By Katie Hamilton
Sedonakind
“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night, stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” So says the unofficial motto of the U. S. Postal Service. “…Rain nor sleet”…no, but being short five to seven delivery people in a small community like Sedona, yes. If your mail has been delivered late..or not at all recently, that is probably the reason! The post office is short a number of delivery people. Those currently delivering our mail are all now working seven days a week, delivering mail until 10:00 at night. Some delivery people are working up to 18 hour shifts. Delivery help is being brought in from as far away as Yuma and New Mexico. These people are living out of a hotel away from family and friends to try to get your mail to you.
Our Post Office is desperately trying to hire people. And, the holiday season with it’s rush of letters and packages is only making it worse! Now is the time to be understanding and kind to your mail delivery person. Let them know you appreciate them and all they are doing. Leave a little note in your mailbox letting them know you care. Or maybe leave a gift card or something else special like a healthy snack. A small act of kindness can make a big difference to our mail carriers right now.
4 Comments
Since hearing about this issue, I’ve been having fun leaving treats and notes for our ever-changing delivery person. I also decided to give candy canes to any workman in our yard/home, or delivery drivers for larger parcels. They’ve all gotten excited over such a small token. If I know they have children, I give them extras.
Since learning about this problem, I’ve been leaving small treats in our mailbox every day, and our mailman is so appreciative- he even writes a short note of thanks after each one!(Which we’ve said he surely doesn’t need to do!) We are now his own Xmas ‘Elves’. It’s Merry Merry on our street, try it on yours!
My friend used to deliver mail until she retired a couple years ago. I don’t know about now but back then she was considered a contractor. She had low pay, no benefits, no sick pay, had to use her own car and gas and it was an exhausting job. I’m not surprised there is a shortage of workers.
Yes Diane here in the VV we have both. When you work for the USPS you get fair wages, healthcare, and a pension! Then we have the contract employees, which get nothing but low wages. They bid on a route for rural areas, So its a race to the bottom, low bidder wins. The GOP has been trying to break the USPS since they made it impossible to fund their pensions so everyone thinks the postal service loses money. In fact the problem is Congress is forcing them to fully fund their pension for 75 years. So people not even hired yet, need their pensions paid for before they even start working. Sure is sad just another attempt to hurt and eliminate the middle class!