From APWU: “In a letter to local presidents dated Aug. 6, 2010, APWU Director of Industrial Relations Greg Bell reminded everyone of the APWU’s long-standing policy, adopted by the National Executive Board, to boycott all employee surveys. The USPS recently notified the APWU of a new employee survey that they are conducting. We do not believe that it is a coincidence that this survey is being conducted just as contract negotiations are about to begin. In the past, the Postal Service has used these surveys to undermine the union in collective bargaining, and we have every reason to believe they will attempt the same trick again. We need everyone’s continued support in reminding members not to participate in employee surveys. ”
The APWU is asking union members to boycott USPS “Voice of the Employee” surveys in order to prevent management from manipulating the results to undercut the union during upcoming contract negotiations.
The results of the survey are likely to be misrepresented by the Postal Service in an effort to reduce employee wages and benefits, APWU Director of Industrial Relations Greg Bell wrote in an Aug. 6 letter to local and state union presidents.
The Postal Service recently notified the union that it would conduct a two-part survey of employees and customers “to gain insight into the public’s perception of the USPS brand and how the Postal Service has impacted them.” The first survey took place between July 26 and Aug. 6; the second is scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 20 and conclude by Oct. 1. Bargaining begins Sept. 1; the current contract expires Nov. 20.
Surveys have long been a point of contention between the union and the Postal Service; since 1998, the APWU has discouraged union members from taking part. A motion by the National Executive Board adopted that year opposed “the use of all surveys, focus groups, polls and audits as a means of interviewing employees and union officials to evaluate job-related and internal issues.”
“The Postal Service has misrepresented the results of employee opinion surveys in the past,” Bell wrote, including during contract negotiations, “when it used survey data to justify claims that employees supported its wage proposals.”
“Opinion surveys are often designed to elicit a specific response or result,” he noted. Bell pointed out that earlier this year the Postal Service conducted a poll that compared eliminating Saturday delivery to other negative alternatives. Based on the survey, the USPS announced that most Americans favor five-day delivery.
“Our locals and members have done a great job in the past, Bell said. “We need continued support in boycotting the surveys. Participation is voluntary, and members should refuse to take part.”
Click here for a copy of the letter to state and local presidents
I took the survey last year and actually filled it out. I blasted our supervision and had nothing but negative to say about the morons we have running our station. When the station manager stood up to read the results and said that not one member said that management is doing a bad job I decided that I will never fill one of these out again. I am now a believer in what this article says. I wonder if they read my survey first and decided to not send it in or if they changed the answers before they sent it.
Just return the envelope empty. I do it all the time with junk mail. I don’t like junk mail, but someone is paying for me to send it back to them.
I complete the survey because it generates revenue (envelope) and doing the opposite of what the union suggests is best.
Serious questions: How much money do these surveys cost? Who or what company gets the money? There’s a ? for Sen. Collins
Good questions J.J. I’m always amazed that APWU members still feel the need to fill the VOE survey out, even when our Local gives chances to win CASH for not doing so.
Touche’
Sirs,
Why does the Postal Service hand out the “Voice of the Employee” survey when it written by management?
When will the employees be able to have THEIR questions answered?
Why will management not ask the employees what is on their minds and actually respond?
Why does management want the employees opinion when they refuse to listen to their ideas, as the recent Office of Inspector General report found?