Investigation of Alleged Mismanagement in the U.S. Postal Service

Allegations concerning mismanagement in the Postal Service have been investigated, with the primary focus on practices at the Pittsburgh Post Office. The allegations concerned: craft discrimination, official grievances, unavailability of information, overtime/excessing, reassignments, bidding mismanagement, and unheard grievances. Clerks were used for mail handlers' duties, but this practice is authorized and not inherently financially irresponsible or wasteful. Most grievances are resolved, but not timely. The use of overtime and excessing of temporary employees was justified. Reassignment between tours was limited and not excessive. Bidding mismanagement did not occur. A large number of contractual grievances of the postal workers union were found to be jurisdictional and, therefore, withdrawn for consideration by the labor/management jurisdictional committee. The management did cooperate with the union in furnishing records when requested.