OWCP
Our Attempt To Change Our OWCP Venue From New York City To Philadelphia
One of the most confusing and unnerving situations that a letter carrier can face is
grappling with the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). A nightmarish and
tangled web of busy signals, wrong numbers and unrelenting paperwork await the
unsuspecting claimant.Making matters worse is the incessant meddling by the Postal
Service's injury compensation department, More often than not, injured carriers wait weeks
for their claims to be reviewed followed by an eternity for their checks to be processed.
In South Jersey we are attacking this appalling problem on two fronts. First we are
attempting, through new legislation, to have our OWCP venue changed from the rat hole in
New York City to a more user-friendly Philadelphia. Secondly, again through grassroots
legislation, we want to wrestle initial control of the claims process from the Postal Service.
We feel that the injured employee or their union should be given the authority for primary
processing. Additionally, we are campaigning for additional OWCP staffing and recources
in order to advance claims faster. We are striving for a seven-day window from injury to
adjudication.
If any branch has had any success in taking on Workers' Compensation, we would
appreciate your sharing your stories with us. Likewise, any horror stories out there that we
can expose to our legislators to help illustrate our concerns would also be appreciated. We
will attempt to share any progress that we achieve on this problem with the delegates in Las
Vegas.
Mail to: Stephen J. Lipski, Vice President, NALC Branch 908, 218 Orlando Ave.,
Gloucester City, NJ 08030-1645
Or e-mail to owcp@nalcbranch908.com
This is a copy of a letter sent to Congressman Rob Andrews.
Feel free to copy the relevant parts and send him a note.
March 16, 1998
The Honorable Robert E. Andrews
Member of Congress
506A White Horse Pike
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
Dear Congressman Andrews:
For years injured Federal employees residing in South Jersey have had to struggle with the New York Office of Workman's Compensation Programs to insure that they receive prompt and proper care under the law. Within the last five years that struggle has become a seemingly unwinable war! The center of this struggle surrounds the logistical burden placed on claimants or their representatives to deal effectively with a unreceptive organization that is 200 miles away. The countless hours of busy signals followed by a tangled web of divergent examiners make it next to impossible to efficiently handle a claim. The employee, already traumatized by an injury, is in no shape to handle this out of control bureaucracy.
Mr. Congressman, that is why we are asking you to sponsor legislation that would change the South Jersey OWCP venue from New York City to Philadelphia. This venue change would make it possible for federal employees in South Jersey to have their petitions heard timely and accurately. It would eliminate the travel issue and insure that our people would speak to a real live human not an antiquated tape recorder!
I know that your schedule is a burdensome one, however anything you can do to help our hrassroots effort would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me at the address above. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Stephen J. Lipski, V.P.
South Jersey Letter Carriers
Br. 908
This is a copy of a letter sent to Stephen Trimble, Staff Writer for the Federal Times.
Dear Mr. Trimble:
Our Branch is undertaking a difficult if not impossible project: trying to reshape and make sense out of the Federal Government! While this raises the eyebrows of most Federal insiders we feel we have a legitimate chance.
In our little neck of the woods in South Jersey when a federal employee becomes injured on duty they must register their claims with the New York office of Workman's Compensation. This overburdened and understaffed office is approximately 200 miles away while a more user-friendly Philadelphia Office is within walking distance (minus the river) In order for all Federal employees to receive prompt and proper care we have contacted Rep. Robert Andrews and asked him to sponsor legislation that would change South Jersey's Compensation venue from New York City to Philadelphia.
While we realize that our grassroots effort makes sense, the reality is that the federal government is extremely resistant to change -- A change that this area desperately needs!!
So, if you feel that our story has newsworthyness we would appreciate any ink that you could offer.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call or write me at the address above.
In advance,
Thank you,
Stephen J. Lipski,
V.P. Br. 908
UPDATE
Thanks to the Postal Record article submitted by Branch Vice President Steve Lipski, the Brach was contacted by Ken Hamlett, Northeast Regional Director of OWCP, who has agreed to come to a meeting of the SJ Committee of Presidents on June 30th. Any branch member who has any questions or problems is urged to attend this meeting. Mr. Hamlett has stated that he will be bringing computers and personnel to solve our branch members problems.
UPDATE 2001
This fight is still ongoing. With the help of Congressman Rob Andrews, we are making some progress
towards at least getting a satelite OWCP office here in South Jersey.
