A USPS carrier claims he was suspended and threatened with termination after complaining about the extreme winter conditions the US Postal Service had him working in.
He had allegedly braved the brutal winter conditions of Winter Storm Fern, only to find he had nothing to deliver.
"Our letter carriers deliver in heat waves, blizzards, storms, and emergencies — and today they showed up again — only to be placed in harm's way with nothing to do and nowhere to safely operate," Jason Thompson wrote on Facebook Monday. Thompson works as a USPS carrier in the Cincinnati area.
According to Thompson, he made it to work to find his postal trucks buried by snow.
"I left extra early, it took me 45 minutes, usually takes 20," he said. "Our parking lot was poorly plowed. All the plowing was covering all the postal trucks, kind of burying them."
USPS Carrier Allegedly Suspended
Thompson also added, "We need more resources. A shovel isn't going to do. It's strenuous on men and women of different ages to accomplish it."
He said that there should have been more precautions in place.
"This is not how the hardest-working men and women of the USPS should be treated," Thompson said. "Why isn't there a plan for a level 2 to level 3 snow emergency that the districts can hand out that 'this is what you do in this situation.' We have none. We're sitting here with our hands tied."
Just hours after his Facebook post and critiques, Thompson claimed USPS warned him to take down the social media post or "there could be repercussions." "NOW IM GETTING THREATENED THAT IF I DONT TAKE THIS POST DOWN I COULD LOSE MY JOB!!! HELLLLLLP US BE HEARD..please!!!!" he wrote.
After the warning, USPS allegedly suspended him without pay.
"I have now been notified that I am on Emergency Placement with no pay! I hope this brings postive changes to ALL," he said.
Following the alleged suspension, USPS released a statement.
"The safety of our employees is a top priority, particularly during periods of severe cold. During extremely cold conditions, letter carriers follow established safety precautions," a USPS spokesperson told WXIX. "The Postal Service continuously monitors weather conditions and reinforces safety guidance to help ensure employees can deliver mail as safely as possible while continuing to provide reliable service to our customers."
