I feel for Postal workers, but give me a break about how much tougher their jobs are than ours. Our workload is heavier, our workday is longer and our management is far more unreasonable. I know a few carriers, and they've said that only in the last 5 to 7 years has the harassment risen to our levels.
You've spoken to letter carriers; i lived with one up until 4 years ago. Our workday is NOT longer. My dad is currently at 8:30 start, but this Sat they are pushing him up to 8:00; his start a couple years ago was 7:30, and his day should be over at 5, but lately he has been out until 8, even 9, sometimes six days a week (and we spend most of our time in a truck, not on foot like them [or the WHOLE time of you got a foot route; they don't get trucks!]). In addition, we cannot be called in to work on a scheduled day; UPS has to ASK us (and some of us are offended they'd even ask); the PO has always had the ability to force my dad in, and have exercised on occasion; he does have high seniority, but that doesn't prevent them. Lately it has been happening a lot more.
In regards to harrasment, unless you suck as a driver, got caught sleeping with center manager's (or mgmt above) spouse, and for some reason haven't already quit, no ups driver knows what harrasment is. We complain because they come to us asking about times; we don't get written up when they ride with us and have a bad day; my father has, and some good friends of mine have been fired for similar offenses. The postal police have escorted my dad out of the building because a supervisor came up and cussed HIM him , ,out hviewed, and my father basically shouted 'Don't curse at me'! (my dad does not curse, and has raised me not to as well, no matter my level of amger). They go postal; what do we do? (And they are a union outfit being treated like this; it adds insult to injury because it should not be this way.
You and others often tell others who don't go by the contract for fear of mgmt reprisals (and really what can be done if we did go by the contract) to grow a spine, but then whine because a runner blows out your route and now your center manager/sup is asking what takes you so long (to that I say who cares what the runner does, stay out his business, mind yours and request a ride-along and let them see you aren't stealing time; for me that has always been the end of the discussion). My father and others finished their routes, are given HALF someone else's route at the end of theirs, kept out until 8, and then written up or suspended for not finishing in 8 hrs.
I'll say it again: I don't care how long you or anyone else has worked at UPS (which supposedly wasn't that bad before '97; my father has had me shaking my head at his experiences since I was in elementary school), you do not know (and will never know now that you are in feeders) what 'harrasment' is.