Mail Carriers Deserve More Recognition

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

It’s a sad, sad day in Pinehurst when the people who live here care more about their mail than the safety of the actual mail carrier!

The paper girls were given all this recognition by a letter writer in The Pilot (Feb. 7) because they delivered the paper the last Saturday that it snowed. But what people don’t know is that the ice didn’t even start until 4 a.m., and by that point the paper girls were almost done.

But the mail carriers didn’t even get to leave for their routes until after noon. I didn’t get out until after 1 p.m., when the roads were solid ice! So kudos to us for even showing up to case the mail, let alone deliver to those few streets that were actually salted and plowed.

I would like to thank every carrier who even attempted to show up for work that day, because all we got was a put-down. None of us live in Pinehurst, and I personally am just thankful that no one got hurt. If we wreck our cars we lose our jobs, as we are not paid as postal workers. We are independent contractors, and we are paid as such. We pay for everything ourselves: maintenance, supplies, gas, subs and anything and everything else that we need.

I have been told recently that our motto is through sleet and rain and dead of night, the mail will always go through. Well, maybe someone should tell the president of the United States of America that because he hasn’t had mail all week.

Is your Pottery Barn catalog really more important than a life? And if so, would it be different if it was your son or daughter?

Diann McKenzie

Route No. 52 at Pinehurst Post Office

Pinehurst

More like this story

carol 3 years, 2 months ago

I agree about credit should be given where credit is due. The mail carriers are so overworked and regulated by needless rules and regulations. Especially being independent contractors. I often worry about carriers, many of them I know, out in the snow sleet and other bad weather with no help or appreciation. They are not even allowed to have a non-employee ride along to help should they have problems while on the route in bad weather. What a job! Keep up the good work you dedicated carriers. Some of us do appreciate all you do to get us our mail in a timely manner.

Kelly 3 years, 2 months ago

These people have bid for these jobs! They knew what the job entailed when they bid for them!!!! When someone contracts me to do a job I have to do that job despite the weather conditions. I pay for all my own expenses not the person who has contracted me to do the job. I accepted the job knowing this first hand! I think the whole "contract" thing is a joke and Pinehurst should pay for our regular ole US postal carriers that wear a uniform and drive postal vehicles! A postal carrier was always a job of pride, a good paying job that people use to have to take a test to get now it goes to the lowest bidder....

I am appalled that these mail carriers, think it is okay to have a non contracted US Postal Carrier help them do their job! Our mail is federal property, it is a federal offense to tamper with mail, what makes it okay or a non contracted US postal carrier to deliver our mail? I wish I could bring my husband to work with me to help me do my work....

We are not talking about those pottery barn catalogues either, I think Dianne needs to find a new profession because obviously she can't handle the job she bid for and is paid to do!!!!

Comment posted by someone who is along route #52 in Pinehurst