General Post Office, New York City, 1955

AT THE website Tradition in Action, Elaine M. Jordan compares the demeanour and attire of yesterday’s mailmen with today’s “mail carriers.” She writes:

The stability and seriousness of the past has been replaced by a pseudo-juvenile and precarious spirit. Replacing the air of commitment and efficiency is one of sloppy and lackadaisical ineffectiveness. The mentality of the profession has clearly changed. Before mailmen were committed to serve society; now they seem to be turned almost exclusively toward their own comfort, rights and salaries.

The general impression is of disorder, lack of discipline and egalitarianism. The ridiculous is not absent from the picture [below] when one considers men who look more like boys in shorts rather than a professional cadre of trained workers. Immorality and the grotesque respectively appear when the carriers – male and female – show their legs.

                                           — Comments —

James N. writes:

I paid my bills in college and medical school as a summer temp letter carrier. In my first year, I wore the pony of the Cabinet-level Post Office Department, after a year off due to Affirmative Action, I did five more years as an employee of the “privatized” US Postal Service.

Even after two years, the unions organizing the USPS were much more powerful than they ever were under USPOD. In the old order, the postmaster was like a king – a political appointee with your (employment) life or death in his hands. This changed quickly so that by the time I put down my bag and picked up my stethoscope, the shop steward was the really big man.

In my little town, the carriers are still pretty good. In the urban setting, probably not so much.

Laura writes:

Interesting. I wonder if it’s still possible to get a job as a summer temp. 

Our neighborhood mailman does an excellent job. But the decline of our local post office is stunning. It looks like a Hallmark gift shop. One day, I went in to buy stamps and I commented on all the junk for sale in the lobby.

The clerk at the desk said, “Yeah, pretty soon I”ll be asking if you want fries with that.”

Mrs. P. writes:

This article caught my attention because I worked part-time as a mail carrier for a few years. When real estate sales plummeted in the early 80’s and we were left with two house payments after we relocated due to my husband’s career, I was forced to get work in order to supplement the family income. I took a part time job at our local post office as a relief mail carrier on a rural route. I was thankful for the job. The pay was good for part time work and I was not taken away from my family that much. I worked most Saturdays and whenever the regular mail carrier took a vacation or was sick. 

As a rural carrier I was not required to wear a uniform for some reason, but the rest of the postal workers wore uniforms including shorts in the heat of summer. Shorts became uniform wear in 1973. They must be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. Ms. Jordan objects to mail carriers wearing shorts because their legs show. She must think that legs are grotesque and immoral. Or maybe she thinks legs will lead to immorality if they are showing a little. But when the summer sun is beating down full force and it is sweltering outside, shorts are in order for the mail carrier. Mail carriers are bound to do a better job when they are dressed comfortably. I’d rather my mail carrier be comfortable anyway. 

Actually it was not until 1868 that an official uniform for mail carriers came to be. It consisted of a very detailed jacket, vest, pants, cap, and cape. As time went by consideration was given to summer weather and lighter weight uniforms were approved. In 1901 mail carriers were allowed to wear long sleeve shirts as outerwear in summer rather than heavy jackets. Then in 1944 short sleeve shirts were allowed. 

I am pleased with our mail delivery. The postal workers at the post office I frequent are always courteous and helpful to me. The few items that are on display for sale are merely a visual distraction and something to look at while standing in line. I never see anyone buy this stuff.

Laura writes:

Postal workers still wear uniforms and that’s a plus. I wouldn’t go so far as to call shorts “immoral,” but long pants do look better. In my experience, many postal workers look neat and well-groomed in their uniforms, but others appear slovenly. 

If the items on display are just a distraction and no one is buying them then they serve no purpose and should be removed. They detract from the dignity of the institution.  The post office used to have an air of seriousness; now it looks like a tawdry gift shop. But it still runs efficiently and postal workers, in my experience, are very reliable and courteous. 

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