Jay's take on the National Convention

[P.T.]

Wow, What a long strange trip it's been.

First I would like to say thank you to those of you who chose to elect me to represent you at the National Convention. I pray that I was able to voice the concerns that were forwarded and voiced to me over the past year.

We made some progress on many issues and those will soon be released in full, yet I would like to address the election of National officers. As with any attempt to move in new directions we are required to infuse moderation with change. I believe we made serious change with the Officers that will lead us into the 2009 Convention then eventually the 2010 negotiations.

One of the most important issues that I believe was addressed with this new administration was that of a more translucent Board and it's actions. This very issue was addressed by myself with several of the officers and by their actions on the convention floor with the Auxiliary fiasco. Our leaders have and will be more available through our being able to have more access to the goings on in the National Office. This will be vital over the next year for we have to have the right people in the right places in 2010.

Next I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that all of the officers elected made it painfully obvious that the evaluated system in it's current form will be no more. This will be the focus of the 2010 negotiations and our future as Rural Letter carriers. We will be either in a modified evaluated system or hourly employees. Either way we will be in dire straits if the USPS continues to lose financially due to the economy and low mail volume.

Our new and reassigned leaders will be in a very painful situation in the next year as they begin to adjust to their positions in DC. Also this is our time to support and observe our newly elected officers and their abilities on our behalf. We need be vigilant as we are under attack by the USPS and they have no intention of caring who or what gets in their way. We are being downsized and outsourced and our future is unknown at this time.

Our new National officers are full aware of our plight and they themselves are being sized up by the USPS and it's 24/7 legal team. Our hope is that our leaders have the ability to conduct business and argue on behalf of the members of our association.

Another item I think we need to look at is what we heard on several occasions by the Officers at the convention and that is that our national board is overwhelmed by the amount of work that is being directed their way. We need to look at whether or not our representatives are enough, we may need more than just the resident board and four executive members who are able to handle our cause. This was made clear to us by the leaders and those that left office as they mentioned on several occasions that due to the overwhelming amount of work, they endured long hours and little opportunity to stay in touch with those of us in the field. This is of course a tool used by the USPS in order to distance our leaders from its members and thus create a rift.

We must now unite behind those that we have chosen and give to them our support as we have one more convention before 2010 in which we can make the choices that will affect the future of this craft. Never forget we are a craft that is under attack and if we fail to aggressively approach our negotiations we will be left behind like the last ten years have shown. This is the end of the evaluated system as we have known it for the last 34 years and its up to us to make the changes that will affect the next generation of Rural Letter Carriers. The time is now for us to accept the end of a archaic system of pay and embrace the future whatever that it holds for a united and fairly compensated membership.

And Thats The Way Jay Sees It  

[rsewell]

Man Jay, you were definitely a hard man to find. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet at this convention. Maybe next year.