An exclusive Editorial to PostalReporter.com  from Guy Nohrenberg

Confessions of a Former Station Manager

In days of double digit unemployment, where trillions of dollars of national debt mount, the leader of one of the largest civilian employers in the free world just up and declared that soon he’s retiring, because he can, with no reason given. And YOU MISSED IT!?

What in the world were you doing? Cleaning Possum pelts?

Postmaster General Jack Potter, out of nowhere, announces his retirement for December 3rd. This is the Captain of the Ship jumping overboard! Was he pushed? To the clerks, carriers, managers and supervisors, don’t you see? We are ADRIFT!

I couldn’t see this guy retiring until long after I do! He’s comparatively YOUNG when you look at the other Postmaster Generals who look like everything from Death Warmed Over to the Ancient of Days!

Look. He’s gone. The Postmaster General who advocated cutting service, raising rates, and shifting overpaid top executives from one title to another while declaring positions have been abolished. Of course, if you believe all of that, you are a sucker. He doesn’t do anything without the blessings of lots of Boards, Committees, Congress and the President of the United States . Or was that why he suddenly retired? Personally, I liked the guy. He worked hard. He took a lot of you-know-what. He was a family man and a proud Dad. That’s good enough for me.

We have a New Postmaster General now. Pat Donahoe. This New Captain is somewhat of a mystery. I know a bit about him, but let’s hope that’s all in the past. Who is he? Does he have a temper? I thought George Bush was a wimp when he worked for Ronnie. Then when he became President of the United States , I was quite impressed. What about Pat Donahoe? What’s he really all about? What will he do?

• Will he implement early outs with 6 month separations pay, 5 years added to time in service, no penalties and free military buyback to cull out the highest paid, oldest workers, making room for hiring lower paid younger faster employees?

• Will he reduce the 74 Districts and 8 Areas to 50 districts and 2 areas changing the administrative to worker ratio from 1 in 11 to 1 in 25?

• Will he implement RIF for displaced EAS, and bumping of those who didn’t take the early out, to ruin their chances for Computer Solitaire Super Stardom?

• Will he institute an agency of Untouchables, unlike the OIG and USPSIS who can’t do the job of internal multi-rank policing, to clear the organization of any and all Title 18 criminals no matter what their political or nepotistic connections are?

• Will he stop the closing of Post Offices?

• Will he implement a plan where all executives carry mail thrice a year on a Letter Carrier selected route, enlarging their personal perspective?

• Will he implement a plan where all executives are window trained and help customers during the holiday season, demonstrating leadership?

• Will he halt the expensive implementation of additional programs and equipment and just get back to basics like taking a flat case and expanding it from 6 inches high to 9 to accommodate the common 8 ½ inch wide flat sized mail?

• Will he stop the purchasing of new staff cars and start the purchasing of electric LLV’s?

• Will he at least paint the ghetto looking LLV’s we have.

• Will he stop the managers from working 4 day weeks while they get paid for 5?

• Will he commit to not raising the price of the stamp for 5 years?

• Will he stop the elimination of service, not only keeping 6 delivery days as per law but also advertise delivery of Express Mail on Sundays?

• Will he place a US Postal Service, staffed service stand, in each mall this holiday season?

• Will he listen to your ideas or just see the inside of his office?

• Will he get us all turkeys this December or will we just be one?

• Will he do all these things and get us from the red to the black in a 12 month span or will he just continue the failing theme of cutting service, raising rates, and following instead of leading, and leading by example?

He is the Captain of this ship… so far. We will salute smartly and charge up the hill he directs us to. What will he do?

Surely you will look for his answers too. Free Will He!

Be well!

Guy Nohrenberg