NAPUS

1
NAPUS

• Results of the Postmaster Survey
• 2009

2

• Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect?
• 
  MPOO Area 1
• O never (0) 0
• O seldom X (1) 10
• O sometimes X X (2) 20
• O frequently X X (2) 20
• O always X X X X X (5) 50
• Total - (10)
• Comments
• - His motto is Its my way or the highway. He
  needs a class in how to treat people equally.
• - He supports me on an unpopular decision until
  he gets customer complaints and then he does a
  180. No consistency.
• - The best Ive had in 20 years.
• - If all upper management were like our POOM, the
  USPS would be in great shape.
• - Kent is in over his head. He is simply filling
  a position and passing along information. This
  is a position we could easily eliminate with very
  little impact.

3

• 1. Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect?
• 
  
  MPOO Area - 2
• O never X X X
  (3) 21.4
• O seldom X X X X X (5) 35.7
• O sometimes X X X X X X (6) 42.9
• O frequently (0) 0.0
• O always (0) 0.0
• Total - (14)
• Comments
• - We dont have much interaction with him.
• - Have only seen him once.
• - Doesnt call back. Doesnt return leave slips.
• - Doesnt listen, rarely answers messages.
• - He must come out of his office every now and
  then to let people speak with him. Worst POOM we
  have ever had.
• - The worst boss I have worked for in over 20
  years of service.
• - Have only had a few very brief conversations
  with him in past 10 months. Is slow about
  approving eBuy requisitions, signing off on
  3971s, completing necessary steps for pmr vacancy
  postings, to name a few things.
• - I have experienced issues with my MPOO not
  answering emails, waiting over 2 weeks to act on
  ebuy requests and hardly ever returns a phone
  call.

4

• 1. Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect?
• 
  
• 
  MPOO Area - 4
• O never (0) 0.0
• O seldom (0) 0.0
• O sometimes (0) 0.0
• O frequently X (1) 12.5
• O always X X X X X X X (7) 87.5
• Total - (8)
• Comments
• - Sharon is the best MPOO I have had in 23 years
  service as a Postmaster.
• - Our recent acting POOM James McConkey was
  threatening.
• - Glad Sharon is back in her office.
• - Our MPOO is Sharon Parkison. She is a very
  good POOM.
• - I have never been treated badly by Sharon
  Parkison.

5

• Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect?
  MPOO Area - 5
• O never X (1) 16.7
• O seldom (0) 0.0
• O sometimes (0) 0.0
• O frequently X X (2) 33.3
• O always X X X (3) 50.0
• Total - (6)
• Comments
• - Dictates what she wants.
• - Ive had the worst its great to have the best

6

• 1
• Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect?
• POOM Area - 6
• O never X (1) 20.0
• O seldom X X (2) 40.0
• O sometimes X X (2) 40.0
• O frequently (0) 0.0
• O always (0) 0.0
• Total - (5)
• Comments
• - I was not given my EOY evaluation by phone.
  Someone elses name is in my PFP narrative. My
  email to POOM has went unanswered to date!
• - My POOM (Area 6) Mark Allen (in my opinion) is
  the most horrible POOM they could have inflicted
  on Area 6. Dignity and respect not in Mark
  Allens vocabulary. In my opinion Mark is
  worst of the worst!
• - Seems to always talk down to you like you dont
  know anything.
• - Some of the emails that are sent are
  condescending and really should be aimed at the
  guilty party. We in the field would not get by
  with treating our employees as we are sometimes
  treated such as the threats of disciplinary
  action.

7

• 1. Does your MPOO treat you with dignity and
  respect? MPOO Area 7
• O never X (1) 100.0
• O seldom (0) 0.0
• O sometimes (0) 0.0
• O frequently (0) 0.0
• O always (0) 0.0
• Total - (1)
• Comments
• - Did not even respond when I sent her an email
  detailing the hardships caused by me being the
  city sub.

8

• 1. Does your District Manager treat you with
  dignity and respect?
• District 8
• O never (0) 0.0
• O seldom (0) 0.0
• O sometimes X (1) 50.0
• O frequently (0) 0.0
• O always X (1) 50.0
• Total - (2)
• Comments
• - Sends negative emails, never offers to help.

9

• 2. Does your District Manager treat you with
  dignity and respect? District Hawkeye
• O never X X X X X X (6) 13.6
• O seldom X X X X X X X X X X X (11) 25.0
• O sometimes X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X X (21) 47.7
• O frequently X X (2) 4.6
• O always X X X X (4) 9.1
• Total - (44)
• Comments
• - I have very little contact with him, but when I
  do it is always a positive experience.
• - We get rude emails that talk down to us and
  treat us like children.
• - Dictates what he wants!
• - Over this past year, Mr. Morrow has become
  increasingly disrespectful.
• - As long as things are going well.
• - Were all important? However he has no use for
  level 13 and below postmasters. Hmmm!!
• - Are you kidding? His comments make it obvious
  that he treats postmasters like something you
  scrape off the bottom of your shoe.
• - Before the Sylvester Black incident it was
  really bad. Since the incident I dont hear
  anything from him. No more phone calls about how
  bad I am running this office. I like not being
  told daily that I am a failure.
• - I feel threatened by some of his comments that
  he puts out on emails.

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Continued from page 8

• - If we communicated to the crafts as he
  communicates to us, wed be fired. Thats one of
  the reasons hes not respected double standard
  do as I say, not as I do. Definitely not a true
  leader.
• - Feels threaten most times, demeaning, loves to
  put his photo out there.
• - Changed recently.
• - Has sent emails that are counterproductive.
• - Anyone who emails threats does not think much
  of their employees.
• - From what I heard but second hand no as for
  small offices. And if he did not make the
  remarks it was at a meeting at District and the
  remarks should not have been allowed.
• - Doug has never personally disrespected me on an
  individual level but his emails and comments at
  times to all of us have been harsh and
  disrespectful at times.
• - His email regarding pre-count conference
  completion dates I have better things to do and
  it wont be pretty requires an apology to all
  rural delivery postmasters.
• - Recent cases of My way or Highway mentality
  expressed in email communication. I will call
  . . It wont be pretty.
• - Mr. Morrow has toned down his messages in
  recent weeks. Perhaps he is beginning to get the
  message that dignity and respect are needed to
  manage employees.

11

• 3. Is your office micromanaged by upper
  management? District Hawkeye
• O never (0) 0.0
• O seldom X X (2) 4.3
• O sometimes X X X X (4) 8.7
• O frequently X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  (18) 39.1
• O always X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X X (22) 47.9
• Total - (46)
• Comments
• - We check, double check triple check stuff
  that adds up to a lot of wasted time.
• - Cannot make a decision on anything without
  approval.
• - Some micromanagement is expected when programs
  are on the computer.
• - Lets log that we logged the logs of the logged
  logs that we logged after we logged the log of
  the logged logs on the 48th day of Junember when
  the purple cow jumps over a pink polka-dotted
  moon.
• - I can no longer make decisions based on common
  sense. I have to ask permission to run this post
  office even though Im the one who was put here
  to run it.
• - Let us do our jobs. If I mess up/then put me
  on the bad boys list.
• - I do not manage my office The union does.
• - POOM threatens us constantly if we dont comply
  110.
• -Example email message on my Post Office
  failures and all the extra emails.
• - Contrary to popular belief, logs are not the
  answer! Concentrate on the problem offices (DM,
  CR, SC, FT Dodge) and leave the rest of us alone.

12

• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO. MPOO Area - 1
• O inadequate (0) 0.0
• O poor X X X (3) 30.0
• O sufficient X X (2) 20.0
• O good X X X (3) 30.0
• O excellent X X (2) 20.0
• Total - (10)
• Comments
• - I do not believe in sucking up therefore I do
  not rate communication.
• - First, he needs to learn how to spell. Second
  he needs to not echo everything that just came
  from someone else. Third, brevity is fine, but
  one or two words is kind of demeaning/disrespectfu
  l.
• - Could be more clear or more details when he
  replies or sends or forwards.
• - More humane.
• - Frequent emails do not constitute
  communication. Communication is the process of
  exchanging ideas through an interactive process.

13

• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO.
• MPOO Area - 2
• O inadequate X X X X X X X X (8) 61.5
• O poor X X X X (4) 30.8
• O sufficient X (1) 7.7
• O good (0) 0.0
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (13)
• Comments
• - When he first got the POOM job it was almost
  daily threats w/consequences. Last couple of
  months have heard nothing from him. He wont
  return phone calls or respond to emails.
• - Wont answer emails or most questions. Office
  was to be upgraded and no one will respond to
  inquiries as to why it hasnt been. I worked
  hard to get it upgraded. Should they keep their
  word?
• - Doesnt return phone calls or emails. Bldg
  could burn down and wouldnt return your call.
• - Doesnt call back. Doesnt answer emails.
• - We dont receive anything from our MPOO, unless
  we are doing something wrong.
• - He expects prompt responses on our side but we
  never get a phone call returned or an email
  answered.
• - Does not return emails or phone calls.
• - What communication?
• - If it doesnt concern Fort Dodge, forget about
  any communication from him.

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• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO. MPOO Area - 4
• O inadequate (0) 0.0
• O poor (0) 0.0
• O sufficient X (1) 12.5
• O good X X X X (4) 50.0
• O excellent X X X (3) 37.5
• Total - (8)
• Comments
• - She does not just forward everything making me
  read twice. She makes an effort to put her take
  or explanation.
• - Our POOM Sharon Parkison always gets back to
  you.
• - Sharon gives us adequate information without
  inundating us with things that dont really
  matter.

15

• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO.
• MPOO Area - 5
• O inadequate X (1) 16.7
• O poor (0) 0.0
• O sufficient X (1) 16.7
• O good X X (2) 33.3
• O excellent X X (2) 33.3
• Total - (6)
• Comments
• - Only contacts when something is wrong.

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• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO. MPOO Area - 6
• O inadequate X X X (3) 60.0
• O poor (0) 0.0
• O sufficient X X (2) 40.0
• O good (0) 0.0
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (5)
• Comments
• - Havent talked since yearly evaluation,
  received very few emails. Told if dont hear
  anything its a good thing.
• - When he does send out an email you cant
  understand what he is trying to tell you.
• - Communication is not one of the MPOOs strong
  points but it is adequate.

17

• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO. MPOO Area - 7
• O inadequate X
• O poor
• O sufficient
• O good
• O excellent
• Comments

18

• 4. Rate the communication you receive from your
  MPOO. MPOO Area 8
• O inadequate (0) 0.0
• O poor X (1) 50.0
• O sufficient X (1) 50.0
• O good (0) 0.0
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (2)
• Comments
• - Communication is youre not doing your job.

19

• 5. Rate the communication you receive from your
  District Manager. District - Hawkeye
• O inadequate X X X X (4) 8.9
• O poor X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (20) 44.4
• O sufficient X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (14) 31.1
• O good X X X X X (5) 11.1
• O excellent X X (2) 4.5
• Total - (45)
• Comments
• - Keep me informed through videos e-mails.
• - Only contacts when something is wrong.
• - Sometimes in the past I have rarely had
  communication from my District Manager.
• - Short notice.
• - Generally negative communications. Makes it
  difficult to stay positive.
• - I guess hes doing the best he can with what
  hes got to work with.
• - Threats are not professional or appropriate.
• - Not much anymore since the Sylvester incident.
  Now it is all canned info from HQ.
• - It is always negative. The one statement he
  made as to it wont be pretty sounded like a
  threat to me.
• - I feel Doug is threatening.
• - Very rude.

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Continued from page 19

• - When he does communicate it is usually with
  veiled threat and intimidation on email.
• - Its the quality, not the quantity. Threats
  intimidation will not get any more blood from the
  turnip!
• - Threats, demands.
• - Becoming more acidic.
• - Do not like receiving negative threatening
  emails.
• - Doug gives us enough information. It is just
  how he delivers that information that is not
  always effective or appropriate.
• - His email regarding pre-count conference
  completion dates I have better things to do and
  it wont be pretty requires an apology to all
  rural delivery postmasters.
• - A DM is the leader in their respective
  District. They should inspire others rather than
  threaten to fire.
• - Communication is an exchange of ideas through
  an interactive process.

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• 6. Rate the communication you receive from your
  District. District Hawkeye
• O inadequate X X (2) 4.7
• O poor X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (17) 39.5
• O sufficient X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (15) 34.9
• O good X X X X X X X X X (9) 20.9
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (43)
• Comments
• - Only when something is late, wrong or not
  related to size of office.
• - I often do not get return calls or emails,
  sometimes for days after placing calls, sometimes
  never hear back.
• - Not always clear or no attachment.
• - Good but tying into policy, everybody treats
  their own area as THE MOST Important area.
  Everthing isnt the MOST important.
• - When receiving emails about a new process
  dont start until youve received at least 3
  emails and the bugs have been worked out.
• - It is always negative. They need to take the
  same training as we did as far as email manners.
  No caps/no red lines or underlined.
• - We get to many acronyms emails that arent
  helpful.
• - Some good. Some bad.
• - Rural route mail count 2009 was the worst.
  District needs to get it right the 1st time.
• - We dont need pencils pushers with only 1 area
  of expertise to tell us how to do our jobs.
  Without us our operations they would be out of
  a job.

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Continued from page 22

• - All gloom doom and we are mindless nobodies
  should be robots and bow down.
• - Ops support has been a joke, with mail count.
  They are always changing things in the middle of
  count.
• - Lost the ability to call someone who knows.
• - We all know its a joke.
• - Some of the District personnel are helpful and
  friendly.
• - Almost too much sometimes. Dont have time to
  read it all and really absorb it.
• - Example My office is currently attempting to
  deal with pmr vacancy/hiring. Potential
  applicants have had difficulties getting into the
  system to apply dont know when theyve been
  successful at submitting an app postmasters are
  not informed of whats happening and when and
  when it gets to the point where applicants can
  actually be interviewed, apparently it is up to
  the postmasters to inform applicants of when,
  where, send the selected person to drug screening
  facility, do the fingerprinting, etc, etc. All of
  this is occurring with only hit-and-miss
  direction from district. No comprehensive
  leadership. I am aware of a number of
  postmasters, and potential applicants, who are
  EXTREMELY frustrated with this system.
• - Usually too much fluff. If it concerns an
  important issue, usually too late. For example
  the message about EEO posters supposed to be
  completed 2/28. Got message 3/10.
• - Communication is more than emails. The
  district is extremely poor at returning calls in
  a timely matter.

23

• 7. Rate the training you receive to perform your
  duties as postmaster. District Hawkeye
• O inadequate X X X X X X X X X X (10) 21.7
• O poor X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (20) 43.5
• O sufficient X X X X X X X X X X X X (12) 26.1
  
• O good X X X X (4) 8.7
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (46)
• Comments
• - Only get training if it helps to get the
  district manager or MPOO their raise.
• - I am not a new PM so dont need as much.
  However, change necessitates my need for training
  which is sometimes inadequate. Disks can be
  good, but not meet every type of training. We
  learn from others as well and I miss having that
  aspect.
• - Not good on the computer.
• - Net meeting/the other ways we conduct training
  currently doesnt cut it. The rural mail count
  is just an example. Also, making changes 3 weeks
  into a RR mail count is hardly sound policy.
• - The process is very unorganized.
• - Worthless
• - We train window clerks for 2 weeks or did
  anyway nonqualified trainers, training new
  postmasters. I have never received training on
  TACS learned by calling other PMs.
• - I think there is too much training done over
  the computer.
• - Its the same stuff year after year.
• - To much stuff that isnt useful. When we have
  something we could use training on they put it on
  the computer and the program wont open.

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Continued from page 23

• - Sufficient but boring not updated from 3
  years past.
• - USPS training is a joke. You cant train
  someone via e-mail.
• - Training is either too wordy or after the fact.
  Example The parcel return service program.
  That was not good training.
• - DVDs computer training will never replace
  interactive, face to face training.
• - Changes all the time there is no lesson
  plan all needs to be met way b-4 really due.
• - Great from NAPUS, but poor from the district.
• - What training? It is all cancelled.
• - The Training Dept has to be one of the most
  unorganized.
• - Training offered is many times useless as it is
  just going through the motions. Or it covers a
  broad range and does not apply to your operation.
• - The way we receive and have to maintain our
  training is poor at best. I can hardly wait for
  this new program to roll out making our
  responsibilities even greater!!
• - Continual so-called training on lead, asbestos,
  harassment, and other topics DO NOT TEACH ME HOW
  TO BE A POSTMASTER!!!!!!!!!!!
• - I was given 2 days OJT from OIC on how to run
  an IRT. Never touched one before I was signing
  for the office. Training since has been worse
  watch DVD on computer between customers, nice.
  Retention is nill and customers think Im
  watching TV.
• - Training in the Hawkeye District is centered in
  yearly requirements. The training does very
  little to provide the tools needed by Postmasters
  to operate their offices. The training is also
  disorganized. Perhaps if a comprehensive plan
  was issued with a complete package the program
  would be successful.

25

• 8. Rate the workload in your office.
  District - Hawkeye
• O overwhelming X X X X X X X X X (9) 19.5
• O difficult X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (14) 30.4
• O average X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (17) 37.0
• O reasonable X X X X X (5) 10.9
• O low X (1) 2.2
• Total - (46)
• Comments
• - Difficult but manageable.
• - We do a lot of unnecessary extras.
• - Took all help budget away!
• - I am asked to do manager, clerk carrier jobs
  all in the same day.
• - It seems very inconsistent- way too much or way
  too little.
• - Currently my office is short 1 city carrier 2
  clerks who retired from the VERA.
• - The 11 I am in now o.k. the 15s I worked in
  with no clerk going to a PMR ridiculous when
  requiring more logs, scans and reports.
• - In smaller offices (13) the A.M. is all you
  have to do it all. Janitorial, working window,
  dispatching mail, receiving mailings, computer
  work, training on the computer, etc. Management
  dont realize what it is like out in the field.
• - We have no replacements for sickness or
  injuries.
• - Instead of mail volume there is more computer
  busy work. Logs are busy work. All the extra
  emails are busy work.
• - Difficult on a good day. The buck stops with
  us. We filter all the B.S. from HQ, District,
  Area and positively relay it to our employees and
  customers. We interact with craft, public,
  peers, and higher ups and answer to all of them.

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Continued from page 25

• - Some days are just horrible. Seems like they
  want us to donate our time.
• - District instructs you on what to do.
• - I was just downgraded from a 15 to a 13.
• - Having a very rough time staying on top of it
  all. Dont feel like I am EAVER ahead of the
  game. Always behind. Always stressed.
• - Handling the mail is a piece of cake. Its all
  the reports (especially when youre not
  exceptionally handy with the computer) that are
  so time-consuming and frustrating.
• - Function 4 done in this office 8/07 calling for
  a clerk. PTF clerk retired 6/08 and replacement
  denied twice. Been working 6 days a week for 9
  months as an exempt Postmaster. Id like to see
  those in the District Office put up with that.
• - The workload does not consist of mail volume
  but rather reports. The computer has generated
  additional duties instead of relieving the
  workload.

27

• 9. Rate the budget you have for your office.
  District - Hawkeye
• O unobtainable X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X X X X X X X X X X X (28) 66.7
• O difficult X X X X X X (6) 14.3
• O average X X X X X (5) 11.9
• O reasonable X X X (3) 7.1
• O excellent (0) 0.0
• Total - (42)
• Comments
• - Budget does not account for all of my full time
  employees, just what they feel I have earned. In
  particular, I have a full time custodian and only
  budgeted 16 hrs/week. Grievance settlement
  allowed regular carrier on pd hrs for 9 months
  getting paid, but not working. Also not in
  budget.
• - Small office just the new rate chip puts us
  over.
• - If office goes over budget by 1 min PM does not
  and did not get a raise.
• - I have no input or discussion. It is not
  addressed much even during mid-year reviews and
  final evaluations.
• - You cant make people buy stamps, especially in
  this economy. Ive supported ways to save hours,
  but that goes unheeded. So, until then, I either
  break the law or get O.T. everyday!
• - It keeps getting cut all for saving the P.O.
  The opportunity to keep NPA unattainable.
• - once again the 11 okay except not getting any
  hours to count credits. To be SOX compliance.
  Level 15s were difficult.
• - How can we dream of meeting our budget with all
  we need to print off the computer and the stuff
  we need gets denied by the POOM.
• - Dont pay any attention to it.
• - HA! HA! What budget?

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Continued from page 27

• - The budget is a joke. I do not even have base
  hrs to pay my employees.
• - No input recession in full force hrs are
  reduced revenue goal utterly impossible so
  who cares? We do our best every day DESPITE
  everything else!
• - We are all set up to fail have no input into
  anything.
• - Gave up years ago on this.
• - Unobtainable for the 4 years I have been in
  this office.
• - We do not have a say in our budget. Besides
  the budget gets adjusted throughout the year so
  there is no way to really judge where you are at.
  A small office has a very minimal budget so each
  time more forms are required or procedures are
  changed you need new supplies or to print new
  forms which all costs more money. I say do away
  with NPA and give us back cost of living and
  periodic raises or make all in the postal service
  accountable to the NPA.
• - My work hour and retail budgets are not
  attainable unless I get rid of my clerk, quit
  delivering mail occasionally and literally drag
  customers in off the street and force them to
  spend money in my office.
• - I guess. Ive never had TRAINING on how to
  decipher the financial reports.
• - What budget. I am never consulted on any
  budget.
• - Postmasters are held accountable for their
  budgets but have no input in these budgets. Why
  cant a Postmaster have the opportunity to submit
  a budget request and work with the MPOO to adjust
  these requests as part of the team?

29

• 10. Rate the staffing level in your office.
  District - Hawkeye
• O inadequate X X X X X X X X X (9) 19.6
• O poor X X X X X X X (7) 15.2
• O sufficient X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (17) 37.0
• O good X X X X X X X X X X (10) 21.7
• O excellent X X X (3) 6.5
• Total - (46)
• Comments
• - Denied a request for a T.E. Put in hiring
  request to fill vacant regular position. Request
  denied with comment to request a T.E.
• - Just a PMR and myself.
• - Took all help budget away a couple of years
  ago.
• - There is no one to borrow either.
• - Sufficient when all are here. If anyone gets
  sick or injured we are in dire straits.
• - 1-man office sometimes its good, sometimes
  its not.
• - One city route one city carrier. Since June
  2008 I have to carry the city route when he is
  sick or on annual. I have carried the city route
  10 times since June 2008, including 3 times
  during rural mail count.
• - Short 1 reg city carrier 2 reg clerks. All
  due to retirement.
• - Once again I have a PMR so until I lose her
  good. Level 15s with no clerk, not fixing hours
  poor.
• - We have no replacements for sickness or
  injuries.
• - No relief for city carriers since Npv 08.

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Continued from page 29

• - At this time. PMRs need to get more in wages
  because its hard to keep PMRs.
• - We need redistribution I challenge anyone in
  District to do my job for 1 yr with my staffing
  level 18, 1 PTF clerk, 1 PTF carrier, full time
  carrier gone as OIC, 4 rural routes, 2 city
  routes.
• - We are at full staff unlike other offices.
• - Agreed it is that the workload is going away.
• - I still have a PTF Clerk at this time.
• - Right now short, lost a PMR and the last time
  it took two years to get another one. They
  should at least get pay equal to a rural sub.
  The PMR has to know as much as the postmaster
  they are replacing and usually only work a couple
  of hours each week. Too much responsibility and
  not enough hours or pay for this position.
• - I am one of the lucky ones . For now anyway.
  I have a clerk due to retire in a few years . .
  ask me again then how well I am doing
• - I need a PMR !!!!!!!
• - Function 4 done in this office 8/07 calling for
  a clerk. PTF clerk retired 6/08 and replacement
  denied twice. Been working 6 days a week for 9
  months as an exempt postmaster. Id like to see
  those in the District office put up with that.
• - At the present time staffing in my office is
  good but once the PTF Clerk leaves I will be
  working with a PMR. As a Postmaster I will make
  this work but my workload will increase. The
  availability of help in the field is at a
  critical level. This is an issue that needs
  addressing.

31

• 11. Rate the level of stress in your office.
  District Hawkeye
• O overwhelming X X X X X X X X X X
  X (11) 24.4
• O difficult X X X X X X X X X X X (11) 24.4
  
• O average X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
  X (19) 42.2
• O reasonable X X X X (4)
  9.0
• O low (0)
• Total - (45)
• Comments
• - Forcing clerks to go to Fort Dodge at all hours
  of day. Example Ft. Dodge 0230 to 0430 drive 48
  miles report to home office at 0630 to 1230.
• - We are told we are responsible for everything
  always. We have excuses while plants have
  reasons.
• - There are too many issues/problems. It is a
  case of the straw that broke the camels back. I
  can handle a lot, but I am asked to do too much.
  I have worked in the district office on detail
  and did not have near the stress as I have in my
  office.
• - Enough said.
• - The whole respect thing comes into play. Am I
  going to get fired if this isnt done on time or
  not correct without proper training? How am I to
  make budget? How am I to handle this situation?
  Call my POOM to get yelled at?? So stress is
  present.
• - Postmaster cant wait until she retires.
• - I live at EAP counseling. How long will it be
  until something happens?
• - It can be difficult at times but usually I
  manage through it.
• - Overwhelming on a good day.
• - POOM keeps putting more and more things on my
  plate. If I say no, then I am in trouble.

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Continued from page 31

• - The stress comes from a Rural Route Count
  computer program that wont work trying to
  figure out how to upload/download/correct 4003
  online trying to figure out how to fill out the
  security survey online, and know HOW to save it
  .. then be able to retrieve it next time you need
  to do it . . . etc
• - And rather than address the issues causing the
  stress, we see articles in the HNN on how to
  manage it.
• - The stress level in the USPS is at a critical
  level. I am finding each and every day more
  difficult to deal with.

33

• 12. Rate the level of your morale.
  District Hawkeye
• O alarming X (1) 6.2
• O low X X X X X X X (7) 43.8
• O average X X X X X X (6) 37.6
• O high X (1) 6.2
• O excellent X (1) 6.2
• Total - (16)
• Comments
• - We are small. We dont matter. However if we
  all didnt scan or rpt we would count. We
  still give service.
• - It seems like the Postmasters are always
  getting dinged for something constantly.
• - A year ago it would have been excellent, sign
  of the time.
• - Frustrated by the inconsistent messages.
• - I wont let my job interfere with my well
  being. You have to be ever hopeful that things
  will change in the right direction.
• - I am not on fire but I try to stay positive as
  not to drag my help down.
• - LOW, low, low
• - There are very few times in my adult life where
  I have felt so disrespected by those above me and
  my peers. Each office is truly alone out here,
  at the mercy of the OIG, a financial audit team
  or worse yet having your staff retire and not be
  replaced. There are two main reasons Im still
  here 1) Im not a quitter and 2) I desperately
  need the job to support my wife and 7 children.
• - Morale continues to drop as Postmasters
  continue to be the only employees held to task.

34
Additional Issues

• Additional issues District - Hawkeye
• - Hiring is awful, nearly impossible. We need
  Human Resources/personnel!
• - We need to do away with people who dont touch
  mail or sell stamps in Des Moines and other
  levels. They are not contributors. We dont
  need all of these silly programs to provide busy
  work which means absolutely nothing and
  contributes nothing to the bottom line. I dont
  need statistics to tell me mail volume is
  declining.
• - Mail count (1) computer tools great (2) most
  unorganized count ever.
• - I feel as Postmasters we are verbally abused by
  emails we receive. If we treated our employees
  and customers as they treat us, where would we
  be?
• -I want to retire from the USPS I love serving
  customers, but the doom gloom, plus poor
  leadership from HQ, Area District will be the
  downfall of the USPS. From HQ on down upper
  management should be require to work in the
  field, a level 18 with no supervisor to do the
  work, for a full year at least once every 3 years
  to see what its really like how their programs
  ideas impact us.
• - We are not allowed to think, use common sense.
  Waiting for your phone call (The it wont be
  pretty I plan to hang up)