Letter Carriers

Please, if you need to speak to me for any reason, whether you are on the clock or off the clock, go through the proper channels.

If you are on the clock, ask your supervisor for authorization to see me.

If you are off the clock, wait till you clock in and then ask for authorization to see me.

Most of you know me very well and that I try to address your concerns, issues, whenever and whatever. I, for the most part, stop everything that I am doing to listen to what you have to say.

I have a lot going on and I need your cooperation so that I may effectively and efficiently serve you and our members.

Today, with the erroneous click of the mouse key on my computer, I eliminated over two hours of work. I cannot afford to do this.

I take full responsibility for my error; but, I believe that the error would not have occurred if a carrier would not have come into the NALC’s office to talk to me while I was in the middle of something.

Again, I don’t fault the carrier; I fault myself. This was two hours of my work – time that was not compensated by the Postal Service or by the Union; work that still needs to be done; work that has to be re-thought out and hopefully duplicated.

I literally want to scream! Not only did I lose two hours of well-thought out work, I now don’t know where to begin, what I said and how I said it ... and I probably won’t be able to duplicate it.

Now, if the work I lost was yours, I believe that you would see my point a little clearer, be more sympathetic and understanding of what I am up against, and understand the frustration that I am feeling at this moment.

I ask for the cooperation of all city letter carriers and our union officials to go through the proper channels when the need or desire to speak to me arises. Yes, at this time, even our union officials.

Please don’t minimize my asking for your cooperation. I take my job as President very seriously and I do my very best to represent you.

I would appreciate it if you give me the respect that I give you by doing what I am asking of you.

Joseph R. Palmerson, President

NALC Branch 2128 Toms River

October 30, 2009