46 thoughts on “APWU: First 399 Clerk Craft PSEs to be Converted to Career Status”

1. As a processing plant PSE, I find that both the PSEs and the regulars work hard. We are only allowed to work 30 hours a week, but have to drive to work 6 days to do it. One night off and only 30 hours. It appears that each plant can tell a PSE whatever they want. I was told never to expect to become a regular. Thankfully, we were told that the USPS was in the process of converting PSEs nation wide and have heard of other facilities in the area where they were just converted. Happily, at first, the first 4 PSEs in seniority were told they were being converted. The next day they were told there was a nationwide hold. It turns out that was a lie. When they showed up for work on Saturday, they were told they were now regulars. The next day they were told they could finish out the week as a regular, but were going back to being a PSE. Management and Union tell them things. They call HR and discover that Management and Union are not telling the truth or don’t know. The situation is still up in the air.

2. Let’s hear it those of you 399 pse’s that got converted, tell us your story, how really the process worked. ..

3. I read 399 PSE were to be converted, are there really any pse’s that actually got converted? Please tell us your story. At our plant most regulars do their job, the only time we pse are needed is when a regular calls in. Lol! We get a 15 min break after 2 hrs of work, our Bt time can change daily, and we are told when to take a lunch, we get to leave when they say we can leave, we are mostly needed on Fridays & Saturdays when regs call in, Sound familiar? I believe Mr D should visit all these po, and talk to all his employees and listen to all our concerns, & maybe just maybe he will understand that we are all Americans with family’s, who need a 40 hrs work week, 2 days off, holiday pay, and in turn we get the job done every day. Again Mr D. Please hear us & really fix this serious problem!
   Thank you.

4. I am a FTR… I work in a small office where there are 5 reg and 4 pse’s. But they say in our area we have to many full time and want to excess 6 full time people… I have already been involuntarily relocated once 240 miles from my office in 2008…. Because they said there were no jobs closer to home. And now pse’s are holding jobs which many of us who were relocated farther from home could have had. We have also lost overtime because our pse’s are working 6 days a week 8 to 10 hours a day but we are not being allowed to work our days off or overtime unless a full time person is on leave and even then it doesn’t always happen. I am not saying pse’s are not valuable or deserve less but just remember one day you will be in our shoes at the bottom of the seniority list and it will be you who is forced to move (if you want or need your job), to pick up your entire life, your children’s lives, leave your family and friends, to move somewhere you know no one, have no one, be given the choice take it or leave it. I also know a lot of people from my office who decided to not take jobs and resign. It still didn’t affect how far away from home most of us were sent. You are pse’s right now and I am sure you completely understand why we are fighting to keep our jobs. One day when you are converted to full time and your jobs/positions are being abolished and you are being transferred 100’s of miles away, maybe then you will understand the fight to keep our jobs.

5. Divide and Conquer! If you regulars cant understand that PSEs are not your enemy, you will lose everything. Pses do the same job as you, and pay union dues. Think of them as the new PTFs with less worker rights. The USPS plans to decertify the apwu in 2015, speculation yes. But heres the argument by them, they will have 30% of the work force as pses, why keep the regulars with their high wages and benefits? You’ll be lucky to be all converted to Pses. Hey you still have a job right? Fight to make Pses regulars, They are the new postal employees. They are your new brothers and sisters, with out solidarity we all lose.

6. I am a pse in Iowa and I can so relate to the career employee’s being lazy and expect all the work to be done by pse’s. We are over worked and not appreciated at all. My postmaster told me that if I wanted to take time off for a family trip to plan it on my 5 day break in Jan. Really?? Does anyone on here use annual leave and if so how do you go about it, I tried giving a 4 month notice on my annual leave and the denied it saying ” to early to know breeds of service.” How can we ever plan anything….we are treated like complete shit!!!!!

7. Why would you pse employees want to become regulars? II currently attend college and my job is forcing me to make a decision to either quit or get fired. I am obviously choosing my career path which starts with my education. We get treated like crap while we buss our behinds (well the ones who actually work of course because there are pse who take long breaks, sleep in the locker rooms etc… Better known as managements favorites. They get away with everything at my station). Most of the regulars even tell me that they regret staying here this long and they wish they would have went with their dreams. It’s a very negative energy in the post office I work in. I was actually transferred to this station because I didn’t drop out of school at my last station. If the “leadership” team was more family oriented and had a primary goal of coming together as a TEAM and working together then maybe I would care about my job. Of course I don’t want to lose it but when you are constantly thrown under the bus by other pse and even management it comes to a point where you have to let go. everyone is against eachother in this place and it’s pathetic. I know the economy is hard and people need jobs but please look beyond this . If you want to push mail all your life so be it but don’t let your dreams defer over 15 dollars an hour . Especially the pse who are in their 20s … Go for your dreams! Future leaders, doctors , nurses, teachers, lawyers etc… It’s not worth it.

8. Are they about to convert more pse’s to regular?

9. I’m arruming this blog happen a while ago but honestly what is everyone’s problem pse or regular you know everyone is an employee some work hard some don’t everyone starts at the bottom and works there way up it’s appalling how low people can be talking about there co workers it’s not the pse’s fault the job was created and they were just someone looking for a job and found an opportunity so relax people they will become career soon and you were in there shoes once too so have some respect without them you would have to actually do your work

10. I am a 28 year career employee. At our plant they make the PSE’s work their asses off, at 2/3’s the pay. And if they don’t perform they ditch them. Call in sick, late, etc. (all the things a career can do with impunity) they get bounced, at least at our facility. I don’t see how the stick around with an iffy promise to get career, and getting paid less for the same work. Additionally I see more career employees slacking than PSE’s. Most career’s, all they can do is bitch about how they are overworked, but I think only about 25 percent of the career’s in our office actually work their ass off(I take that back, actually earn what the make. Can’t say they work hard, I would have to cut that to about 10%). I have always felt about 75% of career employees should be fired as they sleepwalk through their shift.

11. Lazy ass regulars. Lol, PSE’s and MHA’s do all the work in Chicago.

12. Be THANKFUL you have a good job with good pay and benefits.
    We all started out with long hours, change in start times, working 6 or 7 days the list goes on…
    The reward to have a Career not worrying about being be laid off.
    Make the best of each day you work. Think outside the box.
    It is all about TEAM WORK with your fellow workers.

13. I am a pse in texas and truly understand exactly why the po has chosen to hire pse’s….. A good majority of the career employees are faking injuries just to get free money and get out o actually working. That is flat out wrong.. I watch daily as so called injured workers who have been placed on light duty but bootleg doctors, go play sports and other physical activities, but come to work and act crippled. It really is a damn shame to do such thing just bc you dont want to do your job!!! Bottom line….regulars run the clock soaking up overtime and commit fraudelent injury claims therefore pse’s have to work our asses off!!!! If u regulars do your damn job and stop trying to bleed the po dry then there wouldnt have been a need for pse’s period!!!!

14. The funny thing about regulars/career employees having so much animosity towards us PSE’s is that they too were once PTF’s, casuals and/or other forms of non-career employees for the post office. Let’s be completely honest regulars NEED us, whether they want to admit it or not. Plant PSE’s work long hours picking up the slack of some (not all) regulars b/c they only have to work 8hr days and PSE’s go home when it’s convenient for management. Without us mail would be delayed days from getting to its final destination. What about the holiday season? 8hr days won’t move half the parcels received during out busiest time of year. If anything be grateful for us cause not only out we helping keep the integrity of what the post office is we keep the postal service off your necks b/c if you don’t think we’d lose a ton of business if all of us left your on something. Management would be forcing you all into Long hours b/c the mail isn’t moving and it’s someone above them on their neck. We carry the same responsibility and held to the same standards as you are why wouldn’t we be able to join a union or get benefits and decent pay? We ALL whether PSE or regular know how brutal and cutthroat supervisors and upper management is so why do you feel your the only one that deserves that representation is beyond me. We pay our dues just as you do with half the rights as you. I’ve never worked in the plant I’m a station PSE but I have a few friends and I’ve heard stories from regulars about the life of plant mail handlers especially non regulars. We deserve those career opportunities just as you did before you became a regular. Ppl are talking about being essexed, which is horrible to imagine especially having to move a family. If there is no work and places are shutting down you get essexed we get laid off, I think you STILL have the upper hand in that category too. It takes an act of congress to fire a regular postal employee, they can fire us whenever they’d like. Stop complaining PSE’s & regulars and lets just move all this damn mail!

15. I have been with the postal service for 14+ years, a PMR for 13 years and was told my office was going to close due to postplan. So like many, I decided to take a $4.00 an hour pay cut and take the test and get hired as a PSE in a larger office. The PSE position you would actually earn annual leave, sounded great because the PSE was the “future career employee”. Well in the new 6 hour offices which I moved to, a 6 month employee that was a PMR got the career Postmaster position after I had ran that office all by myself for a year!! WTH??? I really thought that a PSE was the future career employee? I should of stayed a PMR at $4.00 more an hour and then I could of bid on a office and made a career position. I learned that there is no good way to make a career position. I hope the PSE position does eventually get career status. I really think we just all need to get used to the idea that we are all in a world where a no job is safe!! I love my job and wouldn’t be in it if I didn’t!

16. PSE @ MLSellers P&DC San Diego pacific..

    First off let me say to all you ignorant “regulars” who keep bitching
    about us PSE’s..open your eyes, look in the mirror & get over yourself.
    The fact of the matter is, PSE’s were hired to do the same job at a lower
    level of pay (understood on both sides)
    The underlying issue is, PSE’s that are going above & beyond busting their asses because lazy “entitled” regulars can’t get the job done.

    I’m usually not the type to start something but c’mon, give me a break.. I was a casual clerk for 3 years prior to being converted to the first ever PSE over 2 years ago.
    Regulars need to face the fact that their old and unwanted. What really gets me is watching these sh*tty regulars b*tch & moan about us PSE’s all
    the time. Within the first week of being hired as an automation clerk, I was
    running a DBCS all by myself over 80k a night & upwards of 100k.. While
    regulars have a partner every night.
    I clock in at 10pm every night, run barcode on my machine until 12pm, pull
    down, set up my zone & run 80k+ & dispatch with plenty of time to spare.
    Sh*t I’ve done dual zones totaling over 120k+ mail & dispatch on time. (Take
    note that I didn’t not take lunch for over 6 months straight just to dispatch mail
    on time.) while regulars sit in the break room for what seems like hours & can’t
    dispatch a single zone running only 60k, with a partner..WTF?! & I end up helping them out.. Whatever, that’s the job

    My point is not to bash the regulars, but just realize that not all PSE’s are complete shit. Some actually do bust their ass & like myself i do feel somewhat entitled to better pay.. And a career opportunity.
    I do realize you worked 15+ years & worked your way to the top of the seniority list & are entitled to all your pay, benefits..etc. But honestly, if you can’t do the job that is required of you, them get the f*ck out. Face the fact, you’re old & definitely don’t work the way you used to. Give a fighting chance to the ones that do deserve the opportunity & quit bitching about every little thing.

    & yes, there are PSE’s that suck, but that’s managements fault for not letting them go before their 90 day probation period.

    All in all.. PSE’s would bend over backwards to have half of what you guys get.

    ***note, I do appreciate the handful of hard working regulars.
    You actually do deserve everything you’ve worked for. & as for the old timers that can’t do anything anymore..go F*CK yourself.

    Thank you & have a blessed day

17. packfan715 is thinking PSE’s are not entitled to anything??? I have worked as a PMR and then had to be a PSE…new title, same work….4 yrs..working here in NY. USPS is using the less costly workers…and find ways to ax its most costly wage earners….we should be more than a Temp forever…

18. How come no one from the Portland Oregon is on the list . Incredible .

19. LOL, PSE’S lazy? The regulars are the laziest people I have ever worked with and obviously for most of them have never worked a real job. My 10 year old could do this job and probably alot better than most. Overtime spent sleeping in their cars or one of the “LOUNGE CHAIRS” in the locker room . Bragging a bout getting double time while reading a customers newspaper, what a joke.

20. Well where i live in PA.
    We r asking anyone who was let
    Go after there 360 day file a eeo
    Claim on them.. since now u cant b
    Removed after your 360 days..
    Most of our pse’s where hired in 2011
    And where given letters not come back
    And where high up on the list to be reg.
    They are filing on them. And i hope others
    Do the same.. and make it a CLASS ACTION.

21. We are so short handed at our plant. Some nights we have all four of our machines with only one person on each (1st and 2nd pass). We are so lucky to have really good PSE’s. We wish for all of them to be converted to regular. Our plant is scheduled to close next March. My friend and I put in e-reassign for a voluntary transfer to the gaining plant last April of this year. They have not contacted us and are in the process of converting 23-29 PSE’s to regular. I want good employees to be able to become regular, but I just do not think that it is right to give them the jobs over us. We would have a secure job at the gaining facility. Instead the secure jobs are being given to PSE’s (they still have to make it 6 years though). Our PSE’s would like a chance at those jobs also. They come to work 6 days a week, no guarantees and they work hard. I work hard also and I have seniority over those PSE’s at the gaining plant. We are all praying for a miracle …that our plant stays open.

22. To you PSE’s…hang in there…most of the “regulars” here are angry over excessing, abolishments, and years of getting crapped on…some are just getting enjoyment out of pressing your buttons…some are angry cause they thought this was a short term job until they finish college or get a job because of their degree and twenty years later they are still here. The truth is these people said the same things about casuals and TE’s and even PTF’s, which is the career position the PSE position has replaced for all intents and purposes. It bothers me to see all the in-fighting between employees. It is foolish to blame each other or another class of employee for what managment and coporate america is doing to working people everywhere…we are fools to allow ourselves to be manipulated in this way…they pit us against each other any way they can – either by religion, sexual preference, color, age, your position on abortion or guns…they use these ideals to make you think they’re on your side but the truth is they don’t give a shit about any of it…you back them because they tell you what you want to hear and then do what’s best for them at your expense…but I digress. What we need to do is for all workers to stay united in an effort to better our lives through higher wages and better benefits and we can’t do that when we stab each other in the back and point fingers at our coworkers instead of at the real perpetrators

23. And also, we work 6 days a week (so not all PSE’S have weekends off).
    Our schedules can change DAILY (on our way out the door, they can tell us go come in at 3am instead of 7am and there is nothing that we can say about it)while u all are complaining about relocating.
    We DID have to take a test to get in, just like everyone else did. (So know ur facts).
    BREAKS???? We’re lucky if we even get a 10min break cuz we’re to busy doing all of the work.
    And we ARE entitled!!! We do the same job as the regulars do and we’re not supposed to want the same benefits, just cuz y’all have been working there since Elvis was alive???? Sounds stupid to me…
    PSE in Orlando, don’t explain yourself to them, just send them a post card when u take their job! So tired of all the HATE…

24. Ok, first I would like to acknowledge the fact that the “regular” employees are trying to talk down on us AND WE DO ALL OF YOUR DAMN WORK!!!! We work our asses off EVERYDAY while you all sit around and complain about how we shouldn’t be there! If the work was being done properly in the first place…WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN NEEDED! At my station, PSE’S run the entire operation (business reply, caller mail, cage, registered mail etc.) and it’s not because we don’t have regulars…it’s because the regulars sit on their asses all day while we do the work! So for all of u ppl that don’t like the fact that we’re in there…SO WHAT, GET OVER IT! U all are not the only ones “management” treat like shit…so back off because we don’t need it from them AND u all as well!!!!!

25. the thing that really pisses me off is that in 6 months I have to relocate my family 100 miles away to a plant I don’t want to go too, the hours I will have is 7:30pm-3:30am and Tuesday Wednesday off, I guess I just worked 18 years for nothing!!!!!!! buttttttt they are keeping the pse’s here, I agree with Knee’s I am going to quit the post office and come back as a PSE

26. All the PSE where I work at are friends or family or lovers of the Plant Manager. If you see a PSE moving it must be time for one of their many half hour breaks or two hour lunchs. They dont work weekends or hoildays. If they call in for a four or five day in a row, so nothing is done to them. Heck, I going to quit and come back as a PSE. After 18 years maybe I can have off a weekend.

27. GOD didn’t give you the opportunity to work for the post office, you should pray to the apwu god’s for that!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

28. I understand fully that I will not have great days off or will work graveyard shift for probably my entire Postal career, if we are ever converted. But I will have sick leave and holiday pay that I would have at a normal company working 40 hours a week as well as being able to participate in a 401K/Thrift Savings plan.

    And for those saying we feel “entitled”, I don’t feel entitled. I just want a career. I want something more stable and somewhat guaranteed. I know that there is a chance of being laid off for the first 6 years (I believe that’s what someone told me), but at least it’s more stable than being a PSE. They have to give notice of an abolishment or layoff, where a PSE can be told that their job is over before they even clock in.

    As far as my degree, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. I don’t have an attitude. Actually, I get along with everyone. And people like to work with me because they know that I’ll bust my tail-end to get the job done. I may not be the fastest or youngest person to work with, but I stay with it until the end. And trust me, I am thankful everyday. I thank God everyday for the opportunities that he has given me. I prayed for hope at a low time last week and that night, this article was placed. That’s all I want is hope for stability and a chance to futher myself in my life and if the Postal Service is included, then that is fine by me because that is what He has planned for me.

29. WOW!! These PSEs really do think they are ENTITLED already! They were not forced to take the job , it was their choice and they were told they had no guarantees. If management and the Union are telling them other wise ,it must all be part of the big plan . Too bad the careers knew this would be a disaster from the beginning . Allowed to join the Union as a non-career employee ? How crazy is that ? Now we have to watch every move the Union makes against the regular workforce to protect the PSEs! And a note to PSE in Orlando .Do you really think the Postal Service is the only employer that will control your hours and when and where you work ? Any job that is 24/7 will place the newly hired in the least favorable positions and shifts .Most will start out on the night , ‘graveyard” shift . You will need seniority and experience to get “better” hours , days off and positions ! Wake up and be thankful . And what is your degree that they are not knocking down you door for even an interview ? Could it be your attitude ? That’s why to leftovers come to work at the Postal Service , take a look around !

30. Hey “guys ignore these idiots”; what college did you get your degree from? Obviously one that didn’t require you to understand grammar and tense in composing sentences.
    Also, the word “retarded” is no longer acceptable in our society… We are learning disabled.

31. Guys,
    Ignore these retarded so called regular employees with no education that think the postal service is the only job in America.We know what we want.Good things some of us have college degree and are only here for a short time.this is a system the post office built for these greedy,ungrateful employees.You so called regular you complained way too much.why dont you quit and go look for a job out there to see if you so called are even worth 10 bucks an hour.Eventually lot of PSE, TE etc..are going to become regular employees.Can’t wait to see the look on your faces.

32. Get your story right, we did have to take a test. This is not my career choice but after two years of applying, I’ve never even got an interview for what my degree is for our even what my experience is.

    Unfortunately, PSEs are the new employees of the Post Office and it is not the best job, but I have to work to live. Just like you. Do I want a night shift job where they control your hours, can tell you to come in on my night off, go home early with no stability, no I don’t, but I don’t have a choice. But I do have morals and I do what is expected of me every time I punch in and usually more, but that is how I was raised.

33. I agree with packfan. Hiring PSEs was a terrible decision. Keep in mind, they did not have to pass a test to be placed on a hiring roster. At the Tampa P&DC, the first priority for many of these new folks is keeping their iPhones charged so as not to interrupt their all-night texting sessions. They have carte blanche; the supervisors say nothing to them while we pick up the slack night after night.

34. regular’s

35. you should realize already that management lies to everyone including pse’s!!!!! the pse’s here were told they would never become regualar’s

36. Didn’t regulars start the same way as PSEs? Weren’t most of you temporary clerks that got crapped on? You wanted the same thing that I want. A career. We have to start some where as well. Most of us were told we would be regular by now by management and the union.

37. once they become career employee’s?? lol, our pse’s here in Wisconsin already take long breaks, plus added smoke breaks and some of them are lazy enough as pse’s, biggest mistake the post office ever made was hiring pse’s!!!!!!!!!!!

38. Oh no….once they become a career employees…you will see them work slower…lazy…call-in-sick a lot…and long break in the locker room….Here comes the disaster for USPS.

39. Iam a PSE working in the San Diego district and I understand how hard it is for a lot of people who have worked so many years for the postal service to be F//d with because of miss management. I work my butt of like I would at any other job. I know a lot of regulars who have put in their time but that doesn’t mean they should act entitled, career or not we all have to work hard, it is still a job not a vacation resort. I think pointing fingers at the APWU or the USPS isn’t the answer to the problem. I think the problem is in all of us and we all need to look at that instead of pointing fingers.

40. I think too many pse’s think they should be entitled to what fulltime regulars get!!!!!!!!!! that is bull, pse’s have been with the post office for 2 years and all they do is complain!! I have 18 years with the post office and in 6 months I have to relocate to a plant and town I don’t want to go to but it is either that or retire early, bottom line is all pse’s are lucky they have a job

41. Hey Ali, if 20yrs from now you were still with the p.o. and they abolished your job over and over changed your scheduled off days, duties, hours; threatened to take away your insurance, benefits and then excess you 300 miles away…because they have a new group of workers coming under you who worked for 1/2 what your making with little or no benefits how would you feel???? Being basically forced to retire earlier this year because the union allowed folks like you to take my job, I don’t blame you! I blame 1. The APWU (specifically Cliff Goofy) 2. The USPS(specifically Patrick Donuthole) in that order
    Good luck with your career…

42. I’d like to address Ali – the APWU does not convert any employees, only the USPS can convert employees to career…and they don’t do it unless they are forced to when the APWU or other unions fight their butts off enforcing the contract…I agree 399 isn’t enough, but if the APWU wasn’t fighting hard for the PSE’s there wouldn’t be any conversions at all…don’t misplace blame for things not being done that should, like conversions, its the USPS not the unions who hire, fire, excess, convert and so on…the unions only job is to make sure they adhere to the contract and to bargain for the best deal they can for the employees it represents…don’t like the direction the union is going then get more involved, run for an office and try to make the change from within…just don’t take the easy way out and blame the union for things management does

43. As a PSE for the last two years, I see hope for an opportunity. I work hard for my paycheck. I hope they convert more and Orlando is included! We have at least 10-20 people short every night and need more employees, but to stay under the cap they have to sacrifice customer service. Not very good business in my opinion.

44. I am a PSE Clerk from Albany NY. I think APWU should do more for PSE’s and convert more PSE’s to regular 399 isn’t enough.

45. Goofy and Donuthole still working in cahoots…

46. What a slap in the face to all the career regulars that lost their jobs and were bought out. Why don’t they excess long time postal employees that are losing their jobs?

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