J.N. Dahal, America
I hope you know many aspects of America, including its economic, social, political, and cultural realities. However, I am certain there is one area you are unfamiliar with. This write-up features the struggles of ordinary workers, and their struggles people rarely discuss. It includes those trivial things that go unnoticed, as people often don’t articulate their true emotions in honest words.
I recall a day, about fifteen years ago, when we refugees, preparing to move to the US, attended a training session in Damak, Nepal.
We were informed that we would likely be offered one of three job types: entry-level, skilled, or professional. On the basis of this classification, I would categorize my current job as entry-level.
I currently work at a massive 615,797-square-foot warehouse owned by the post office, employing over a thousand workers across three shifts. As a postal facility, it receives various electricity bills, gas bills, water bills, sewer bills, and such other bills by mail. It also receives magazines, and some rectangular parcels containing certain documents. Some clerks process mail using machines like DIOSS and DBCS, while Mail Handlers in the ‘APPS’ area transfer packages from containers to moving conveyor belts.
Yet other workers load and unload mail containers from trucks using forklifts while mechanics change the batteries of the forklifts and prime movers, and maintain the equipment. All these are parts of the entry-level job. Of all these jobs, the columnist works as a custodian, and his job involves mopping, sweeping, and cleaning the floor.
To put the same thing in different words, two things are constantly in motion at the post office warehouse: mail and workers.
Mail arrives from various companies, loaded into hampers and EPCs, with trays often bearing paper labels indicating delivery destinations and due dates. Some mail is bundled with rubber bands or plastic straps, generating a significant amount of trash. The presence of mail inevitably creates trash, which in turn secures the columnist’s role as a custodian.
In post office jargon, a ‘custodian’ is responsible for collecting trash, mopping floors, and performing cleaning duties – a role I proudly occupy. I have immense respect for this entry-level job and take pride in my work. To prepare for this role, one must attend a mandatory 16-hour ‘Custodian Training Course,’ which covers the proper use of cleaning chemicals and techniques. As a trained custodian, I am equipped with the necessary skills. With my walkie-talkie set to channel two, I stay connected with the mechanic and control room. Wearing gloves and a mask, I am ready to tackle the cleaning job with confidence. With my protective gear in place, I fearlessly collect trash and dispose of it in the compactor, unencumbered by shame.
“Shame?”
Our warehouse is a diverse workplace with colleagues from different backgrounds, including white, black, and Asian employees, all working together to create a clean environment. What is wrong in doing this? We all earn our wages, regardless of our tasks. Why should cleaning be viewed as shameful? Nurses handle bodily fluids daily, and doctors perform surgeries without aversion or distaste. Identical is the task of a house-keeper. Custodians like myself play a vital role in maintaining cleanliness.
If no one cleaned, homes and workplaces would become breeding grounds for germs and diseases. Have you considered the impact on our health? Cleanliness is essential, and every job, including mine, contributes to a healthier environment.
When I first applied, the post office was hiring custodians on an ad-hoc basis. I visited the testing center hoping to land the job. I passed two exams, 478 and Custodian Course 916, followed by an interview with the hiring manager.
Interestingly, I later learned that the post office used to exclusively hire veterans for custodian roles, particularly those with disabilities. Over time, they opened these positions to civilians like myself. In 2015, custodians were paid $13.25 per hour. Fast forward six years, and I am now a permanent employee earning $25 per hour. This income has greatly helped my family.
By now, you have likely forgotten the issue of shame and aversion. Let me ask: Have you ever changed a kid’s diaper or touched your own genitals after using the lavatories? Don’t you feel a momentary discomfort? I am sure you do, but it subsides after washing up. Doesn’t it? I am sure you will say it does.
Custodial work, including tasks like emptying trash cans, mopping, and sweeping, are easy, and straightforward.
So, for someone, who intends to hold the job of a custodian there is no need to feel averse. The post office provides training as needed, covering tasks like stripping and waxing floor tiles, power-washing patterned tiles, and cleaning ceiling light fixtures to remove debris and insects.
Custodians learn versatile skills that are useful in daily life.
The role may also involve cleaning restrooms, removing spills, and performing outdoor tasks like salting sidewalks during snow. Interestingly, custodians often work independently, with supervisors trusting them to manage their tasks without close supervision.
As a custodian, I have befriended colleagues from various departments who share their daily experiences, from Halloween costumes to Christmas gifts for their kids.
Listening to their conversations, observing their body language, and appreciating their emotions while working is quite fascinating. This job provides valuable insights into American culture, people’s behavior, and the workplace dynamics. As I move around the office, mopping the lobby and hall, I am often unnoticed, which allows me to pick up important details such as the new postmaster’s name or the latest transfers, like the new Mail Distribution Officer (MDO) and District Manager.
Through our work, we gain insight into our colleagues’ behaviors, thoughts, and perspectives. Sometimes, coworkers processing mail glance at me with disapproval. However, when I mention my hourly wage of $25, their expressions change dramatically. Startled by this unexpected information, their eyes widen in surprise, their faces acquire yet other forms. Before long, their looks and the gestures of negligence transpire into thin air.
In the past six years, I have seen many custodians retire after 20-30 years of service. Some have even been promoted to supervisor’s or mechanic’s roles. Mopping the floor can be a stepping stone to career advancement – you never know how far you will go. As a custodian, I am not just doing manual labor; I am also a citizen contributing to society and paying taxes. By doing my job, I pay the city, state, and federal taxes, playing my part in nation-building. Doing a custodial job, and contributing to the development of a nation by paying taxes is not a joke.
In conclusion, it’s impossible to imagine a well-functioning airport, hotel, flight cabin, or warehouse without the hard work of custodians and housekeepers. Those who appreciate the importance of these roles understand that diligence and attention to minor details are essential for success. Disregarding the value of such work can lead to a disconnect from the experiences and sentiments of the working class.
Trans: Mahesh Paudyal
