Literate by Choice

Just like you are doing right now reading is a thinking process to interpret words to gain meaning about a topic. Writers write to provoke change using their persuasive language to get their point across and convince others of their point of view. The larger the audience the greater the opportunity the writer has to influence public opinion. There are enough books about the Postal Service to easily compile a heritage (“A”) list to better understand the sacrifices of our predecessors. And a required reference (“B”) list to help us understand past, present and future operational risk management.

True professionals gather, analyze, and implement lessons learned to provoke critical thinking on the front lines, or in a support role to achieve the competitive industry advantage. The first step is to read, then discuss our readings with each other. We glance at the side of a cereal box, review the narrative on the movie case, look at the newspaper, and translate the directions on how to put something together. We can find out what impacts our mail business everyday through this form of comprehension too. I offer the following brief summaries and recommend the following titles as requisite reading.

Title: The Role of the United States Postal Service in Public safety and Security; Implications of Relaxing the MailBox Monopoly.

There are 46,000 Zip Codes! Universal service is critical to binding the nation together in the timeliest and efficient manner possible. We are an essential part of the National Response Framework; we participate as an Emergency Support Function, play a vital role in the Cities Readiness Initiative, and take part in the Department of Homeland Security National Infrastructure Protection Plan. “We Deliver” and must look for other opportunities for business and revenue growth which will help keep universal service of the “most trusted” government agency alive and well in the 21st century.

Title: Going Postal (Pinnacle true crime)

Visit 12 states with “isolated incidents?” from 1983 to 1996. The GAO issued recommendations for changes including one that suggested the USPS “Select and train managers who can serve as facilitators/counselors and who have the skills experience, and interest to treat employees with respect and dignity, positively motivate employees, recognize and reward employees for good work, promote teamwork, and deal effectively with poor performers.” Statistics report a higher rate of taxi drivers and liquor store clerks murdered on the job. “They didn’t bother to mention that cabbies and clerks weren’t being slaughtered by fellow cabbies and clerks.” Data also details post offices don’t have a high rate of homicide, but they have an exceptionally high rate of employees who kill coworkers.

Titles: Deep Inside LiteBlue & Thinking Inside the LiteBlue Box

A deck plate perspective and representative sample of workplace leaders with an industrial age mentality utilizing a confrontational style of leadership and independently choosing to show limited technical expertise. An absence of postal pride leads to a decline in business performance standards. Two manuscripts loaded with hot minute topics impacting teamwork on the workroom floor. Proof there is a desperate need to drive fear out of the organization.

Title: Preserving the People’s Post Office

This book should be obligatory reading for all postal employees aspiring to management, or leadership positions with USPS. Nothing is more important than understanding where the numbers come from and how to keep them alive through employee cooperation, teamwork, participation and treating others with dignity and respect. It builds a compelling case for “never privatizing” the USPS.

Title: Any Mail for Me?

This is a superb story about five thousand years of mail for kids of all ages. Back-in-the-day messages were tattooed on shaved scalps of slaves whose hair was allowed to grow before being sent on an errand to deliver the message. Today, thousands of century’s later mail is the best way to talk to anyone else without knowing what was said. It is much more personal than email and word of mouth.

Title: The Last Monopoly: Privatizing the Postal Service for the Information Age

This is a very good topic for discussion about the notion among postal employees. There is a lot of information for privatizing the United States Postal Service and getting rid of the monopoly. “Employee owners approach their jobs with a far different attitude than most working people. They feel personally responsible for their company’s performance, they are loyal to their company, and they are responsive to their needs. That situation, in turn, creates a productive sense of teamwork between management and non-managerial employees.” That’s what the author said.

Title: The Tainted Eagle

A transparent story with actual documentation displayed inside. A letter carrier shop steward that communicated, investigated, represented, and followed up union business for the membership. He exhausted the entire system and was engaged in a very long contest for justice which was even minimized by people who should have been on his side. Read this book to see what he has done, and continue to follow his story to see what he is doing today.

Title: Beyond Going Postal: Shifting from Workplace Tragedies and Toxic Work Environments to a Safe and Healthy Organization

We all want to run our business more efficiently so it’s time to bring in one particular expert who can help! This is a real modern day account of the cultural reality inside the United States Postal Service in the year 2010. It depicts the reality of a leadership tone that has a significant influence on productivity in the postal work environment. It doesn’t matter if you are a craft employee, resource worker, supervisor, manager, or labor leader. You will relate to this bottom up perspective from an author who walks the talk, been there, done that, and got 20/20 hindsight to prove it.

Title: There’s Always Work at the Post Office: African American Postal Workers and the Fight for Jobs, Justice and Equality

If we don’t fight for change it won’t happen as apparent from this very well researched book. In 1961 President Kennedy said “Let the public service be a proud and lively career.” The author does a superb job presenting an important history lesson for all of us. Find out about the history of 9 postal unions; NALC, UFPC, NPMHU, NAPOGSME, NFPOMVED, NASDM, NPU, NA, NRLCA. You’ll have to dive into this book to get the real lowdown. Recall the 1970 strike with the euphemism for the strike weapon being “imposition of economic sanctions.” Learn about the wildcat powder keg, collective begging, and review the contributions of APWU Moe Biller and William Burrus.

Those titles are just a few of the many available to all who care about their working environment and the arduous conditions associated with delivering the mail. Knowing what has occurred in the past prevents all of us from repeating the same mistakes. The choice to read will motivate us to represent the serious philosophical spirit of those who have gone before us. We don’t want to be illiterate by choice.

Ronald Williams, Jr.
Postal Employee

Copyright 2010 R. Williams, Jr. and Postal Employee Network