? No. But I can bet you that the 3999 that was done was probably screwed up too.

This is 2010, not 1923. In 1923 a phone call to the union could get a person’s knee broken.

Anyone who says the union isn’t doing anything has never spent a week down here. The union helps our members EVERY day.

He complained that the PO was being run like crap, really, even the new TE’s can tell you that. The union has no control as to how management runs the Postal Service. The only thing the union can do is make sure that they run it into the ground within the rules of the contract.

It’s obvious that steward has never read my articles. I complain every month about either the PO or the people that run it.

I really wish we could do more to control how management runs things. Believe it or not, there are arbitration decisions that says management has the "right to mismanage".

Every time I’m told that the union isn’t doing anything or that if we can’t do this or do that, they’re going to get out of the union, I really have to bite my tongue. I won’t even write what I’d like to say to them.

I know that one of my jobs is to be "vented" on and I don’t take it personally. I’ve only had one personal attack and that was months ago.

The best way to make sure that you won’t have a job to retire from is for everyone to get out of the union.

If everyone gets out of the union, the Post Office will take care of the employees. They will make sure that you retire after, say 20 years. You will get raises 4 times a year and everyone will get at least 20 sick days per year and 5 to 7 weeks vacation.

There will be no more discipline and if you get hurt on the clock, they will take care of all paperwork to make sure the doctor bills are paid on time and that you lose no pay.

Yes, if everyone got out of the union, this world would be a beautiful and peaceful place. I could just go on and on about how nice things could be.

Please do not quote me on the last few paragraphs, I just took my back pain medicine and it’s kicking in.