USPS Mail Carrier Suspended Over Storm Criticism
A mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Ohio claims he has been suspended and threatened with termination after posting a Facebook message about the difficult conditions his colleagues faced during a recent winter storm. Surprisingly, when he arrived for work, he found he had no deliveries to make.
In his post, Jason Thompson acknowledged the challenges faced by mail carriers, stating, “Our mail carriers deliver in heat waves, snowstorms, storms, and emergencies, and today they showed up again. After all, they were left in a dangerous situation with nothing to do and no safe place to work.” He shared this on Facebook on a Monday.
Upon arriving at the Fairfield Post Office, located 42 miles north of Cincinnati, Thompson noted that the parking lot remained unplowed and that his delivery truck was trapped under “two to three feet of snow.”
“We have carriers driving in from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and nearby areas, risking their lives just to get to work, only to find out they have no mail or packages to deliver,” he explained.
“This isn’t something we can control, and it’s not our fault,” Thompson said, mentioning that other transportation services in the region were facing similar issues. He questioned, “Why are we making the carriers clear out the vehicles themselves instead of hiring a professional service for the task?”
Thompson also revealed that he was informed he must utilize his personal sick leave or annual leave if he wished to leave early, despite not having any deliveries.
“This isn’t how the hardworking men and women at USPS should be treated,” he asserted.
He further expressed frustration over the lack of a clear plan for handling snow emergencies, saying, “Why don’t we have a plan for a Level 2 to Level 3 snow emergency that the district can communicate? We don’t have anything, and we’re left here feeling powerless.”
Over the weekend, Butler County received more than 13 inches of snow, according to reports. Thompson praised his supervisors for their genuine care but pointed out that they lacked the necessary direction and authority, which raised significant safety concerns for everyone involved.
His post included images of a snow-covered parking lot, a buried truck, and a locked post office door. “We left earlier than usual, and it took us 45 minutes instead of the typical 20 minutes because of the dangerous conditions,” he commented.
Five hours after tweeting about his situation, Thompson alleged that USPS management urged him to delete the post, warning of “possible repercussions.” He expressed his concerns about job security in a follow-up, stating, “Right now I’m being threatened with the possibility of losing my job if I don’t take this post down!!! Listen. Please!!!!”
An hour after this warning, Thompson announced he had been suspended without pay. “I have now been notified that I am on emergency deployment without pay! I hope this makes a positive difference for everybody,” he shared.
Thompson is now appealing for support from the press, local politicians, senators, and even President Trump to help improve the situation.
The USPS, which operates as an independent federal agency, did not comment specifically on Thompson’s suspension. However, they did mention that plans exist for dealing with extreme weather conditions and that they are working to ensure that essential supplies are available for airlines to prepare.
A USPS spokesperson emphasized, “The safety of our employees is our top priority, especially during extreme cold.” They noted that mail carriers follow established safety protocols during such conditions and that the Postal Service is continually monitoring the weather to enhance safety measures, ensuring they can deliver mail safely while maintaining reliable service to customers.
