Classes of Mail

The results are in! For now... Our election is essentially guaranteed to be rerun. For now, we've lost. The incumbent ticket won across the board, which is no surprise, given their inherent advantages, and the additional advantages conferred by the election's improprieties. This episode also features a brand new computer that will be dedicated to podcasting. I recorded on Audacity for the first time. It sounds really compressed and muffled to me. Let me know what you think.

Amazingly, there are still more improprieties in our branch election. Michael is in studio to talk about the latest developments. It's a doozy!

John Murphy is back to talk about the Tentative Agreement, and more importantly, about the labor movement in general. We talk about our plans to vote no, and we talk about the importance of staying in the union and transforming it into a true rank-and-file movement.

The election in my branch is a mess. We're closing in on election day, and Michael and I are getting positive feedback from carriers, in spite of all the improprieties. We know that carriers in our branch are being disenfranchised, and we're fighting back against it.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, will be a National Day of Action for letter carriers. C Moline is on the program to talk about the contract, to urge all of us to VOTE NO, and to tell us what WE can do to help win back our rights and improve our conditions within the NALC. As always, C is a fantastic guest who brings great energy and enthusiasm, as well as a ton of information. Help us Build a Fighting NALC!

Leslie ran for president of Branch 2502 in 2016 and lost by a razor thin margin. Before and after, she has been a tireless supporter of her carriers, and she has been a mentor for Michael and me in our run for office, and as stewards. In this episode, she'll share her insights into the process, the role of branch officers, and a handful of other topics.This episode was recorded in my back yard, so there's no echo. We had to crank the microphone up so we could hear Leslie, and it worked. She sounds great. But there's also aircraft noise, and distractions from Annie. Listen and enjoy.

Shenanigans are afoot in the Branch 2502 elections. And wouldn't you know it... they all seem to favor the incumbents. We have still more errors in the election process. We also have a new development: Michael and I have been on the receiving end of a smear campaign. Good times. Michael and I talk about what's been going on as the day of the election draws near.

Correction: the 1.3% raises are not cumulative. They are each 1.3% of the original base salary. They do not compound.I am joined by special guest Michael Brasaemle, my running mate for office of Branch 2502. We talk about our opinion of the tentative agreement. Spoiler alert: it's unfavorable. We'll also talk about a possible path forward, using the referendum process, to end Renfroe's role as our chief negotiator.This episode was recorded in my back yard, so we don't have any annoying echo. On the downside, we have to compete with aircraft noise. On the upside, Annie loved it!

I have another update for you about how my campaign is going. It's been interesting, exciting, and stressful.

We'll read the election rules, and I'll talk a bit more about the process of campaigning.

It's official! I have been nominated for Vice President of Branch 2502. In this episode, you'll hear the follow-up to the issue with our election notification requirements. I'll also talk about how the meeting went, and give you some thoughts on strategy, and the future of our branch. Also at the meeting, there was a resolution to hold an informational picket on October 14, 2024, along with many other branches across the country. The debate was fascinating.

This episode is DOOZY! You have to hear about Section 5! (And so do my branch officers, who apparently have never read it!) I am running for office in my branch, so these rules are of great importance at the moment. It's a lively read, and I think you'll enjoy listening.

We finish up reading about the rules from the NALC Constitution governing federal and subordinate branches. These sections features your APPEAL RIGHTS if you are wronged by the branch, or by a branch officer. We also learn about the process for bringing charges against branch officers. I wish I'd have had this information when my local president fired me from the Carrier Academy, but what's done is done. I'm glad I have it now, and I'm glad to be able to share it with you. Knowledge is Power.

C Moline really impressed me at the convention. She spoke powerfully on the convention floor, and captured the room at the Build a Fighting NALC rally. In this conversation, we talk about the role of the union, what she's doing for her branch in Seattle, and we even get around to talking about delivering mail in the rain.

This episode will cover the duties and responsibilities of your local branch. I have been anxious to get to this content, and to see how well my branch is living up to its obligations. Listen in and find out! And see how well your own branch measures up.

We made it to 100 episodes! To properly honor this special occasion, we are graced with a special guest: James Henry! Join me as we get to know the next president of the NALC. Mr. Henry and I talk about his upbringing, his time in the Marine Corps, and how those experiences shaped the values he has today. We'll also talk about some of the changes Mr. Henry wants to bring to the office of president, and to the NALC in general.

This episode finishes off the first portion of the NALC Constitution. In this episode we'll learn about how amendments and resolutions get put before the members, and we'll learn about the special category of members who are in the NALC only for the health benefits. It's noteworthy this this is episode 99 of Classes of Mail. If things go according to plan, I will have a VERY special guest for episode 100. Time will tell.

Rick is an educator, a leader, and a wonderful speaker. He hosts a weekly Zoom meeting called "Coffee with Letter Carriers," which covers educational topics. He also has a back catalog of podcasts that focus mainly on the NALC's political activities. Rick and I discuss the value of training and education, and how the Post Office benefits from a properly trained work force. We also talk about what a State Association does. This episode probably has the best sound quality of any I've recorded.

On today's episode, we'll talk about the union's obligation to defend ALL carriers. When we defend carriers, we're also defending the contract.

We cover a lot of ground this episode. We start with the procedures for removing or disciplining a national officer. Next, we cover the union's various committees, our collective bargaining rights (including the possibility of striking), and we talk about branch by-laws. We finish up the episode with an article that describes what happens when your branch is so out of line that a trustee has to be appointed to take over. Good times.

In this episode, recorded at the NALC Convention, I sat down with Eric Ellis. He's an Academy Instructor, and the CSALC District 4 Officer, but that's only the beginning. In this episode, we'll learn about the many active roles that are open to carriers within our union, and Eric will tell us about his experiences with the Post Office and the NALC.

In this episode, we'll learn all the different national level positions, what their responsibilities are, and how much they get paid. (It's a lot!) We'll also go over how the NALC raises money, how it distributes that money, and who is responsible for it.(In this episode, I ask a question about Brian Renfroe getting a raise. It turns out I had heard misinformation. The NALC's LM filings showed Renfros getting a pay jump, but it is because he made the jump from Vice President to President between the filings.)

In this episode, I sit down with one of my co-workers at the East Las Vegas Post Office. We'll discuss issues within the branch, the region, and the NALC in general. We talk about some contractual rules, and implementation of Article 15. David was actually one of the first people I ever interviewed for Classes of Mail, but my episode schedule has been so busy, that it's only just now being published. Enjoy!

I got a letter! It was sent to me at my station, anonymously. It was an attempt, by this anonymous person, to discourage Michael, Jonathan, and me from running for office in our upcoming branch election. The letter asked a series of questions (mostly about knowing people's names, which is odd) that the author thought should be considered before we would take office. So that's what Michael and I did. Last night, in the cab of Michael's pickup truck, we went through the entire letter, answering each of the writer's questions. Sorry about the sound quality. It was recorded in the cab of a pickup truck! Although, it probably came out better than recordings in the echo-chamber that is my living room. In any case, it wound up being pretty fun, and it enabled some much needed conversation about how the branch is being run currently.

We'll read Articles 5 and 6 of the NALC Constitution, which cover election rules, and some stuff about the convention. In this episode, since we're covering some convention rules. I'll also tell the story about my branch president getting me kicked out of our branch seating area at the convention.

On this episode, recorded in my hotel room at the convention in Boston, I got to talk to John Murphy. He's something of a legend in these parts, because as a CCA, he and a handful of others WALKED OUT on an Amazon Sunday and didn't get fired. You'll hear his story, hear about his union roots, and about the labor movement more broadly.To read the story of John's walkout, follow the link below:https://labornotes.org/2022/09/florida-letter-carriers-won-back-our-sunday-breaks-direct-action

In this episode, the candidates for president, executive vice president, and vice president (THAT'S ME!), get together to go over our platform for the upcoming Branch 2502 election. If you're a carrier in our branch, I would urge you to listen to the ways we want to transform the branch, bringing transparency and accountability back to the hall. If you're outside of the branch, I'm sure you'll still find the topics and issues from Branch 2502 relevant and interesting to your own branch.

We're back to normal episodes. This week will kick off Season 4's objective of making sure we treat each other well. The NALC Constitution governs the way our union will run, from the national level down to the branch level. In this episode, we'll read through the first four articles, which cover the basic setup of the union, and the rules surrounding the biennial convention.

Some of the best minds in the NALC are at the national convention, and I was lucky enough to have two of them on the podcast. In this episode, we will learn A TON about handling grievances, making good arguments, and making yourself discipline proof. This conversation was truly one of the highlights of the convention for me.

A very tired Michael Brasaemle and I sit down to decompress after the conclusion of the NALC convention in Boston. We'll give our general take-aways, we'll talk about what the experience was like for a first-timer (me) and a second-timer (Michael), and we discuss the social aspects of being here.

Tyler Vasseur and I got a chance to sit down on Thursday morning at the NALC convention. We talked about the driving issues of the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) movement, chief of which is "Open Bargaining." On this episode, we'll learn how the movement started, what it's accomplished, and where it's going.

Fred is a branch president from Ohio, and he's the host of the Delivering Solidarity podcast. We'll talk about what it's like to be a union president, and we talk about the importance of communicating with your members. As a nice bonus, we talk a bit about podcasting itself.

Holy crap, I got to have Corey Walton on Classes of Mail! We talk about the value of educating our fellow carriers, and the need to have a union that's ready to fight management. And, starting at the 5:30 mark, Corey endorsed me for vice president of Branch 2502. Not too shabby!

The convention is awesome! I finally got to meet Marcie Miller, a master facilitator, Carrier Academy instructor, and an on-the-job instructor. We had a great discussion about the academy, our shared passion for teaching, and how to do right by our new employees.

I got to talk to David Grosskopf! He's a fantastic president who fights for his fellow carriers, and fights for his community. In this episode, we talk about his resistance to the plan to move mail processing from Buffalo to Rochester. He engaged his own members, the APWU, politicians, the media, and the public, AND HE WON! We finish by talking about the lessons the NALC can learn on a national level.

In this episode I'll go over the rules that will govern the proceedings at the NALC convention in Boston. I also discuss Robert's Rules of Order more generally, and talk about how these rules apply to branch meetings.

This episode is a heartfelt message about why I decided to run for vice president of Branch 2502. I'll talk about what motivates me, what's important to me, and what I plan to focus on when I get elected. I would encourage you to contact anyone you know at East Las Vegas and ask them about my love for City Letter Carriers. Ask them if I'm willing to fight for them. And please, share this episode with folks you know in Branch 2502.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

This is it! The end of the ELM! We did it! We read the entire ELM from cover to cover! This section covers our uniform policy, the EAP, and the withholding of our union dues.

On this episode, the Classes of Mail recording studio has its first guest, and my what a guest he is! Michael Brasaemle has announced his intention to run for president of NALC Branch 2502, unseating the guy who fired me from the Carrier Academy! And... he's chosen me to run as his vice president! Spread the word! Change is coming!

This episode will cover the remainder of the 800s, which tells us more about safety. Turns out we have to have fire drills at least once per year. Also, it's MANDATORY for new hires to undergo a medical evaluation. Is that happening?

No. The short answer is no. The long answer is nooooooooo. In this episode, I talk about the accusation that my local union president leveled against me, I get introspective a bit, and then I finish up by talking about what it really means to be anti-union.

The ELM is starting to feel a bit like a chore, but I promise to keep it lively and relevant. And I skip big chunks that aren't relevant to us. This section is about accident investigations and PS Form 1767. In fairness, this stuff does come up fairly regularly.

In this section we learn about health and safety programs. I'll point out a few defenses to discipline as we go along. Also, in this recording, I get to learn a little bit more about audio editing, because of a mistake I made with my new microphone. There are a couple of brief pauses, but I managed to take out the big chunk where my microphone was muted. Yay, me!

Today I'm going to talk about a new direction in the NALC, the Concerned Letter Carriers movement. I recently had a one-on-one conversation with James Henry, and he's earned my endorsement to be the next NALC president. I'll talk a bit about Henry's background, and this intended policies as the president.

This episode covers training. We'll learn who's responsible for training, and we'll learn about management's responsibility to make sure we're all trained up. Their failure to meet that responsibility is the reason this podcast exists. At the end of the episode, we'll learn about our HERO training records, which you should review. Finally, the podcast end with Annie in the background scratching and clawing as she successfully unmakes the guest bed so she can lay down for a nap.

This section of the ELM talks about ethical conduct, which applies to craft employees AND MANAGEMENT! It goes over laws that apply to the USPS, rules against discrimination, the actual attendance policy, and a handful of other general provisions.

In this episode, I'll talk about what I think makes an effective leader, and how I think our current leaders can improve. Mostly, it comes down to communication, and reaching our members where they are. Why don't our union leaders have podcasts? Why don't they host open Zoom meetings? What can be done to make our union members the most educated and empowered they can be?

This episode covers the employee social and recreational fund. (Wait, we have one of those!?) It also covers bulletin boards, manuals, lockers, and food services.

This episode covers the provisions for LWOP, the qualifications and definitions for FMLA, and includes a big section on administrative leave. We'll learn how court leave works, how the Post Office handles it if an "Act of God" prevents you from coming to work, and what you get paid if you die or get dismembered while you work at the Post Office.