Classes of Mail

Latest Episodes:

NALC Constitution - Articles 19 - 22 Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

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 Byrne - President of the Colorado State Association Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

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.

Scabs and Ashtrays - Why We Defend ALL Carriers Sep 12, 2024

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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.

NALC Constitution 11 to 18 Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

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.

Eric Ellis - Academy Instructor and so much more Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

NALC Constitution Articles 7, 8, and 9 Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

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.)

Special Guest - David Johnson Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

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!

Letter from a Coward Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

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.

NALC Constitution Articles 5 and 6 Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

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.

Being in a Union Means Being Part of the Labor Movement Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

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

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