Informational picket set for November 14, 1998,
Accountability Day. All other locals and individuals are welcome to
picket.
The following is a open letter from Charlie
Withers, chief steward at the Royal Oak Post Office:
ACCOUNTABILITY DAY VII
Accountability Day VII-November 14, 1998, marks the seventh anniversary of the Royal Oak Post Office shooting - a tragedy caused by a hostile work environment created by postal management, condoned by postal management for the sole purpose of intimidating and threatening the workforce in order to "make the numbers", no matter what the cost!! A needless tragedy which should never have happened.
A Congressional hearing was convened on September 15, 1992, to investigate factors, which resulted in this tragedy. At this time we brought a petition before this committee and entered it into their records.
It stated: "We, the undersigned, are employees at the Royal Oak Post Office. We feel that the hearing scheduled in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 1992 should address the events, which were allowed to build up and come to a finale on November 14, 1991. All of us have been affected and feel that material has been covered up and not brought to your and others' attention.
Many persons who were "key players" in the conditions which were allowed in place here have never been held accountable in any way. Quite the contrary, they have been promoted or shifted to other cities to further their careers. Actions as this only makes employees feel the conditions, which festered here, could always return. If not here, then in other post offices around the country.
We feel the hearing should bring out information, which has NOT BEEN brought out and needs to be addressed. If it is not, then the word "justice" will be ignored and this cannot be condoned.
People were destroyed and the Royal Oak Post Office's services were practically destroyed because of the "madmen" allowed to control the power and the destinies of so many. This should never happen again...and we feel the hearings should address these actions. The recommendations of the investigators are one thing, but to bring out the truth is a must."
This document was written six years ago, and the truth has yet to surface to the public. We have attempted to bring it out and had to go up against all types of odds. It has been a long six years, waiting for documents, reviewing documents, grieving material not received, labor charging and continuously attempting to obtain cooperation from different agencies. During this entire struggle, the National NALC union has yet to lift a finger in support in any way.
We have done this battle practically by ourselves and with the support of carriers, clerks, and mailhandlers across the country, who have contacted us about conditions in their offices. We have done this out of the need for the truth about promotions, tampered evidence, and perjured statements. This information, covered in the Royal Oak Postal shooting investigation, must surface. The same type of deceit that was perpetrated in Royal Oak is happening throughout this Postal Service between upper management and craft employees and lower level managers.
Accountability Day VII is November 14, 1998, no matter what the NALC National wants! They can have their February 14 for Remembrance Day! We who have gone through the hell and those who are now experiencing a volatile workplace know that nothing has changed! That's why it is up to us to educate the public and let this organization know that Accountability is necessary. Accountability may never happen, but if we don't demand it, no one else will!
Charlie Withers
For those who have asked, "what can we do?", here it is:
On November 14, 1998, Accountability Day VII, wear black armbands, have informational pickets, let the local and national media know why and what Accountability Day is all about....And anyone wanting to come to Royal Oak Post Office, you'd be welcome in our informational picket, with much thanks!
For further information:
Charlie Withers
P.O. Box
134
Royal Oak, MI 48068
Phone: 248-546-7179