Kate: I’ve been working in a post office for decades. I’ve worked in many areas and many facilities, and the environments were always unsafe. But it’s “don’t be the troublemaker.” That’s what you’re told if you bring attention to it—especially in the beginning, when I worked in pen-turn.
WSWS: What is a pen-turn?
Kate: Pen-turn is the lowest level where all the bags are. But back then, they had these ramps, where the mail would come into this large machinery, and dust would all over the place. The bags are made out of fabric, so they hold a lot of dust.
Now they are made of plastic, so they are easier to clean. Back then, we called them “number two bags.” They had these huge buckles. When you went to drop that mail, the buckle could cut you on the lower leg if you didn’t know how to do it right. So, you have to learn to hold the buckle and drop the bag correctly. But they don’t teach you that.
So, yeah, you don’t have the proper protective gear to work the mail. You don’t have the proper lighting or the manpower.
