From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 232: Getting ready for Monday. The constitutional crisis Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Corey discusses the charges filed against President Renfroe and Executive Vice President Barner. He criticizes the actions of the executive council in dismissing these charges without proper investigation, highlighting this as a blatant violation of the union's constitution. Corey argues this represents a dangerous and unprecedented circumvention of the constitution's checks and balances. He foreshadows a detailed analysis of the constitutional crisis facing the NALC in the following day's episode, featuring a panel discussion with various prominent union figures. Corey also provides several shout-outs, including the recognition of a recent arbitration win for a branch president in Kentucky and praise for stewards actively challenging management. He announces a major CLC event, a family outing at the Cleveland Zoo on June 19th, featuring national leadership candidates, and discusses his future podcast schedule, which will alternate between "Salted Peanuts" episodes on Sundays and in-depth educational discussions on Wednesdays. The episode emphasizes the growing concerns within the NALC membership over the leadership's conduct, and their growing distrust of the current administration.

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Episode 231: My goodbye. Reading some more 6-day count Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Corey delivers a farewell message to arbitration, reflecting on his decade-long career as an advocate. He begins by thanking Mallory and Cole for their guest hosting duties and reiterates his commitment to educational content, promising a six-day count training session in the following week's episode. Corey announces a Concerned Letter Carriers (CLC) fundraiser winner's drawing, scheduled for the following day, encouraging listeners to support the CLC. He offers several shout-outs, including specific praise for union members actively supporting their colleagues and addressing issues in smaller branches. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to a review of a recent arbitration loss, highlighting the importance of honesty and thorough preparation in the process. Corey shares insights into his strategy as an advocate, emphasizing the need for thorough research and preparation, complete memorization of case files, and a relentless pursuit of truth. He reflects on specific cases he's handled, analyzing both wins and losses, and underscores the significance of preparing and presenting compelling arguments, even when faced with management resistance and dishonest or evasive tactics. He stresses the importance of ethical conduct and integrity in arbitration, drawing comparisons between successful and unsuccessful strategies in advocating for members. The episode concludes with a look ahead to the future, outlining his plans as executive vice president to reform the grievance process and address toxic work environments, emphasizing transparency, education, and support for letter carriers nationwide. A recurring theme is the need for a more proactive and forceful approach to unionism, advocating for the needs of city letter carriers and contrasting this with current union leadership failures. Corey ends the episode by reiterating his love for the city letter carriers and his commitment to their well-being.

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The CCA Corner Volume 10: Mailbag Episode 4 Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Mallory and Badmouth welcome Thomas McDonald, Vice President of Branch 1642 in Yuma, Arizona. Thomas discusses the challenges and improvements he's seen in his office, particularly the significant CCA turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights efforts to improve communication and address concerns within the CCA workforce, leading to a more positive and productive atmosphere. The discussion transitions to CCA benefits, focusing on health insurance, with a detailed breakdown of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and the newly negotiated USPS non-career health benefit plan. This plan, available to CCAs regardless of their appointment year, allows for postal service contributions towards premium costs. The podcast covers eligibility requirements for various benefits, including dental and vision (FEDVIP), flexible spending accounts (FSA), life insurance (through the NALC Mutual Benefit Association—MBA), and death benefits (through the MBA). Specific costs, eligibility requirements, and contact information are provided. Important details regarding uniform allowances, leave policies (annual, sick, bereavement, FMLA, LWOP), and holiday pay are also presented, including details on how to claim uniform allowances and leave benefits. The episode concludes with a call to action for CCAs to get involved in their local union, emphasizing the importance of collective action in advocating for better working conditions and benefits, featuring outreach events in Texas.

https://fromatoarbitration.com/cca-corner/

Episode 230: Mr. Tyler Vasseur talks BFN. A charge? Me as the EVP, what can we expect? Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Corey discusses the recent Nolan arbitration decision and the ongoing challenges within the NALC, focusing on the actions of the current president, Brian Renfroe. He criticizes Renfroe's handling of contract negotiations, particularly the stipulated arbitration agreement, arguing Renfroe knowingly circumvented the membership's will by agreeing to a predetermined outcome. Corey accuses Renfroe of dishonesty and a lack of concern for members' interests, contrasting this with recent rallies and demonstrations of support by rank-and-file carriers. He advocates for organized resistance to management and a continued push for Renfroe's resignation, detailing how he plans to use this time to further organize and educate, including the establishment of "dogs of war" teams and a more accessible education platform through regular online and in-person training sessions. The episode includes an extended interview with Tyler Vasseur, a prominent member of the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) group. Vasseur critiques the recent rallies, arguing they were poorly organized and potentially used by Renfroe as a "bait-and-switch" tactic to divert attention from the failing contract negotiations. He emphasizes the need to connect the fight against privatization with demands for a stronger contract and criticizes Renfroe's leadership for failing to effectively represent members' interests. Vasseur outlines BFN's plans for future organizing, including a campaign to win the right to strike and bolster the union's negotiating position. He stresses the importance of grassroots organizing and member involvement to affect meaningful change within the NALC. Corey echoes Vasseur's concerns, highlighting Renfroe's alleged dishonesty and the perceived circumvention of members' will in the arbitration process. He further criticizes the current NALC leadership's apparent disengagement from members' concerns, and details his plans for a more assertive and transparent approach as executive vice president, including grievance procedure reform, educational initiatives, and combating toxic work environments. The episode concludes with a call to action, urging membership engagement and support for a renewed union movement, and the establishment of a strike fund to support potential future action.

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http://www.fightingnalc.com

Episode 229: The Nolan Award Summarized Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of From A to Arbitration, Cole and Mallory, stepping in for Corey, provide a detailed summary of the Nolan arbitration decision. They begin by clarifying that the effective dates for LMOU implementation is from May 27th to June 26th. They then proceed to summarize key changes across various articles, including non-discrimination (adding pregnancy), no layoff provisions (retained), salaries and wages (with increases of 1.3%, 1.4%, and 1.5% and a $1,000 one-time increase for Step P employees), COLAs (retroactive), back pay details, CCA pay adjustments, and modifications to carrier pay tables (eliminating certain steps in Table 2). A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Article 8, detailing changes to work schedules, the right to refuse overtime beyond twelve hours or sixty hours per week without disciplinary action, and the establishment of new overtime designation lists. They also cover the new employee retention and mentoring program (NERP), including provisions for training, initial assignments, and limitations on new employee work locations. The discussion emphasizes practical implementation strategies for members and emphasizes the need for shop stewards and branch presidents to ensure compliance with the new provisions. Cole and Mallory also explain crucial language changes and detail specific considerations for grievances and potential conflicts, emphasizing proactive measures for members to take advantage of new rights and avoid potential abuse of power by management. They also address various questions raised in advance and provide clarifications on important dates and details. A significant theme throughout the episode is the importance of education and proactive strategies for handling the new contract provisions, and the need for vigilance from union members to prevent potential abuses of power from management.

https://fromatoarbitration.com/fatas-2023-2026-nalc-national-agreement-guide/

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Episode 228: Next Generation Carriers Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

This episode is a repost of the Next Generation Carriers podcast featuring Corey, along with other letter carriers, in a lengthy discussion about various issues within the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), specifically the recent arbitration and the perceived failings of the current leadership. The carriers discuss the low turnout at recent "fight like hell" rallies, attributing this to a perceived lack of effective mobilization strategies from NALC leadership. They criticize the union's handling of the recent contract negotiations, particularly the union president's (Renfroe's) involvement in a stipulated arbitration award that, according to the hosts, was predetermined and didn't reflect the membership's will. Concerns are raised about the potential for Renfroe's actions to negatively impact the union's bargaining position going forward, and calls for his resignation are discussed. The hosts also lament the lack of transparency and communication within the NALC and express the need for a more proactive and aggressive approach to organizing and communication. They discuss the possible implementation of a more extensive education platform to empower and support union members in smaller branches. Further concerns are raised about the use of telematics for disciplinary actions and other workplace issues, with the hosts proposing that these should be grieved at the national level. The conversation also touches on political alliances, emphasizing the need to educate the public about the postal service's role and functions. The carriers encourage their fellow members to remain engaged and unified in the fight for better working conditions and against potential privatization efforts. Several members express frustrations with internal union politics and practices, and a call for systemic changes within the NALC is made. The episode also features the hosts' individual experiences and perspectives within their respective branches.

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https://www.nextgenerationcarriers.com/

The CCA Corner Volume 9: Mailbag Episode 3 Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

This is a "CCA Corner" mailbag episode featuring Leo, a newly elected CCA steward from Philadelphia. Badmouth and Mallory begin by apologizing for the infrequent uploads, citing personal life events such as moves. Leo, the guest, shares their background as a practicing attorney before transitioning to a career as a letter carrier. They describe their current work environment as overwhelmingly busy due to handling all Amazon deliveries at their station and frequent changes in management. They explain how their legal background proves advantageous as a steward, drawing parallels between legal practice and handling grievances. Leo recounts how their first day at the academy inspired them to become a steward, discussing the importance of proactive advocacy. They note that they were unexpectedly elected as steward. They then discuss how management's disposition shifted from initially supportive to adversarial after they began actively defending carriers' rights, recounting instances where interviews were abruptly terminated due to disagreements over Weingarten rights. They reflect on the challenges of maintaining composure when facing management resistance and shares their system for managing the large amount of data involved in their steward duties. Leo acknowledges the initial apprehension some carriers felt towards him as a CCA steward but emphasizes that they aimed to gain trust by proactively educating and supporting coworkers.

https://fromatoarbitration.com/cca-corner/

Episode 227: Hey Ho, Renfroe has got to go. Talking the award with the Wolf Mr. James Henry Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this emergency edition of From A to Arbitration, Corey expresses strong disapproval of the recent stipulated arbitration award, which he believes was a predetermined outcome orchestrated by the union president (Brian Renfroe) and postal management (Doug Tulino). Corey, joined by NALC Vice President James Henry, analyzes the award, highlighting its unusual features, such as a remarkably short timeframe for mediation (only two days) and the arbitrator's apparent acceptance of the union's original rejected tentative agreement (TA). He asserts that the process was a circumvention of the intended arbitration procedure, effectively dismissing the membership's clear rejection of the TA. Corey accuses Renfroe of lying to members and calls for his resignation within 60 days, threatening further action if Renfroe does not comply. He also criticizes the lack of transparency and communication regarding the decision-making process, particularly the lack of involvement of the executive council. Corey and Henry discuss the potential for a future challenge to the award based on procedural irregularities and express their commitment to continuing the fight for better working conditions for letter carriers. They encourage listeners to stay engaged with the union and participate in upcoming events, especially the CLC's national Zoom meeting scheduled for Saturday. The conversation highlights deep disappointment and anger among the membership at the outcome of the negotiations, and the hosts emphasize their continued support for the letter carriers.

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Episode 226: Beating managements telematics toy Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Corey discusses several critical issues facing city letter carriers, including management's increasing scrutiny regarding seat belt usage and the use of telematics. He emphasizes that the use of telematics for seat belt monitoring is a new tactic employed by management, and he argues it's a violation of the contract and a breach of procedural due process. Corey highlights multiple points in the National Agreement that he believes management is skirting to justify disciplinary actions against letter carriers, citing arbitrator case studies as precedent for his assertions. He outlines several arguments shop stewards can use to counter these actions, focusing heavily on the principle of corrective, rather than punitive, discipline. Key issues raised include the lack of local management access to telematics data, the perceived weaponization of seat belt policies, and the unilateral imposition of discipline without proper grievance procedures. Corey also addresses the CLC's upcoming campaign activities, including day of action rallies and Congressional outreach, calling for increased union support and engagement. He concludes by promoting a more aggressive and educated approach to responding to management tactics, suggesting the union should be proactive in countering these initiatives. A recurring theme throughout the episode is Corey's belief that current union leadership isn't adequately addressing the issues, and he plans to take a more forceful stance in the future. He also promotes various podcasts and encourages listeners to support the CLC and its efforts.

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Episode 225: The next Vice-President of the NALC will be Ms. Kimetra Simpson-Lewis a homerun for the city letter carriers. I read an hour about 6-day count stuff Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

This is a profanity-free podcast episode focusing on six-day route count procedures. Corey begins by thanking Mallory and encouraging donations to her. He then updates listeners on the Concerned Letter Carriers (CLC) campaign, highlighting fundraising efforts and emphasizing the need for a completely new slate of officers within the NALC, rejecting those who have not actively supported the city letter carrier craft. He promotes CCA Corner and encourages stewards to inform their CCAs about the podcast. Corey then shares several shout-outs to union members and branches for their activism, announcing upcoming rallies against USPS privatization. He mentions the announcement of Kimetra Simpson-Lewis as the CLC's vice-presidential candidate, praising her leadership and integrity, contrasting her actions with the current NALC president, Brian Renfroe. He expresses excitement about the CLC's upcoming election, describing it as the most aggressive slate ever assembled. Corey then addresses the recent photo of Renfroe with arbitrator Nolan and his attorneys, assuring listeners that resident officers will monitor the arbitration process to ensure Renfroe does not interfere with the legal proceedings. He humorously suggests paying for Renfroe to go on a cruise during the negotiations. He also promotes Brookfield Uniforms, highlighting a special offer for union members. The majority of the episode is dedicated to a detailed explanation of six-day route count procedures, outlining management's obligations regarding consultations with carriers and emphasizing the importance of carrier participation to protect their rights. Corey provides step-by-step guidance on identifying potential issues and filing grievances related to route adjustments, specifically focusing on waiting time, auxiliary assistance credit, and the appropriate use of data from various forms. He concludes by expressing excitement for the future of the NALC under the CLC leadership and reiterates his commitment to supporting city letter carriers.

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