The Postal Service has entered into a settlement to resolve all claims in a national employment discrimination class action lawsuit regarding deaf or hard of hearing employees and applicants. Among other things, the settlement requires the Postal Service to competitively select and enter into a contract with an independent ombudsperson. The ombudsperson will serve for a period of three (3) years, beginning October 29, 2013. In cooperation with the Postal Service Headquarters Disability Program Manager, the ombudsperson will monitor the Postal Service’s compliance with the injunctive relief provisions of the settlement through the establishment of a call center and designed email address.
The Position of Ombudsman In addition, an independent Deaf and Hard of Hearing ombudsman (Ombudsman) will be established for a three (3) year period to monitor the Postal Service’s compliance in providing the injunctive relief specified under the terms of the Global Settlement Agreement. The Ombudsman will receive concerns or comments from Deaf or Hard of Hearing Employees concerning issues relating to compliance with the injunctive relief terms of the Global Settlement Agreement and will forward these comments and concerns to the Postal Service for a response and/or resolution. The Ombudsman will also receive quarterly reports regarding the Postal Service’s compliance with the terms of the Global Settlement Agreement for a three (3) year period.
Deaf and hard of hearing Postal Service employees will be advised that they can register a comment or concern about communication accommodation issues via a designated email address and/or through a toll-free number or other device provided by the call center. Deaf and hard of hearing Postal Service employees will further be advised that use of the email address and toll-free number or device to register a comment or concern does not affect their rights to file a grievance or complaint in any other process, nor does it serve as initial contact for any other process such as a grievance or EEO pre-complaint processing pursuant to 29 CFR 1614.105. The Disability Program Manager will provide qualifying deaf and hard of hearing employees and applicants with information regarding how to contact the ombudsperson. Such individuals may register a comment or concern about communication and accommodation issues they have experienced in the workplace or during their employment application process with the Postal Service.
To be able to identify and address specific comments and/or concerns, individuals will be asked to supply information specific to them, such as their name, residential addresses, and identification numbers such as their Employee Identification Number (EIN) or Applicant Identification Number (AIN). If necessary, the Ombudsperson will investigate the comments and/or concerns in order to make an independent assessment.
via Federal register
If a postal employee’s supervisor does not provide phone #s or email of the ombudsman, of the district disability coordinator, or of the regional PRAAC contact info, where can the employee get this information?
RIF vast number of EAS/mgmt., and see profits, productivity, and efficiency all increase.
Postal mgmt. is incapable of even running the USPS, let alone fixing it.
In the city that I worked we had a deaf mail carrier. When ever there was a bad weather alert the postmaster or supervisor had to drop everything and go out to the street to inform this carrier of the alert! This was the days before everyone had cell phones; however, I can’t imagine things have changed much in those regards.
Who is the Ombudsperson that was hired?