Category: Articles

Putting the Organization First?

When I returned from our national convention in San Diego at the end of August, I left with the feeling that we would start fresh with a new resolve to work together. We had changes on the executive board, both at the resident officer level and on the rest of the board. While things didn’t go exactly as I would have liked it, nevertheless like many of us, I felt that we would move on and move forward.

I was looking forward in some respects to the fall board meeting to see how things would go. Well, they say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. One of our president’s first acts was to establish committees to oversee aspects of NAPS operations – the very same committees that his opponent in the election had campaigned on. When the idea was first proposed by Jay Killackey at the end of 2013, I thought it was a great idea. It turns out; our president thought it was a good idea too!

But, the plan first laid out over a year ago wasn’t totally copied as I was to learn during the board meeting. When the committee chairmanships were announced, as a regional vice president I was placed on the SWC committee as a member while our own New York Area vice president, Jimmy Warden was assigned to be the chairman of the SWC committee.

I wasn’t the only person on the executive board that was surprised by this announcement. After the announcement was made, numerous members of the executive board approached me on the side and asked me what I had done to the president that he would disrespect me so severely? After all, I have been on all of the prior SWC committees and am probably the most knowledgeable delivery person on the current executive board. I am the most senior person that is left from the prior SWC Committees.

Not being someone to stay quiet when I get insulted, I challenged this decision by our president. The response was a phony affront that the president wanted to have Jimmy Warden head this important committee because he was still an active postal employee while I am retired. Keep in mind that three of the five regional vice presidents are also retired and the two other retired regional vice presidents are the heads of other committees.

I believe that this appointment was made to place a wall between Jimmy Warden and I and the close knit team we have been since I took over for Andy Sozzi and Jimmy Warden became the New York area vice president. The day after this insulting action took place, and he got so much negative feedback from me and other board members, our president asked me for a private meeting where he then offered me the chairmanship. His decision was like having an MDO report to a supervisor. Yes, we do have a chain of command in NAPS, just like the Postal Service.

After the way I was disrespected the prior day, I declined this feeble offer and advised the president if he thought so little of my position or past contributions in his original selection, it was too far gone for him now to try to appease how he disrespected me in front of the entire executive board.

I have to say that I was also concerned about other discussions held that didn’t seem to make the minutes of the meeting, where the resident officers floated the idea of selling NAPS Headquarters and then rent out our current space from the individuals who would purchase our beloved building. Why Vince Palladino had to have been rolling over in his grave like a rotisserie as he looked down on our meeting from above. Do you know anyone who sells their property and then leases it from the new owners?

For those of you who come to my website for information, I have to say – things aren’t going well in our organization when things like this are happening. Our president won his election by a mandate of a margin of two to one. This was a huge win but now our president seems more intent on excommunicating those who did not support him rather than using his mandate to lead this organization to greater heights.

At the same time certain other members of the board are being singled out in the same manner as I am, NAPS isn’t getting anywhere. There is less information being disseminated to the board and the membership. We haven’t received any word from NAPS headquarters about how our 2014 NPA will turn out. The Mailhandlers just got over a $2,000 annual increase in their pay and nearly half of our members are going to go without a pay increase for another year.

Like many of you, I give everything I have to my job as your regional vice president. Something I will continue to do . It is a good thing that NAPS doesn’t have a VOE survey. Many of you are dissatisfied with the current state of NAPS. I will continue to do everything I can to remain diligent and put these childish acts aside as we get ready to fight more job cuts and consolidations. One thing that they haven’t realized is; this New Yorker is as resilient as all New Yorkers. We get ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get back into the game. It’s too bad that it has come to this – but in my opinion that is where we are today.

Stay Strong
Tommy

Report of Thomas Roma

I have had the honor of serving on the Naps Executive Board since August of 2000, when I was first elected as your New York Area Vice President. I must admit that the last two years were the most challenging that I have ever known. As your Northeast Region Vice President, we managed to place over two hundred employees who were excessed and without jobs. One hundred and sixty were in New York City alone. While some may have lost their comfort zone, they did not lose their job. We could not have accomplished this in the Northeast area without the help of upper management who worked with us to place these employees. I have gained a lot of respect for Postal Headquarters employees along with the Area and District people as well. This was a monumental task placed on my partner Jim Warden and myself. Once again we proved that we could partner with the USPS to get the job done. Believe me this was a match made in heaven.

Everyone realizes the future of the Postal Service is in packages as the first class mail continues to decline. This past Christmas we met the Amazon challenge and from all reports all packages were delivered by dedicated Postal Employees in time for the holidays. Our competition can’t say the same. It seems to me when the going gets tough, the Northeast area gets going.

I am proud to report that in all my years of representing Postal Supervisors, we have never lost a case. We were always able to resolve the issue to the benefit of both the supervisors and the USPS. This was no easy task and I would like to think that Jimmy and I have gained the confidence and respect needed to accomplish this task. As our greatest NAPS President Vince Palladino would say, I give and take in a manner that will make the USPS and NAPS successful. We want the Postal Service to recognize that we are a partner in working with them for the best interest of both organizations. This will be our fifth national convention without Vince Palladino wielding the gavel. Yet his presence in everything that is good will always be with us.

In closing let me say it has been an honor representing supervisors in the Northeast area for the past two years. My fondest wish is that I am returned for another term to the job I truly cherish as your Northeast Region Vice President of NAPS.

God bless the greatest membership any regional vice president could have.

Stay Strong

Tommy Roma

THE END OF AN ERA

After 46 years of service to the USPS, I am officially hanging up my postal shoes! This has come with mixed emotions because I felt I could still make a difference. Dealing with the public and the employees is what I did best. We always managed to get the job done through the employees and public because I had one belief, “Treat everyone the way you wanted to be treated and the rest would come naturally”. I instilled in everyone I ever interacted with that, “The impossible would just take a little longer to achieve,” and that, “You could accomplish anything you put your mind too.”

The term ”JUST DO IT” was first used by me before it became famous with Nike sneakers.

Naps will be the beneficiary of my retirement as I now can devote 100% of my time to them. I will maintain 2 offices in Brooklyn and have acquired a third one on Staten Island, N.Y. I have done all this to keep the lines of communication with the membership I love to serve at an all-time high.

My last Christmas in the Postal Service after 46 years proved to be a profitable one. With the Amazon account leading the way, we proved that we are truly the Best of the Best. With the expected increase of first class mail (Christmas cards) our employees once again rose to the challenge. Every parcel and first class letter was delivered on time. Our lobby windows were staffed, lobby directors breaking the lines whenever necessary. We again met the challenge. Our trucks kept rolling helping Santa to fulfill the wishes of many children and adults. I can truly say that I am retiring with a sense of pride, knowing that our employees, when the chips are down, can’t be matched.

God bless you all and Merry Christmas,
Tommy

Federal Agencies Abandon the U.S. Postal Service

This is an interesting article written about a subject that I have complained about many times in the past. The author is Truman Lewis a former reporter and bureau chief for broadcast outlets and magazines.

Everyone knows the U.S. Postal Service is in trouble, but is anyone doing anything about it?

Well federal agencies are. They’re taking their business elsewhere. A new report finds that out of $337 million spent on shipping last year, federal agencies spent only $4.8 million with the Postal Service, less than two percent. The lion’s share of the money went to FedEx and the United Parcel Service.

Please put your thinking caps on, as NAPS members; how many times have we visited our Congressmen and Senators offices only to see FedEx and UPS mailings on their staffs desks? I always see FedEx and UPS trucks idling outside their office buildings making pickups. Where are the USPS trucks? Very few if any.

Why you ask?

One big reason is that, unlike private companies, the Postal Service can’t sell any products below cost, even if doing so would enable it to snag contracts that would be profitable overall. Who would impose such an onerous and un-business like restriction on what is supposed to be a semi-independent government corporation? CONGRESS, of course.

Case in point, as a former Customer Service Rep for the USPS, I was charged with selling our products to the general public and businesses. When speaking with the decision makers of the firms it was not the service in question, it was the discounts and giveaways that FedEx and UPS offered. We offered nothing and guess who got the business?

Mr. Truman went on to say the Postal Service has much in common with Amtrak and the District of Columbia. All are hamstrung by Congressional micromanagement that leaves them often unable to pursue simple initiatives that would improve their fortunes and provide better service to their subjects.

But while the Postal Service is forbidden from, say, granting a big discount on one service that would let it sell additional, profitable services, we are also hampered by the 5.1.billion dollar a year pre funding of our future retiree’s health benefits. This was imposed upon us by Congress in 2006. No other federal agency was ever asked to do this.

The Postal Service’s Inspector General says that while the situation looks grim, all is not lost. Although its competitors have consistently captured more than 98 percent of shipping revenue from federal agencies through GSA contracts, the Postal Service has opportunities to increase its share of this market, the IG said in its report.

On the other hand, the situation is not going to be resolved quickly. Because the Postal Service missed out on contract opportunities, many federal agencies have several years to go on their existing contracts with FedEx and UPS.

Stay Strong!
Tommy Roma

What is Happening Here?

It seems that the USPS and Congress cannot agree on anything. The Postal Service advises the Board of Governors that effective August 2013 they will implement 5 day delivery. Congress says hold on you can’t do that without Congress approving it. The tug of war begins again. We the workers are once again left in limbo. Will our jobs be abolished or must we travel great distances to try to save our careers. We have the Republican House looking to privatize the Postal Service, and the Democratic Senate looking to preserve our National Treasure. We once again are caught in the middle and all we want to do is work and serve the public like we have done for many years.

Being a National officer with NAPS, I can honestly say the USPS from Headquarters down to the Districts during this latest RIF worked closely with me to make sure we found a landing spot for every EAS employee who was affected. They might have lost their comfort zone but in the end they landed on their feet. We placed everyone in a job (Thank God). If this were the private sector there would have been layoffs galore.

We just completed our most successful Northeast training seminar in Puerto Rico February 8th-9th 2013. This was by far the most informative 2 days of training that I have ever been a part of. From the USPS side we had Mr. Anthony Vegliante, and Mr. John Mularski, and from NAPS we had Mr. Louis Atkins, Mr. Jay Killackey, Mr. Brian Wagner, Mr. Ivan Butts, Mr. Neftali Rivera, Mr. Jim Warden, Mr. Cy Dumas, Mr. Hans Aglidian, and myself. This was a happening and I personally want to thank everyone who attended. A special thank you also to Sheri Davies of Conference Direct who made this all happen.

On a sad note, I along with the President and National officers of NAPS attended the Funeral of former Mideast Area V.P. Robert (Bob) Towns who passed away March 14, 2013 after a long illness. The funeral mass was March 22, 2013. I have many fond memories of Bob who I had the pleasure of sitting next to at all board meetings. He was a fighter for the people he represented in New Jersey and it certainly showed by the turnout at the Funeral Mass. My condolences go out to Cathy and Family…. Rest in Peace my friend.

In closing, let me use the term of my Friend Andy Sozzi to, “Stay Strong” with all the turmoil that surrounds the Postal Service these days and to let you know that NAPS is behind all of its members. I will fight to save any EAS job’s that may be affected in the future. Please visit my website tommyroma.org for all my articles and updates.

 Tommy Roma

A Holiday Story

Jay Killackey
Executive Vice President

Postal employees, supervisors, managers and postmasters go out of their way for their customers every day of the year, but especially during the holiday season. I want to share a story from my past that really shows how much postal employees care about their customers.

Before I came to serve NAPS at headquarters, I was a station manager in a large facility outside of Boston. Just before Christmas a letter carrier picked up a handwritten note out of a collection box. It was just an old tattered piece of paper, without an envelope. It was a dear Santa letter from a little boy named Carlos.

In the letter, Carlos wrote that he was seven years old and lived with his mother and had a brother and a sister. He said that his mother’s boyfriend used to hit his mother and make her cry. Carlos said that his mother told him that she didn’t have much money so Christmas wouldn’t be good for Carlos and his brother and sister.

Carlos’ letter to Santa had a simple request; Carlos asked if Santa would make his mother’s boyfriend stop hitting her. Then Carlos closed with one more request. Carlos said he didn’t want anything for himself but he did ask if Santa could give just one present for his brother and sister so they would have something for Christmas.

When the letter was turned in the carriers in the unit started asking around the neighborhood to find a seven year old boy named Carlos. It didn’t take long to identify where Carlos lived and the Santa letter was turned over to the police. The police took care of the boyfriend. But, now someone had to take care of the other request that Carlos made.

All the employees in the office were so moved by the letter and the selflessness of little Carlos that a collection garnered enough money to stuff the back of an LLV with Christmas presents. A letter carrier who regularly donned a Santa suit before Christmas drove the truck to the house. With the help of several elves wearing carrier uniforms, Santa made a special delivery of presents to children who otherwise may have had nothing for Christmas.

There is no group of employees in any business that cares more about their customers than postal employees. Perhaps you may be wiping tears from your eyes about now because you too know of stories like this in your own community and how postal employees stepped up and reached out to help customers.

Perhaps you may want to reach out and help someone less fortunate this holiday season. Happy holidays!

HURRICANE SANDY

While most of the general population of New Yorkers escaped the grasp of Hurricane Sandy, the shorefront homes and businesses of the 5 Boroughs did not.  Brooklyn, Staten Island, Far Rockaway and parts of Long Island received a blow to the stomach. Destruction of homes, boats, cars, businesses, was the norm as people started to dig out. New Yorkers are survivors and will rebuild but this hurricane will be etched in our memories forever. People who lived close to the water refused to leave their homes and unfortunately paid the ultimate price. The last count of fatalities from Sandy was 28. PLEASE SEE PHOTO’S OF HURRICANE SANDY LISTED UNDER EVENTS on my website, only then will you see the destruction this Hurricane caused. As usual with New Yorkers when the going gets tough New Yorkers get going. Neighbors helping neighbors, businesses helping the general public any way they can.

On the day after the hurricane I was trying to get to work in Brooklyn and was rebuffed at the Verrazano Bridge. I made a right hand turn and somehow approached Father Capadonno Blvd. This boulevard runs along the shore in Staten Island. What I witnessed there will remain with me forever. Houses completely destroyed, Boats ripped from its moorings came ashore and were imbedded in the homes. People walking all over the place in a daze; believe me it was like a war zone. I was told that the water surge came all the way to Hylan Boulevard which is about 1 mile in from Capadonno Boulevard. This surge took no prisoners and destroyed everything in its path. Now I know what the people of Louisiana went through with Hurricane Katrina. Sandy was a category 1 hurricane while Katrina was a category 4. WOW.

F.E.M.A. was on hand right away and began helping. Businesses and volunteers set up kitchens outside and began feeding people who were actually homeless at the time. Donations of clothes, food, and other necessities came rolling in from all over the country, people helping people. During this crisis I even witnessed our Democratic and Republican politicians helping out any way they could. The highlight was when our President came and told the people that the Government would stay until everything was finished. I heard over and over again, we came through 911 we will get through this. Power has been restored and New York is already rebuilding. And guess what, the Postal Service never stopped getting the mail to the people affected, this tells you something about the people of New York and our Postal Service.

In closing let me say THANK YOU to all our friends for their concern and offers of help, we are on our way back and hopefully everyone can enjoy their Holidays.

“A Christmas Carol”

The famous story by Charles Dickens can be re-told as Postal Past, Present, and Future.

The past which many of us complained about is actually NOW the good old times. Words such as RIF, soft landing, consolidation never entered our vocabulary. Instead we worried about the next promotion, pay raise, specific assignments, but NOT the trauma that we ARE FEELING TODAY. I THINK OF OUR LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE LOST IN THE PAST, Rubin Handelman, Vince Palladino and my dear friend Andy Sozzi. I wish they were all here to help us with the Postal Present.

The Postal Present is filled with so much uncertainty, that this Postal/Military Veteran cannot see the Postal future. So many of us made the Postal Service a career choice because it provided the security and steady paycheck that we all need as family men and women. All of this security has now eluded us as we receive General RIF Notices via certified mail. The pain is tremendous but we must continue in the hope that the politicians and Postal Leadership will finally rectify this situation.

The Postal Future remains murky. The help we require is just around the corner with this “Lame-Duck” session of Congress. Will the partisan difference be put aside for the good of USPS and ultimately the American Public that we serve?

Please if all of this stress is affecting your physical/mental health, seek professional help. Be it an MD, or therapist, do not allow this mess to make you sick. Stay Strong as Andy would tell you.

I wish everyone the happiest of holiday seasons and even a Merry Christmas to Scrooge!