Carriers Leaving Service in The New York Region in 1961 had 4,709 "quits": 1,865 quit to take other employment; 211 refused to give their reason; 130 stated they were quitting because of insufficient salary; 86 that left for the military service said they had no desire to return. All these things point up to the fact that working in the Postal Service in the New York Region and other Regions is not as attractive as it should be. The Chief, the Civil Employees Weekly of New York City, carried an article to the effect that to aid recruitment, civil service examinations were being made easier. Under date of May 11, the article read: To Aid Recruitment N. Y., Queens P. O.'s A radical step aimed at recruiting a sufficient number of eligibles to fill Substitute Clerk and Carrier vacancies almost as promptly as they arise was taken this week by the New York Post Office. The step, designed to reduce the large number of failures in the written exam, was the elimination of the general abilities questions from the test. Thus, the written henceforth will comprise only questions on address checking and following instructions. The general abilities phase of the test also will be eliminated in the exam for the four Queens post offices-Jamaica, Flushing, Long Island City, and Far Rockaway. For the time being, the redesigned test will be held only for the New York and Queens Post Offices on an experimental basis. If it produces the desired results, it may be adopted for other post offices. Men and women who passed these phases of the exam in the past but were unable to score at least 70 per cent, the passing mark, in the general abilities part now have a greater chance of qualifying for post office jobs. The general abilities part consisted of questions on mathematics, reading comprehension and interpretation, vocabulary and spelling. Postmaster Begs For Help! The postmaster at Lynwood, California, harassed by the difficulties of recruiting employees at current pay scales, sent a slip into every home in the city, soliciting applicants for clerk and carrier positions. The slip delivered to the patrons read as follows: An Important Message from Your United States Post Office Postmaster Your Post Office needs applicants for clerk and carrier positions NOW. Starting salary for these civil service jobs is $2.16 per hour, with automatic annual increases to $2.63 per hour. Career postal positions offer excellent job security, good working conditions, and community prestige. Postal workers participate in an excellent retirement system, enjoy 21⁄2 to 5 weeks' vacation yearly, liberal sick leave with full pay, low-cost life insurance together with health and hospitalization benefits, plus opportunities for advancement to well-paid supervisory and executive positions. Complete and return this form if you are interested in a postal career, or pass on the form to a qualfied person who might be interested. The form must be completed and returned by the applicant. Thank you for your help. YOUR POSTMASTER THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, IN ITS OFFICIAL THE WORK LOAD OF THE LETTER AND BOUNDS BECAUSE OF WASHINGTON 25, D. C. PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 If undeliverable as addressed, endorse with correct forwarding address if known, |