Postal carrier driven to, from, and around route because of drunk driving arrests
Posted : Aug 13, 2009 8:00 PM
Updated: Aug 31, 2009 3:30 PM
The U.S. Postal Service is expected to lose $7 billion this year and is looking to save money by closing offices across the country, including here in Colorado.
In the middle their financial crisis, we got a tip that the post office is paying extra to drive a letter carrier around, because the carrier lost his license after a couple of drunk driving arrests.
We followed the carrier and found he's driven to his route, so he can walk it, but sometimes he gets driven around his route by another postal employee.
We wanted to know why he gets driven, and isn't keeping a valid driver's license an important part of the job? Neither he nor his driver would talk to us about it.
Later, Post Office Customer Relations Coordinator Ron Perry told us us it all comes down to a union contract. "We have a contractual obligation to provide them, or make every effort to provide them with productive work," he said.
We asked why not give the carrier a route that he can walk without being driven at all, or give him a job inside?
"It has to be every effort to find productive work," he said, "not bump someone else in order to, again it has to be available productive work."
Perry says over the past several months, 4 employees have driven this carrier. 2 were managers who re-adjusted their schedules; 2 others were injured and couldn't deliver mail themselves. "So, whether they were driving the employee out there, or doing some other duty the cost to us was the same."
Despite the extra efforts made to keep the carrier on the same route, such as the drivers, and sending out a truck with the rest of the mail - because it's too much for him to carrier all at once - the Post Office says it does not cost them anymore money.
Perry says out of the 743 city carriers in Colorado Springs, 3 can’t drive because of DUI's.
News First Investigates has more questions we'll ask through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions, email them to jjarman@newsfirst5.com.
At this time, News First 5 has chosen not to release the name of the individual mail carrier we followed, given that he is not the only carrier in this type of situation. To identify him and not the unknown number of others across the country who've been charged with DUI and lost their licenses, could be unfair to him. We feel this is a system issue, not just an issue about 1 person.
brenda1224 at Sep 1st 2009 7:18 PM
Why can't they fire the guy? He is a danger to citizens. Drunk drivers kill every day. He cannot obviously be responsible for himself, what makes you think he is responsible enough with our mail?
michelle10 at Sep 27th 2009 10:40 AM
Okay, so my repsonse is apt to be unpopular. If this employee is pursuing treatment for the disease of alcoholism, as may be strongly indicated by the existence of DUI offenses, and the employer is willing to (a miracle unto itself) accomodate his process of treatment by whatever method is necessary, would that put this in a different light for those so disturbed by the events occurring? Addiction is a disease. Treatment is covered through major medical policies. A process of treatment must be followed before an individual is released and returned to work, with whatever restrictions may apply...abiding by such is both the employee and the employers legal responsiblility. There are way bigger fish to fry out there than the guy that may just be trying to maintain recovery from a brutal disease. If you cannot tell...I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I am a productive member of society, now removed from active addiction for 20+ years. Mr Jarman and those who are offended may not have all the story (and since this is most likely a medical matter...it is PRIVATE). You know, find the city official who is drinking and driving their official government vehicle...the ones who violate with impunity...they need to find the process of treatment...leave this person alone and let them, GOD WILLING, find life free of the disease of addiction. Ever wonder how your expose might impact others? What about the individual considering addressing their addiction issues? What about this individual directly...I would bet he just wants to do the next right thing, pretty tough with the condemnation of those who have no understanding of what they are attempting to scutinize.
erinkathleen at Sep 2nd 2009 3:37 AM
With so many people out of work these days, this man should have to give his job to someone who can abide by the law. America Wake Up!
Anymouse at Sep 10th 2009 7:32 PM
They can't fire them because the all-powerful union business won't allow it.
Unions are businesses, they market labour. They should be regulated like any other business. And in states that have closed shop laws, that makes a union a state monopoly, and should also be regulated as such.
ntmd8r3 at Sep 11th 2009 3:54 PM
And this is the government that wants to run your health care?