Workers March on Post Office

Dozens of postal workers marched outside the main Fullerton post office Friday, waving picket signs calling for the ouster of Postmaster Tim Bomersback and supervisors who employees contend have harassed them for years.

“Why are these supervisors still working? If customers complained about me I’d be fired already,” letter carrier Cathy Stevens said.

Bomersback, appointed to the job in 1989, was not available for comment.

The protesters accuse postal officials of failing to investigate scores of complaints ranging from overwork to sexual harassment. U.S. Postal Service officials say an investigation is underway and some results are likely by the end of the month.

Representatives of the National Assn. of Letter Carriers, the union that represents postal workers, said more than 60 complaints are in arbitration, 20 of which will go to hearings in September.

The latest protest came almost a month after workers from the Chapman Avenue post office branch went public about what they described as an atmosphere in which they are overworked and harassed about their physical appearance, race and sexual orientation.

On July 21, Rep. Edward Royce (R-Fullerton) said he would request an investigation after more than 30 employees met with his staff. Days later, Santa Ana Postal District manager William Almaraz, who oversees Fullerton, met with employees and promised to launch an investigation and send supervisors to prevent retaliations.

Employees say the people monitoring the situation have shown up every day, but have not spoken with individuals about their experiences. Also, they say, the offending supervisors are still on the job.

Outside the main Fullerton post office Friday, current and former employees and supporters marched along Chapman Avenue with signs reading, “Stop the Abuse” and “The postmaster must go.” Some passing cars honked horns to show unity, but business at the post office was not disrupted.

“Everything is fine,” Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher said.

Some customers expressed support for post office employees. “It’s great they can stand for themselves,” said Robert Vasquez. “We all need to survive.”