Leather Shoes Blues

Skierstmoritz · Jul 23, 2019

Have to admit, in 9 years working for the po in various offices, never have heard a whisper about proper footwear. I guess I don't understand management's obsession over footwear. Most carriers I know are pretty practical folks.

RDruckus · Jul 23, 2019

Isn't a foot fetish the result of someone being separated from their mother prematurely?⛸????????

RDruckus · Nov 22, 2019

AdkGirl said:
Does anyone have a picture of that safety sign of safe shoes that we should be wearing...
The one I believe is supposed to be hung up in office but is nowhere to be found?

The sign that has the unacceptable flip-flops high heels ect….

I've never seen it, but I've only been carrying mail for 35 years!

Maybe some rural carrier academy instructor can tell you the specs.
(That's where I heard leather, or leather "look." Was also told that was only a percentage of the upper, but I'm not sure what proportion must be real or fake leather.)

btdtret · Nov 22, 2019

AdkGirl -- "Does anyone have a picture of that safety sign of safe shoes that we should be wearing...The one I believe is supposed to be hung up in office but is nowhere to be found?"

-- Dump your request in manglement's lap.

-- If the safety sign exists, there should be some kind of a number associated with it for manglement to look up.

-- From Step 4 ( F-53 ) which is part of the EL-814 -- Postal Employee Guide to Safety. Section IV, Part 4 -- Shoes. in part:

- Wear shoes that are fully enclosed at the heel, toe, and sides, made of leather or a substantial synthetic material ( canvas or nylon is not acceptable). The approved footwear for uniform program employees [ but not rural carriers ] must have the RS./USA label.

- Don't wear the following types of shoes on the workroom floor: Shoes with cloth, nylon, or mesh-woven tops, such as tennis shoes, athletic or jogging shoes ( except those with leather or leather-like uppers ), moccasins, etc. [ no mention of percentages of materials ]

-- If you need a sign, try this in Step 4 ( F-54 ), but probably not what you are actually looking for as it is from the EL-801 from 1985.

Wilco183 · Nov 22, 2019

Postal-xam@58 · Nov 22, 2019

In our office we get the shoe talk and inspection about every six months, l have never been sent home, but saw others be sent home to get proper shoes. Some bosses like to show their authority more than others, we get all kind of talks. Like the one,( If you don’t like your job, there’s a long line of people who are waiting for your job) or the one ( if you can’t do the job someone else will be glad to replace you) Of course they can’t use these much anymore because NOBODY WANTS THIS JOB ANYMORE ?????

Sandygirl · Nov 22, 2019

Windindaface said:
Just remember this applies to proper footwear on the workroom floor. Ergo once in a while take a glance at your bosses shoes call them out if you can. We did on one of the POOMS stooges when the Team was in office. Was a nice slice of Humble pie served because POOM sent them home or the option of go buy a pair and return. They went out and purchased a pair and were back in office later.

It should apply to all who enter the workroom floor. IE customer being let in the back way to pick up their baby fowl every spring. The truckers who drop/pick the office mail. Anyone who walks onto the workroom floor should have the approved footwear on. The workroom floor is anywhere from the back door to the backside of the Front Window Clerk station. If they don't mention it.

One thing seems to be common in my area with those who are into the Social Media thing and chat with others from other offices is... It does not seem to apply to RMPOS. They did not get the shoe talk or memo. This is wrong and our office REP got wind of this and conducted their own informal Social Media Questions. I was informed today they submitted a grievance. My question to REP was .. Who will be shoe snitch out there and will they provide daily pix of footwear worn? Or just say all good here?

We are RMPO and have to wear required shoes daily...

mwellis32 · Nov 22, 2019

I say get and wear a pair of hip waders for all the BS that management comes up with to put more wear and tear on us lowly postal workers! IF you can deliver 300 parcels this time of year and give me a day off, I don't care what you wear!

oi veh. · Nov 23, 2019

AdkGirl said:
Does anyone have a picture of that safety sign of safe shoes that we should be wearing...
The one I believe is supposed to be hung up in office but is nowhere to be found?

The sign that has the unacceptable flip-flops high heels ect….

I'll see what I can find for you...we have The Sign in our office, but I'm not losing my job to take a picture of it.

?

22222 · Nov 23, 2019

Our pm checks the bottom of our shoes

mwellis32 · Nov 23, 2019

My PM wants me to buy tires when they still have plenty of tread. I'd be broke if I did that. I just tell the PM the state inspection station says there fine.

Surprise! · Nov 23, 2019

Master has spoken so we must obey.

Can a rule be challenged successfully?

Is master correct? Does this make a difference? Will LLV's become unsafe and not salable when a new vehicle comes on line?

I once read an article that stated that Official Postal Shoes are not all that safe is this true of false?

Surprise! · Nov 23, 2019

mwellis32 said:
My PM wants me to buy tires when they still have plenty of tread. I'd be broke if I did that. I just tell the PM the state inspection station says there fine.

OMG I have had to fight with management to get new tires for LLV when I was at 2/32 tread.

Rt2mailman · Nov 23, 2019

For shoe info, go to the steward reference guide on the NRLCA site under "S" and look for shoes. There is info and examples.

11Bravo · Nov 24, 2019

Bukowski said:
This RCA is singing them! Today was manglement shoe inspection day. None of the carriers were wearing all leather, again ALL leather without a hint of mesh or other material. Most wear athletic tennis shoes. I invested in a pair of Keens ($120) last year. Very much a work/utility shoe, but it only has one swatch of leather across the heel, so they are now, more than one year later, unacceptable. The PM handed out a paper with the title "Footwear Styles Not Permissible While on Duty." It shows pictures of the inappropriate footwear, which anyone with common sense would understand are inappropriate. Stiletto heels, jelly shoes, house slippers, clogs, flip flops. It also lists canvas tennis shoes and nylon running shoes. I don't understand why either of these are banned, but ok. Under all the pics of banned footwear, it says,
"To eliminate slips, trips, and falls, do not wear the following types of shoes on the workroom floor:
Shoes with cloth, nylon, or mesh-woven tops, such as tennis shoes, athletic or jogging shoes (except those with leather or leather like uppers) . . .
Will somebody explain 1. How does a shoe with mesh, cloth or nylon prevent slips, trips and falls? Wouldn't it be the material out of which the sole is made determine the slip factor? 2. Is there something inherently unsafe in mesh as opposed to leather? Does leather prevent injury if you drop a parcel containing a bowling ball on your foot? 3. Doesn't it make sense to use breathable materials like mesh and cloth for purposes of keeping your tootsies as cool as possible during all this hot weather? I am a lowly RCA trying to keep my POV on the road and just struggling to get by. I don't have $100+ of disposable income right now. Very strapped. And I bought my current WORK shoes last year with the intention to wear them out. Can they really force us to buy new, all leather shoes? Is there anything in writing besides this paper the PM gave us? I have no idea where they even got it. The shoe fiasco may seem a small thing in the long list of absurdities foisted upon us, but I just don't have the money for leather shoes right now. I sit in the middle of a car with no seat belt on 55 mph roads (seat belt extender not workable for me, I've tried). Now tell me, are my utility work shoes with some nice, breathable mesh mixed with other materials and a sturdy, non slip sole the REAL safety issue here?

I started drinking, you can't make any sense of there logic and sense is don't try its maddening....