Flash Bulletins are paid for by members of the APWU. Information contained in these bulletins is intended for APWU members. Member questions and/or comments regarding any flash bulletin content are always encouraged. Reading of publications prepared for and financed by dues paying members by those who do not is yet one more example of non-members accepting benefits that have been paid for by others! 

Special BMC Edition 

A NEWER, KINDER, AND MORE CARING BMC MANAGEMENT? 

Or just another not so cleaver tactic to get those bonuses up there? 

It is obvious that USPS headquarters officials place a high value on Employee Opinion Surveys (EOS), Voice of the Employee Surveys (VOE) or any name they decide to give it at ongoing and various times. Local managers also devise many spin offs, but for what purpose?  

We are aware that management has deliberated, scratched their heads and have resorted to intimidating and sometimes unfair labor practices when employees resist the EOS, however, instead of contacting the employees elected representatives (The Union) to seek dialog, they continue to concoct new angles to entice, or when that fails, to demand employee participation.  We have no other reasonable conclusion to draw other than to be extremely suspicious of management’s motives when they continually refuse to contact us to engage in dialog regarding these surveys.   

Isn’t it a reasonable concept and expectation that If contact were made and it was demonstrated to us how a particular survey was going to benefit employees that there would be a far greater chance at gaining our cooperation and support and thus greater employee participation?  

Our position has remained constant yet to our knowledge has yet to be addressed by management, either nationally, or at the local level.  If our suspicions weren’t enough to cause us to make these recommendations, we have clear and undeniable evidence that management has previously used EOS in their argument to either erode or eliminate employee benefits in past contract negotiations!  Local managers use spin offs in an attempt to promote any number of agendas, none of which can legally produce a true enhancement of your working conditions without Union notification and involvement.  The BMC’s latest EOS flavor of the month in itself may not be an unfair labor practice, but, if acted upon it certainly invites one and we will be monitoring the situation.  

The locally derived variations of VOE which crop up all the time are discouraged by USPS headquarters (see March 1, 2005 USPS instruction letter on reverse) without prior contact and agreement from your Union.  USPS headquarters has also issued instructions (February 2005) that EOS must be conducted on a voluntary basis!  

If you are ordered to fill out any form that deals with hours, wages, or working conditions ask for your steward.  Employee Opinion Surveys have not been shown to improve employee benefits, working conditions, or the USPS.  Just say no to Employee Opinion Surveys! 

Click here to view March 1, 2005 Vigilante letter.  

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