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And if it IS a workers comp. injury, then the damn USPS SHOULD HAVE TO pay for it! Screw these lunkheads, they need to start doing something about the ergonomic problems anyway. But, yet, where are the Safety personnel with college degree's?? The dumbasses won't hire ANY!!!!!!!!!
Typical USPS sandbagging on OWCP and safety. Prevention is not important. They just sandbag after every incident. Damn footdraggers!
it doesn't matter if you have a degree in safety, I have enough experience in safety to know the rules. the problem is management does not listen to any safety advice or want to follow the rules because management only wants to "get the mail out" at any costs.
So much for "ERGONOMICS"!
Sadly, all the fakers are foing to screw the program for the 3% of IOD that deserve it.
I.o.ds, get back to work, or get out, you are brining us all down!
While it is true there are those rehabilitated workers (IODs as you call them) who take advantage of the system it is hard to argue with someone who has had back surgery or suffered through other surgeries some of which are failures as in my case and there are many of us. The compensation for it are nil. I, for one, do not like being considered "unproductive" . The standing around doing the "make work" will make anyone go stir crazy, but some people do not mind it. I have been a rehab for 17 years and all of the time I worked as much as possible while keeping within my restrictions. Generalities will get us nowhere. There are always bad apples who ruin it for the rest of us.
Management are the ones who assign people to do the work. I was told by the station Manager that he didn't care if I was lying down on a cot in his office; I was going to be at work so there wouldn't be any lost work days. I am so fed up with the stigma attached to being a rehab. How would you like to get hurt on the job and be in pain for the rest of your life?! and to top it off people like you think it is so easy to deal with. Get back to work or get out! What the hell are you talking about? The majority of us got hurt because we worked our asses off and got hurt in the process. I was hurt because someone else in the office ran into me running around trying to please the supervisor. Thanks for the support from fellow employees!!
degree's don't help,
Tell me, where did you get this "so-called" safety experience? Or are you, as they say, sandbagging?!
Management can be forced to comply,you just have to know how to do it and you must not know how; otherwise you wouldn't have made a statement like that if you can't back it up. I'm curious to hear your answer..........
anonymous,
If you don't like it - get out! The ones who have had surgery don't need to hear some B.S. from a nitwit who thinks they are a doctor and they really don't know squat.
This will be my first attempt at a post with no sarcasm. the issue here is that anyone can get hurt and we should not get screwed by ocwp if this occurs. there will always be those who are milking the system. don't bust your ass for EAS and get yourself hurt. WORK SAFE. Don't work your ass off and get hurt in the process, as these SDO's and MDO's will blame you, as they collect some more bonus $$$$.
OK. Enough with the lunacy! OWCP is a State/Federal organization completely separate from the PO (and any other business or company with employees). Businesses (including the PO) pay taxes to OWCP, regardless of whether they have an injured employee or not. A very small portion of this money comes from employee taxes, but don't look for it on your pay stub. It's generally lumped into the state and/or federal withholdings.
What the Senate bill proposes is to reduce the amount of tax the PO pays for OWCP, and increase the amount the employee contributes. This applies to every employee, whether you have an injury or not.
The 'lost work day' issue is an internal (and to a degree OSHA) goal. Excessive injuries do open a business, like the PO, to inquiry, negative press, and eventual fines.
But I digress.
The real issue is likely this: the more money the House or Senate can free up from the PO's bottom line, is more money that they can potentially get their greedy hands on.
Realistically, why would the PO or any other OWCP eligible business balk at paying less taxes? After all, even if they don't get the money handed back to them (in their budgets), they at the least enjoy a tax break!
The House version of the bill does not have the same provision on OWCP as the Senate version of the bill. The Senate bill really doesn't reduce what USPS pays to OWCP. It makes employees use annual leave for the first 3 days instead of immediately going on OWCP. The House bill has no such provision.
That provision is the least of your worries. The real issue is the veto threat. No doubt congress will hose the USPS and foist the escrow and military retirement costs back on us to avoid the veto. It is impossible to pay those costs and remain under a CPI price cap. Something's got to give, and that something will be service, buildings and jobs.
Beinformed,
The states don't have a thing to do with OWCP, it is ALL Federal - as in Department of Labor. State government has nothing to do with the US Postal Service.
APWUsucks, sometimes, those injuries are unavoidable; as in ergonomic injuries. These type of injuries happen over a period of time and doesn't really matter if you are busting your butt for management or not. Those, in my opinion, are the worst because they continue to do damage after the damage has already been done.
To USPSVICTIM, Whaaaaa, whaaaaa whaaa
f off
Hmmmm,
Each state has on Office of Workers Compensation that businesses or corporations with employees are required to pay into. If you don't believe me, check your local phone book in the State Government section. However, I have owned a small business (with employees) for 10 years. My Comp taxes are paid quarterly or yearly, my choice, but they are paid.
As for my previous statement about state/federal OWCP, it was made in general. Of course the PO is federal and probably doesn't sweat the state stuff. My point was that the PO doesn't technically pay for an injuried employee out on comp. However,there are mitigating circumstances that can come into play and the PO has certain obligations based on the circumstances.
Either way, the PO would benefit if its taxes were reduced or shifted to the employee. It's hard enough for us (employees) to make a living and have a decent home, car, and other amenities, and still put food on the table without having an extra burden saddled on to us. Gasoline prices are out of control. The cost of heating and other necessary utilities are rising, fast. Property taxes (at least in my state) are doubling. Costs of goods (food, clothes, etc.) are steadily climbing as well. On top of all this, state and federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are being cut to the bone. SSI benefits are being slowly reduced or stopped. I could go on, but everyone gets the point.
Adjusting or shifting the burden of funding OWCP from the PO to the employee is a slap in the face. Many work accidents and injuries are unavoidable. The injured employee should not have to pay an undue burden for getting hurt doing their job. But the Government doesn't really care about all that. All they see is money. For them, anyway.
Sorry, you are still "uniformed". This is federal jurisdiction; not state! The US Postal Service is of the Federal Government, not Alabama, Illinois or and other state.
The US Department of Labor has control over Federal work injuries; not the states. If you are injured on the job in the private sector, then, you do take it to the state workers comp. The US Postal Service DOES NOT pay in the state pools, period. It is ALL federal.
You may be thinking unemployment insurance, but, not on Workers Comp because it is handled by the US Dept. of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs.
little flower,
Get a life......before I deflower you! I hope some day you get hurt on the job; maybe then you'll have compassion for people.
Hmmm,
I understand what you are saying. However, I think you are still missing my point. My statement was made in GENERAL, to clarify for the other yahoos on this post that the PO does not control or pay OWCP claims. The states and Fed do, respectively, based on jurisdiction, as you pointed out. Most folks don't understand that the PO (or any other qualifying business) pays the same amount in OWCP taxes no matter how many folks are out on OWCP claims or on what type of injuries. And even though the PO has a legal right to challenge them, the actual claims and payments are decided by OWCP, not the employer.
And don't think I'm taking up for the PO on this issue. They may or may not have pressed for this 'tax cut', but they will surely benefit from it (if it's approved) while the worker suffers an extra burden. So don't expect them to fight it to hard.
I just think the people ought to know that its not just the PO out to screw with them.
Uncle Sam is not always your friend when it comes to money.
OIG has investigated and found that many of these workers are falsifying their claims. Many are dead beats that simply do not want to work. They would rather sit home and watch tv and occasionaly make a trip to the frigerator. The solution is to rehab all these emoloyees and have them gainfully employeed at Manpower, Walmart or McDonalds. Bet whey will have an overnite cure and beg to come back to work at the USPS.
veto threat?
what veto threat?
You mean the threat this administration has made hundreds of times on pieces of legislation and not carried out once. That ain't no threat. Unless of course you (or congress) is stupid enough to believe it.
283-little flower-
OWCP fraud is punishable by imprisonment and heavy fines, loss of employment, etc.. and rightfully so. So OIG would obviously deal with that, so what's your problem with legitimately injured workers?
So,you have a problem with sick or disabled people. Making generalizations about an entire group of people makes you both racists.
It all boils down to jealousy. You are jealous of someone who is sick or injured? Wish you were them? Maybe you will get your wish and people like you will treat you like the useless morons that you are.
You sound like a fraud! No jealously here. Over the years I've seen many of these so called injured workers sitting in the office answering phones. They are unable to do any lifting, bending, squatting. But once they are off the clock a transformation takes place. They are observed swinging a golf club with their union buddy at the golf course or working out at the local gym. Just disgusted at these so called sorry lazy a$$ workers who are commiting fraud and laughing all the way to the bank. Beware! OIG is watching you folks. You will be caught on tape and prosecuted.
Fraud ??? Riiiiiight. I had back surgery and was in the hospital for 15 days so I could answer phones for the rest of my life and listen to assholes like you walk around the building. You probably are one of those peice of shit supervisors that I have had to deal with for 17 years. I wished every F***ing day my back would get better so I could be out on a route, and away from all of the bullshit that was going on in the office. Or maybe you are a photographer, come and get me... I am swinging my golf club around wating for my picture to be taken. You shit for brains, I have had enough of your narrow minded crap, do not respond to me nor try to grab my attention with any of your derogatory comments. All of your comments will be ignored from this point on.
I have been a shop steward, a union president, and am now a facilatator. I will always fight for the right of other workers, I know that now you know this about me, you are even more pissed off. Well haaaaaaa haaaaaaa. I hope it makes your skin crawl, you peice of shit.
uncommon sense--you couldn't be more wrong (as usual). The reason Bush has never vetoed anything is because his veto threats work. Congress always gives in and changes the bills to meet Bush's demands so he won't have to veto them. Same with the postal "reform" bill. Bush wants USPS to keep paying the escrow account and military retirement costs because eliminating them would count against his insane deficits. So congress will give in and change the bill so we will have to bear those costs and Bush will not veto the bill. The problem is how does USPS pay those costs under a strict price cap? It can't. Bush's answer--just borrow the money. Just as he is doing to cover his deficits (along with raiding the Social Security trust fund).
And for some of the others--USPS pays millions into OWCP every year to cover the costs of our employees.
283,
Anyone ever point out the fact that you are a spineless little worm? Man, I would love to step all on you and squash you. That you deserve.
You must be one of these uneducated mis-managers who don't know how to manage anything. Hey, you know what, I had a management class not to long ago - guess what? They use the US Postal Service as a model on HOW NOT TO manage properly.....Imagine that!
Hmmm........Your response is indeed a person who is desperate need of personal counseling. Seek help for your personal problems before you take it out on your co-workers or you family.
Hmmm.............You sound as smart as that chair you are sitting on. LOOSER!
USPS victim.........You sound like a looser trying to get our sympathy. Not from me. In our plant we have seen employees milk the system for years. Maybe that is why you are an ex steward and president.
Your father wants you to read John 8:44.
I don't need or want anyone's sympathy, especially yours, but it's obvious that you are going to make generalities no matter what. I do realize that there are employees who are faking it. I wish someone would do something about it instead of give them our clerk jobs. When I got injured, I transferred to the clerk craft because I couldn't perform carrier duties anymore. I have the utmost respect for letter carriers. I was one and know the work is back breaking since my back was broken doing it. Also, I didn't say anything about being an ex Union Steward or ex anything for that matter. Besides what would milking the system have to do with being an ex union rep? You make no sense.
I do everything I can physically do at work . Most people don't even know I am a rehab. I got involved with the APWU AFTER I got hurt. I could have sat on my butt doing nothing but I volunteered for Union work while I was a box clerk, window clerk, registry cage clerk, or whatever else I could do. Anyone who actually enjoys answering the phone should have their heads examined. Some of us have legitimate injuries,moron!
LOOSERS
It is spelled LOSERS and you are one if that is all you can think of to say. It is obvious that you prefer to remain ignorant and oblivious to the truth and are a bigot and a racist by generalizing about an entire group of people. LOL
You are a racist and a crook. We are the victims because of your fraud.
What a bunch of hot dogs.
Right on.........
uspsvictim sounds like a fraud to me also.
BeInformed - you are very UNinformed. The PO does not pay any wokers comp tax, no one does. It is an insurance - private insurance company- that pays most comp claims. Wrong again - the PO does not pay the insurance-- they are self insured and all payments come out of PO funds. Same with unemployment. Sad that you coome off like a know it all but shows just how little you know. Best get back to those phones.
Well, I obviously hit a nerve. I am curious to know- what is it that I said that could possibly cause you-APWU and you,UPS- to reach such a stupid conclusion? You can't believe that an injured employee can still do productive work? Or do you just like to have someone around you can pretend to be superior to- some sick or injured person. Wow- that's a pretty sad way to feel important.
283,
Nope....not a damn thing wrong with me. I just know a imbecile when I see it and you, unfortunately, fit that category. Besides, I could run circles around you when it comes to management.
UPS,
Still trying to figure out what your dead-head ass is doing on here? So far, you claimed to be a publisher for UPS, a UPS driver and let's see.....what else? OH! I know. A totally asinine moron. My chair is smarter than you, but, a lot of things are smarter than you.........
9. Partially Disabled/Chronically Injured Employees. For a significant number of employees, repetitive motion injuries - such as back problems from chronic lifting to carpal tunnel from constant data processing - was as predictable as black lung disease for coal miners. Relatively few employees seemed to gain disability discharge. Many of these working wounded were assigned to book shelf-like work stations where they would repair damaged letters or hand file mail not suitable for mass sorting or posting. Often these folks with straining pain thresholds complained about the productivity expectations, limited rest breaks, etc., that management imposed. The formula seemed to be no pain, no gainful employment.
In turn, management often felt there were plenty of slackers amongst these employees. (And truth be told, some were.) To prevent wandering and inappropriate socializing these folks were also confined to a leper colony-like bounded area. Again, at times, I sensed some managers almost encouraged regular employees to scapegoat these "protected" workers who weren't really earning their salary. The disabled were also a chronic mirror for what could happen to "you" -- the currently non-debilitated employee. I encountered several workers who played down and worked with serious pain rather than risk the stigma of even temporary banishment to the colony for the "damaged goods." This was a festering sore on the workfloor.
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