Press Release
For Immediate Release:
For More Information, Call:
Bob Williams, Photographer
314-367-7145 (voice/fax) or
Percy Green, Civil Rights Activist
314-533-1686 (voice/fax), percyg@sbcglobal.net
On October 19th, 1999 Edda R. Pittman, then employed as the Staff
Secretary of the Money Order Branch, USPS Headquarters, was
escorted from her job site based upon the still unsupported
allegations of the branch manager (Ramon Cuffie. Now retired)
that she had assaulted him.
Since that date she was forced to retire (effective 03-31-2001)
under less than ideal financial terms after 18 months without
salary, the results of a previously scheduled fitness for duty
exam by Dr. Stuart Ozar who determined her to be unfit for duty
in any workplace setting. At that time, she had 35 years postal
service, including several outstanding performance awards.
She has made many attempts to stimulate meaningful dialogue
looking toward a final resolution of an ongoing harassment that
began in earnest in July 1997. She has requested, many times, a
face-to-face meeting so that the postal service might “prove” its
case OR explain its position.
She has been unsuccessful, though assisted by the local office
staff of the area’s congressman in asserting her constitutional
right to face her accusers.
She wants to be reinstated to her former position, feeling that
she is much too young to be retired, even though she was
diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2000.
At the minimum, she believes she is entitled to 12 months
additional administrative leave and the repayment of her annual
leave, which she was forced to use as part of the settlement
tendered by the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) business
agent.
Among the issues yet to be resolved, after all this time, center
mostly on the fitness for duty examination – its appropriateness;
the conveying of confidential medical information sans a waiver
signed by the employee; the acceptance by the Postal Service of a
non DSM-IV diagnosis as basis for disciplining an employee as
well as fiduciary breaches by on-site union personel.
She has been disciplined for two charges brought by her immediate
supervisor that are considered felonies by the Postal Service;
however no arrest warrants are known to be in existence nor
negative administrative summaries compiled by the Postal
Inspectors.
It is the receipt of the fitness for duty examination report
indicating gross irregularities when compared with applicable ELM
(Employee Labor Management) regulations that prompts her to
consider, in addition to congressional inquiries, the possibility
of a psychiatric malpractice suit for failure to diagnose on the
part of the contract physician retained by the postal service.
The details on her continuing employment saga may be found in
this link:
Essentially she was forced to retire from the US Postal Service
after 35 years service because of intermittent "humming" which
she now understand to be medication (Ritalin) related AND based
upon shop talk and office gossip of her co-workers though she
doubts any documentation ever existed since she was never
officially counseled.
The shrink retained by the postal service should have been aware
of this well known side effect of Ritalin, had he not been unduly
influenced by the postal manager who was determined to fire her,
for reasons even now are not understood, but were never disclosed.
She can provide additional information, if needed. There's
a "story" here, with award-winning potentials, if she could just
find someone to listen.
What she is seeking now is a reclassification of her retirement
to disability rather than age-eligible and the return of annual
leave used in an instance where administrative leave would have
been more appropriate.
She really want to return to the workforce, but at this point
that seems impossible.
For additional information, please contact Percy Green, her
designated personal representative in these matters, at 314-533-
1686 OR Bob Williams, at 314-367-7145.
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