Category: Articles

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

As the New Year 2012 arrives, there is finally some positive press concerning the postal service. NAPS, showing good faith, agreed to return to the bargaining table with the USPS to try to come up with a pay package that we all can live with during these trying times. If an agreement cannot be reached by the end of January 2012, NAPS will proceed with fact finding….It’s a win-win for both sides.

I read the following article on Postal News.com and felt that I should share it with all of you. In my opinion it sum’s up what we are going through. “USPS nets 152 million from operations, loses $1.8 billion to politicians.”

The USPS took in 40 million more then it spent in November, and after two months of the new fiscal year, has a net income of $152 million. In the private sector that would be called a “profit”. Thanks to Congressional accounting gimmicks, however, the USPS will report a net loss of over $1.8 billion for the two month period. The entire 1.8 billion loss is due not to USPS operations, but to legislation enacted by the Bush administration and the GOP controlled Congress in 2006 that requires the USPS to contribute $5.6 billion to a so called “trust fund” which has so far amassed over 42 billion from USPS profits.

While right wing politicians claim the trust fund is simply a “prudent measure, no other agency or company has a similar burden. The real reason for the requirement appears to be the shifting of billions of dollars of the national debt on to the USPS which is, conveniently,” off budget”. The politically induced “bankruptcy” also provided cover for draconian legislation proposed by Darrell Issa, which would dismantle USPS bargaining agreements, and set up a postal “death panel” to gut the service’s infrastructure.

As far as “real world” financial results are concerned, USPS expenses remained level with the prior year, but revenue was down 3.5%. The decline in revenue reflected the continuing drop in mail volume, which dropped 6.3%, or 2 billion fewer pieces of mail. Standard mail, which has shown some growth last year, is down 7.3% in FY 2012 so far.

The only bright spot in the volume numbers was the 33.6% increase in shipping services volume. While ecommerce driven package delivery is an obvious growth opportunity for the USPS, the problem is that it still represents just 15% of total revenue.

In my opinion if Congress relieves us of the 5.6 billion which is used for prefunding retiree’s health benefits, streamlines through attrition, or incentives, allows us to compete on the open market, the Postal Service will be a viable option for years to come.

Stay Strong,
Tommy Roma.

Paul Lewis Letter

Paul,

I have let some time pass before I prepared this message to you, because it took me some time to compose myself from the level of disgust and disappointment that I had in your accusations that I have sold out NAPS to management and that I only did so because I also hold a senior management position in the Postal Service.

I take my role as an executive board member very seriously and I represent everyone in my region to the best of my ability. I spend long hours on the phone, on email and on the road making sure that the members of NAPS in the Northeast Area receive the best representation possible.

I have toiled for many years representing members and take extreme offense to your characterizations of me undermining members of NAPS. As a retiree you appear to have ample time at your disposal to sit at your computer and take shots at the leadership of this organization. I regularly see emails from you and your posts on the website where you disparage leadership of NAPS at all levels. For the most part I read your posts and remind myself that you have a right to your opinion about how the organization is managed.

I have known you since we first met in Las Vegas and we have interacted numerous times in person. Although I don’t always agree with your position on certain matters, I have given you the respect that you should have in both your opinions and positions.

However, you have crossed the line when you challenge my integrity as a NAPS officer. First, you don’t have all the facts. As usual, you have this penchant for saying: “Ready, Fire, Aim” and you shoot buckshot at a target before you even know what you are shooting at.

I’ll tell you something Paul, you can challenge decisions I make, how I do my job, etc., but don’t ever, ever challenge my integrity in this organization. By the way, the issue that caused all of this consternation doesn’t even involve your area, it is a Northeast Area issue but, as usual here you go again with “Ready, Fire, Aim”.

Although I don’t believe that I have to explain any of my actions to you, I will let you know that the discussions that were held between NAPS leadership and the Northeast Area concerning the Postal Service’s decision to abandon the requirement to conduct Pre-Disciplinary Interviews was initiated by the Postal Service, not NAPS! PDI’s are not referenced in the ELM and are not required as a precursor to discipline.

The elimination of the PDI process does not take away any rights to representation of NAPS members by our organization at any time a member believes that they need representation. No member of NAPS in the Northeast Area has lost any of their rights under Title 39, ELM 650 or any other handbook or manual.

By your own admission, you claim to be an expert in collective bargaining with your many years as a steward and a craft representative. This coupled with your service in NAPS one would think that you would understand more than you do. It is apparent to me that you lack a common understanding of how things work in this business. When virtually anything happens in postal management you immediately point to the failure of NAPS to accomplish something and tout our use of Title 39 as the remedy.

Paul, I am so disappointed in you, words cannot describe it. You have the right to disagree with how I do things, but I will not allow you to trample on my integrity. I don’t even know if an apology could repair the damage you have caused in our relationship. In the future you should think a little more about what you write before you write it, get all the facts and then if you want to put your foot in your mouth, go right ahead.

Tommy Roma
Northeast Area VP
NAPS

Postal Supervisor

JOB DESCRIPTION

There is an old cliche, “When your neighbor loses his job we are in a recession, when you lose your job we are in a depression”! Well, we all still have a job so I guess we are in a recession and anyone who has been on the workfloor over the last couple of months just might think differently. All our bread and butter mail, the credit card solicitations, the catalogs, the magazines, even the charity (non-profit) mail has diminished.

It is not our fault, do not blame yourself, just pick up the paper and turn on the TV and another long established firm has folded putting more of our neighbors on the unemployment lines. Then there’s the Big 3 automakers begging for money from Uncle Sam with so much riding on the outcome. Besides the current employees, hundreds of thousands of retirees are in jeopardy. Parts manufacturers depend on the auto industry for their livelihood, no cars sold, no need for parts, another business gone. No cars selling, no advertising mail for USPS. My home Borough of Staten Island, part of the Big Apple with a population of over 400,000 had one Ford Dealer, go under.

All of this comes back to USPS and our future. This era makes the 1992 reorganization aka RIF look insignificant. I have never felt the pain from every level of employee. Carriers who for years shrugged off the clerk automation woes with the crack “What are they going to do, get robots?” Now wonder if they will have a route and even the senior carriers are concerned with their real street time in the DPS, FSS and no volume mode.

The most popular website is the appropriate Union WWW and the contract is read over and over with the inevitable question, Can they really do that? Several months ago I was honored when another member asked for re-print rights to my article “The Job we Love to Hate”. No one wants to lose their job especially if you are in mid career and recognize just how tough the brutal, cold reality of this economy can be.

We have survived every challenge from the telegraph, telephone and now computers with their e-mail. We have managed to re-invent ourselves time and time again to survive as The Post Office. Will the government come to our rescue and realize we perform a PUBLIC SERVICE? Do the Police and Fire Departments pay their own way? As someone who started his career as POD being a cabinet level position with appropriations from Uncle Sam, providing universal Postal Service. Is it time to look back to our future?

Will the very same politicians who say no, no, no to any and all consolidations to save money be willing to step up to the plate and provide the funds to continue reliable Postal Service? These politicians hear the daily complaints of no and late delivery. Make a few phone calls and everything is good or is it? The local station, branch, Post Office is the most visible part of our government to the entire country. Politicians know this and jump on the slightest chance to play the part of the hero with a press conference and “I will not tolerate any cuts in service”.

We have our greatest opportunity at this LTS to send the message from Maine to Alaska, YOU cannot have it both ways, we can not continue as a cash cow and maintain the level of service your constituents expect and deserve.

We have a new administration, that must be educated on what is going on in the Post Office real world, this is NOT a game show, This is the future of a 233 year old American Institution with its roots to Ben Franklin and all the founding fathers. We dare not fail!

Tommy Roma

No one asked me but . . . . . . . .

The vast majority of our NAPS membership were craft employees. I entered the Post Office (along with Ben Franklin) as a Letter Carrier. I took pride in my position, realized I held a position of importance to my customers and worked well with others, including “Supervision”. As an Adult I recognized that I would not agree with every decision on every day but knew this was the nature of the position and on LIFE!

As I travel through cyberspace and visit the various Postal Blogs, The personal, obscene, denigrating comments posted embarrass an old US Navy sailor to the point of tears. Yes, I understand frustration but this type of behavior feeds the fire of hatred, mistrust, and division. We continue to find the enemy and unfortunately, It is US! These termites destroy the organization from the inside and only contribute to an increasingly volatile situation.

The parallels of the 1993 Runyon RIF again jump out at me: “I have a job but my ‘dream’ job is posted only for affected employees”. “My specific position title was eliminated but in the MARS District, they have the same job”. WOW, Tom got a promotion out of the RIF and I am still stuck with my same job! There is no perfect solution to this RIF. Realize you are in a damage control status and need to accept this situation which was not created by you! I miss the ‘Old’ Post Office more than any of my readers. I grew up in it, lived all of my adult life in it, and am saddened by what has happened to it! We must make the best of this horrible RIF and insure YOUR continued employment with USPS. A recent retiree with over 36 years of service, an MBA degree found out the cold reality of the new workforce, Turkey Hills “Sales Associate” at minimum wage The world is as cold as their Ice Cream in six months he will be up to $8 per hour.

nuff said,

Tom Roma

THE UNFAVORABLE STAND

When you accept the Presidency of your local Naps office, I hope you know you will be put on the hot seat when you must take an unfavorable stand against the local USPS. Don’t let any one kid you, if you become a thorn in the side of upper management, they will look to retaliate. It’s all part of the job. If you are looking for upward mobility, they will tell you that your on the wrong side. In my time I have been asked to take a step back if I was looking for upward mobility in the future. My answer to these people was, I was here before you got here and I will be here after you leave. Forty four years later I am still standing. In my opinion anyone who can’t take the pressure of the responsibility of the Presidency should not be President. I love when I hear I cant get involved for fear of retaliation. This tells me you are a marginal EAS and afraid for your job. If that is the case you are not giving your members honest representation. As President of Branch 68 in Brooklyn, I showed Management I was not the enemy and wanted to partner with them for the betterment of both the USPS and NAPS. My track record proves that I gained the respect all through my career. (Roma quote) I don’t want you to love me, I want you to respect me as I respect others.

During this holiday season let us not forget our dear departed President Vince Palladino who left us suddenly on Dec 21, 2004. It was Vince who instilled a lot of what I discussed above in me through the years.

If ever I needed an answer to anything my friend Vince always had the right answer for me. I often wonder if he were alive today, would he have the answers to the Postal problems of today? Im sure he would be right in there fighting for our rights during these trying times. They say the great ones like Vince Palladino only come along once in a life time. Even though it was cut short, I’m happy that I was able to be part of his life while he was here. Rest in peace my friend, you will always be missed.

In closing from my house to yours, Happy Holiday’s and a Happy Healthy, Safe, New Year.

Stay Strong
Tommy Roma

Retirement – I’ve Done It

After 45 + years today is the last day for me. I began way back when very few women were “mailmen” no uniform other than what the guys wore but it did look good and we stood straight and bright each morning at uniform inspection. I moved on to the supervisor ranks and have been a supervisor for 37 years now. I’ve seen a lot and will always be grateful for the opportunity working, to raise my family well.

But lately I will agree things are very difficult out there in the field and also the plants. I’ve worked them both.

I think of Garth’s song, ” I will sail my vessel till the river’s run dry… I’ll never reach my destination if I never try…”

My postal destination is reached; retirement and new destinations lay ahead.

Good luck to those that follow. Keep on trying.

I will continue to be a devout NAPS advocate and will be working even more closely with all the NAPS members in the entire district. I’ll be around for several more years working with the NAPS association and hopefully the tensions will settle and opportunities will be justly awarded.

I read somewhere that retirement is when you stop living at work and begin working at living. I intend to do my utmost in following the adage “Retirement is the beginning of life — not the end!” I know, however, that regardless of how much I enjoy retirement, that I will miss everyone in this organization.

I have just one final point to make. I feel that retirement is an incredible gift. It’s a gift that everyone should give themselves when they feel they can. So set your goals and prepare yourselves wisely. The purpose of retirement is not simply to exist, to simply survive, but to elevate oneself in life, to have purpose, to achieve, and to conquer new horizons.

Contact me at 562-277-6045 or [email protected] if you need assistance or have a problem or if there is information you want to find out about. I will be available to keep on helping.

Sincerely and farewell,

Mary Di Gioia

Memories of a Friend

Over the course of our ten year professional association, I was fortunate to know the real Andy Sozzi. There was his NAPS person and so much more as a human being.

We shared many things in common and it began with our sports teams, we both loved The Mets and The Jets. The Mets were a mystery to me for this Bronx aka Yankee resident but then I knew Andy had good taste. We were both animal lovers and all of our trips consisted of a stop at a nearby Petco or Petsmart. We would bring home toys for our furry friends. Andy would always look to adopt another cat.

Our travel schedules were arduous and overlapping at times and we believed in attending new Catholic churches in each new city. The first time worship would entitle us to one wish and it was always Good health, luck, safe travel and please help our Mets. Naturally we both loved Italian cooking and fine wines from all over the world, for it was Andy who was a true wine connoisseur.

NAPS business put us in the classic good cop, bad cop roles with Andy of course always playing the good cop. I nicknamed him Mr. Spock because he always had the logical answer which would defuse a potentially hostile situation which as the bad cop I may have initiated. His classic line was ” What Tommy really meant to say” was a signal it was time to back off and calm down a situation.

The memorial service hosted by NAPS and Branch 100 created a flood of memories as I waited my turn to speak and try to summarize my partners life in 5 minutes. We both started in the USPS as Letter carriers, became front line supervisors at almost the same time. We were both Presidents of our beloved Columbia association and local NAPS Branches.. Both of us retained our mutual respect for each other during all of our NAPS adventures. NEVER a single disagreement.

STAY STRONG is the motto that Andy left us, try to live his words. Rest in Peace my Friend.

Tommy.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES FRANK SPATOLA

I first met Frank Spatola in 1968 when he was a Shop Steward for the N.A.L.C. in HOMECREST STATION..I WAS A SUBSTITUTE CARRIER from Blythebourne station who was loaned out for the week to Homecrest. To cover vacation vacancies. At first I was intimidated by the presence of this man who everyone at Homecrest respected. I wondered at that time why he was not part of Management because nothing happened at Homecrest unless Frank was involved. Even the overtime desired list was handled by this man. After working at Homecrest for a few days Frank approached me and said ,KID, I like the way you move mail, do you want to transfer to Homecrest. I thanked him for the kind words but stated, it was much easier for me to commute to my home station because I did not have a car. He said ‘If you ever need help for anything call me at Homecrest.

I ran into him on the picket line the N.A.L.C. formed at the G.P.O. in Brooklyn during the Postal work stoppage in 1970. Frank was leading the workers INCLUDING ME across the Brooklyn Bridge to meet up with our N.Y. Postal Brothers and sisters in SOLIDARITY. The USPS and Police Department considered this illegal and detained Frank and others as ring leaders. They all were later exonerated of any wrong doing and the rest was history. The U.S.Postal service was born and my friend Spats had a lot to do with it. Frank went on to management a job he was born for. I met up with him again when he was on the route examination team testing routes in Blythebourne station. He advised me that being a carrier was a good honest job but being a supervisor meant more in retirement benefits. He kept after me to join Management and I FINALLY MADE IT IN 1976. My first assignment was a supervisor in mail processing on tour 1 at the Brooklyn G.P.O. The first one to congratulate me was Frank. He was now an Area Mgr and asked me to transfer back to the stations. My first assignment was Williamsburg station and guess who was my Area Mgr.? After a tour in Customer services I returned to supervision in Kensington Station. My friend Frank treated me like his son and guided my career all the way up to Manager of Ryder Station, a position I STILL HOLD TODAY. He then advised me to get active in Naps and helped get me elected New York Area V.P. NAPS in Alaska in 2000. Even in retirement he would call me and say T, whats happening in D.C. always interested in the Postal Service and its survival.

Frank was a powerful force with Postal legislation and was instrumental in getting the Postal reorginazation act enacted by changing the mind of Senator Jacob Javitts N.Y. to vote for the act instead of against it. That was no easy task. He held the deciding vote.

The Hatch Act HR20 would never have come to fruition if not for Frank Spatola. Then Senator Al D’Amato threw both Frank and myself out of his office because we asked him to Support HR20 when he opposed it. Frank made him an offer he could not refuse

And 2 weeks later the Senators office advised us that he would back the bill if the I.R.S.

And F.B.I. were exluded from it. The rest is history.

I could go on an on about all the things my friend and mentor accomplished for the Postal Service, NAPS, N.A.L.C. and Narfe but I WOULD NEED TO WRITE A BOOK. Everything I KNOW ABOUT THE Postal service and NAPS I owe to my friend Frank. While he was a father figure to me I could always go to him for advice about anything.

As his health was failing he asked me for one more thing, help keep NAPS the respected organization it always was under Don, Ruben, and Vinny. Make me proud of you and remember I Love you like a son Tommy. Right back at you Frank, Rest in Peace.

Christmas Movies

Two movies which always get a tremendous amount of airtime and reaction are: It’s A Wonderful Life”, and “Miracle on 34th Street”.

First, It’s a wonderful life Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey the head of the household always trying to do the right thing. From childhood on George is there helping people i.e. Mr. Gower and the drug store. Frank Capra, the director of this classic paints the central theme of this movie that the actions of one man affects the life of so many other people. I think of all the NAPS members and Postal employees who as a single individual can and will do so much action that they help the entire body. Be it a donation to SPAC, a letter to a politician or using the great internet communicator capwhiz on the Naps web page. each person is their own George Bailey helping individually for the greater good of all. My specific thoughts go to Vince Palladino who was our George Bailey, Yes, just like George he made a difference by himself and you can too. Don’t be disheartened keep up the good fight and we will win!

“Miracle on 34th Street” has a different theme but its relevancy to the Post Office Department is even more pronounced. Think of Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man) as a Postal Clerk working the old time culling tables. He is perplexed he has all these letters to Santa Claus and does not know where to send them. Just at this time Edmund Gween (Santa) is on trial for being Santa Claus. Well the ending remains timeless as Sack after Sack of Santa Claus letters are delivered to the court and the Judge rules that Gween must be Santa Claus as the Post Office an agency of the Federal Government recognized that this man must be Santa as the mail is delivered to him. In real life for many years, Andy Sozzi played the Post Office Santa at GPO/JAF. Art does indeed imitate life and this was always a special project, held close to Andy’s heart.

So to all the George Baileys and Santa Claus’ in NAPS , YES your work does make a difference!

Stay Strong

Tommy Roma

Use Mail

When was the last time you put a stamp on an envelope to pay a bill or just to communicate with someone else? As a postal worker this is your lifeline to a successful career. Think about it, if we in the Postal service alone used the mails instead of the computer we would be in much better shape today.

I fault the Postal Unions, Management Associations and the USPS also for not using the mails when communicating. Recently I was speaking to an NALC official who was requesting some information from me about a Letter Carrier. He said Tommy just fax it to me, I informed him that I was putting the information in the mail. We are our own worst enemies. Another incident was when some Management official in the Postal Service decided to give our in house Fax numbers to private law firms requesting information. They were faxing all their requests for information instead of using the mails. I solved that at my station by calling the law firm, instructing them to use the mails for their requests and to address all inquires to me. I would not honor any fax requests for information. Case closed. A few years ago a local management association president sent out a private email to anyone who would listen to stop the Postal Service from introducing a bill to tax users of the computer who send emails rather then sending letters through the mail. Just think about that for a minute, if enacted it would subsidize the postal service for loss of revenue, ensure that our jobs were safe, etc. To the best of my knowledge this bill was never enacted but like I said we are our own worst enemies When customer service reps from private industry try to get me to sign up for bill pay online, I notify them that I work for the USPS and will put a stamp on all my mailings .They immediately back off.

It is Labor Day 2011 as I write this article and difficult to see what the future holds for USPS and its employees. My thoughts run the gamut of over 40 plus Labor Days with this company be it as a carrier, supervisor or manager. Tomorrow was always the start of the Fall Mailing List and we knew we would get hit hard with mail. This year September 6th is significant for another reason, Senator Lieberman Chair of the Senate Government Affairs will hold a full emergency hearing on the Post Office. Let us hope that by the time (November) you are reading this, our beloved Post Office Ship has been righted and we are sailing full speed ahead (Navy Man).

A web site of interest is Savethepostoffice.com. Great timely articles of interest, plus a Legislative Action Page called “Send The Love”. Our own New Naps Web Page is another great resource. Please become familiar with Legislative tab and utilize same to contact your Representatives. You can still write your reps using the mail, remember the time lapse due to the radiation of hard copy. So do both!

Spac has never been more important so my Yogi Berra story is still available for anyone especially Yankee fans who make a donation to Spac. If all our members donated just $10.00 we would have another $300,000. Think about it. Money always talks in the world of Politics so please donate today.

It seems like only yesterday that my late partner and friend Andy Sozzi re-enacted some memories of 9-11 on stage in D.C. We will observe the 10th anniversary of that dreadful day this coming week. WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Stressed out? Seek professional health care, EAP is still an excellent resource for referrals.

Stay Strong