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Louisiana teachers' union concerned about educators' future; Supreme Court hears arguments in Trump immunity case; Court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility; Landmark NE agreement takes a proactive approach to CO2 pipeline risks.

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"Squad" member Summer Lee wins her primary with a pro-peace platform, Biden signs huge foreign aid bills including support for Ukraine and Israel, and the Arizona House repeals an abortion ban as California moves to welcome Arizona doctors.

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The urban-rural death divide is widening for working-age Americans, many home internet connections established for rural students during COVID have been broken, and a new federal rule aims to put the "public" back in public lands.

Postal Employees Say They're Fighting 'Toxic' Work Environment

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Monday, May 1, 2023   

Today is International Workers Day, and in the U.S. postal workers say they're struggling to keep up amid staffing shortages and a work environment they call "toxic" at some facilities - including in Minnesota.

Last year, Congress approved the Postal Service Reform Act, which was designed to help the agency overcome decades of financial losses - as its leadership ushered in a decade-long improvement and streamlining initiative.

Despite efforts to bolster the system, Dave Cook - the president of the St. Paul-area local of the American Postal Workers Union - said morale is low.

"Employees are pushed to the brink - both emotionally and mentally," said Cook, "you know, the way they are treated and talked to by their supervisor and/or managers."

The union describes it as a "culture of bullying and toxicity." Cook said like other industries right now, understaffed facilities are making the situation worse.

Over the past few days, postal unions have held events where workers were encouraged to speak up and demand better conditions.

In an e-mailed statement, the Postal Service said the union's position is "absent of anything based in reality."

The agency also contended that over the past two years, it has worked with the union and management associations to address matters such as workplace safety and career training and advancement.

Meanwhile, Cook said what's happening behind the scenes is leading to service delays at postal retail locations, where staff can sometimes deal with hostile customers.

"And we understand the frustration of the public, we get it," said Cook. "But, yes, employees are often subjected to irate customers, based on issues that they have no control over."

Cook said Postal Service jobs have good pay and benefits, but he points to a turnover rate of nearly 60%, both locally and nationally.

Union leaders worry that as the 10 year improvement plan continues to take shape, staff will be under even greater pressure to produce results.

As part of its response, the Postal Service said it has converted 125,000 pre-career workers to full-time career employees since the fall of 2020.



Disclosure: American Postal Workers Union contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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