" IT IS WHAT IT IS"

I believe that this saying was THE SPAWN OF DEMONS or ( some misguided QWL-EI team attempting to justify the rape, burning and pillaging of the evaluated system used by the Rural  Letter Carriers        to determine their fate).

I can't honestly say which but either is the most vile of creatures that I can now think of, as in my opinion this metaphor comes to symbolize the 2008 mail count and all that has been freely given away by our Association, or taken by the USPS when dealing with our time standards and the idea of " a fair days pay for a fair days work".

I know that there are those of you that may believe that our method of pay is the most effective and proficient system of compensation and after 26 years in this system, I certainly know of the benefits.
Yet I can't help but wonder why, we as a craft are so fearful at even looking at alternative ways of compensation?
I pose this idea as we are rapidly approaching our NATIONAL CONVENTION and we will most assuredly be approached by one side of this issue or another. The arguments for evaluated are many and to be honest with you I prefer this method of compensation, as the many benefits of that system including but not limited to, RCAs for every route (oops that's a misrepresentation) day's off at our leisure (oops that's a misrepresentation) ability to go home when we've finished our job (that's a reality) are a blessing indeed, and yet an hourly system would assure a 8 hour day and 2 day's off a week.

Yes the argument of management following us around like little children would get in the way, especially those of us that would want to do our jobs and go home, but is it so vile that we even refuse to look at this as a viable option? Are we so blind as to believe that the evaluated system is the only way?

I think back to our forefathers and their efforts to create this system when they grappled with the implementation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in May of 1974 and subsequent legislation, and wonder if then it was their intent to see our time standards diminish by ( hook or crook ) our employer and our association to the point where we appreciate losses and no gains in time standards. Certainly we are not so smug, as to not think about those that follow as those that came before did?

Are we so involved with our own self interests that we have come to accept a vile issuance like " It is what it is " without even so much as a question of it's intent? We are being led down a path of destruction by our own actions by not even considering the viability of a alternative method of pay. We cannot be afforded the luxury anymore of not investigating all options available, if not for those of us that have a few years left, but for those that have only begun a career. Our actions or lack thereof in this National Convention will have implications that will affect this craft for decades to come. I understand that I can be overzealous in issues like my future, and I will not apologize for same, yet we have got to make the tough choices today for negotiations in 2010 will be here before we know it, and can we afford to not be prepared?

And Thats The Way Jay Sees It

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