Mailroom Mayhem

High-speed machines and outside competition are pushing postalworkers to provide faster, better service. The pressure is driving some of them crazy

Pity the poor postalworker, however hard that may be for the millions who have stood in line for half an hour staring at the wanted flyers, only to have a gum-snapping clerk reject their package because it fails to comply with official wrapping regulations ("No string; paper tape only. Next!"). Attracted to their positions by good pay, generous benefits, job security and a predictable, not to say slow, pace, today's postalworkers are being dragged | against their will into the 21st century by the anthem of the Age of Fax: get a move on.

Signs are they haven't done so. Despite...

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