From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 216: 'The Giant slayer' Mr. Tyler Vasseur talking TA and the BFN Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

This episode features an interview with Tyler Vasseur, a leader of the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) movement. The discussion focuses on the successful "Vote No" campaign against the recent tentative agreement, the NALC leadership's response, and BFN's plans for the future.

Corey begins by praising BFN's efforts and highlighting Mallory's call for members to submit educational resources to the From A to Arbitration website. He then introduces Tyler, commending his courage and leadership. Tyler discusses the historic nature of the TA rejection, emphasizing the increased voter turnout and the parallels to a similar rejection in 1978. He attributes the "no" vote to inflation, anger at NALC leadership, and the organized efforts of the reform movement. He stresses the importance of making the union a real force in the workplace to increase membership participation.

Corey and Tyler criticize President Renfroe's handling of negotiations, particularly his broken promises and lack of transparency. They see his recent adoption of BFN's talking points, including calls for an all-career workforce and a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), as an attempt to save face. Tyler, however, views this as a victory for the reform movement, demonstrating the effectiveness of pressure and organized demands. He calls for nationally coordinated contract rallies to maintain momentum.

Tyler outlines BFN's plans for the future, including a campaign for the right to strike. He encourages listeners to join the upcoming BFN Zoom meeting and details how to start a local chapter. He emphasizes the importance of organizing and building a strong foundation for future fights, including the national convention, leadership elections, and contract negotiations in 2026. Corey reiterates his support for BFN and offers to promote their events.

Contact Mallory:

mallory@fromatoarbitration.com

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/contact

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

https://www.fightingnalc.com/

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oL-uZSHURhuzHlKGDL-3eA#/registration

The CCA Corner Volume 6: Special Guest James Henry Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

This episode of the CCA Corner features an interview with James Henry, the current NALC Vice President and presidential nominee for the CLC ticket in the 2026 election. The discussion centers around Henry's background, the CLC's platform, and their plans to address concerns relevant to City Carrier Assistants (CCAs).

Henry details his extensive union experience, starting as a shop steward and rising through the ranks to National Vice President, emphasizing his commitment to member education and advocacy. He outlines the NALC's structure, from the national president down to the local branch level, and criticizes the current leadership for a lack of accountability and transparency. He also expresses frustration with having his duties reassigned by the current president.

The conversation turns to the CLC's platform, highlighting their focus on transparency, principled contract negotiations, member education, and empowering CCAs. Henry advocates for standardizing training and opportunities across all NALC regions, emphasizing the need for consistent standards and mentorship for CCAs. He addresses concerns about the current lack of transparency within the NALC, promising more open communication and information sharing with the membership.

Henry discusses the CLC's commitment to improving the CCA position, advocating for better wages, working conditions, and career advancement opportunities. He also expresses his long-term goal of abolishing the CCA position altogether in favor of an all-career workforce. Finally, he stresses the importance of solidarity, both within the NALC and with other labor organizations, emphasizing the need for a unified front to advocate for workers' rights. He closes by encouraging CCAs to stay involved and unified, assuring them that the CLC and other NALC activists are fighting for their interests.

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

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Episode 215: We are the consequence Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

This episode focuses on the current state of the NALC, criticizing President Brian Renfroe's leadership and the recently rejected tentative agreement. Corey argues that Renfroe's statements about getting every possible penny from negotiations undermined the union's position and led to a poor agreement. He expresses anger over the low pay raise, the continued existence of CCAs, and other unfavorable terms, accusing Renfreo, Tulino, and DeJoy of "stealing" from letter carriers. He praises the membership for overwhelmingly rejecting the TA, viewing it as a sign of a grassroots uprising against incompetent leadership.

Corey emphasizes the need for the union to be a "consequence" for management's abuses, using an anecdote about protecting an inmate in jail to illustrate the role of union representatives. He criticizes management's use of 1767s and other tactics as forms of harassment and calls for stronger pushback. He details specific strategies for challenging 1767s, including referencing relevant M-numbers and requesting interviews with all involved management personnel. He advocates for aggressive grievance filing and using tactics like filing quarterly overtime grievances nationwide to pressure management.

Corey also discusses the upcoming NALC elections, expressing confidence in the CLC ticket's victory and his own future role as Director of City Delivery. He acknowledges the division within the union but believes it will resolve itself with the removal of Renfroe and his allies. He ends by thanking his listeners and promising to fight for their interests.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 214: 'The Wolf' James Henry speaks on the vote and what's next Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Two episodes are previewed: one with James Henry discussing the rejected NALC/USPS tentative agreement (TA), and another covering various topics like a retirement dinner and grievance payouts. Corey thanks his helpers for fixing his tech issues, enabling him to address a message backlog. He praises Henry's integrity and anticipates a strong discussion about the TA rejection, which Henry interprets as a clear message for better terms regarding workforce, hours, and pay. Henry argues letter carriers deserve top industry compensation due to their unique demands and stresses the need for a contract addressing both economic and work rule concerns. He outlines the next steps, including renegotiations and potential arbitration, advocating for a full TA review and greater officer involvement.

The conversation shifts to negotiation strategy concerns, with Corey and Henry discussing rumors of leadership potentially agreeing to non-pay TA items before focusing solely on pay. Henry insists everything should be renegotiated. They discuss the upcoming "day of action," with Henry encouraging participation and unity against the USPS. Corey questions President Renfroe's planned appearance, given his previous TA support. Both emphasize trustworthiness in leadership, with Henry affirming his commitment to honesty and advocating for fair treatment of all letter carriers.

www.fromatoarbitration.com

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Episode 213: It was indeed HISTORIC Feb 01, 2025

Show notes

Corey celebrates the city letter carriers' overwhelming rejection of the proposed tentative agreement with the United States Postal Service. He frames this as a historic moment, a declaration of war against both the Postal Service and their own union leadership, particularly President Brian Renfroe. Corey accuses Renfroe of being a "failed leader," "reckless," "clueless," and a "danger" to the union. He criticizes Renfroe for initially praising the TA as "historic" and the "best offer" while later shifting the narrative to claim the Postal Service made the offer. He highlights the grassroots uprising against the TA, emphasizing the disrespect shown to the city letter carriers by both the Postal Service and the union leadership. Corey claims the TA was full of "concessions" and "cowardice," and that Renfroe lied about its contents. He sees the TA rejection as a sign that the CLC will take back control of the union in the 2026 elections and that Renfroe and his supporters will be ousted. He emphasizes the CLC's power and unity, expressing immense pride in their actions and promising to continue fighting for their interests, even if it means going to arbitration. He contrasts the current situation, where the Postal Service and union leadership are "eating steak," with his vision of the future, where the city letter carriers will also "fight for steak." He reiterates his unwavering support for the CLC and his determination to continue advocating for them.

www.fromatoarbitration.com

The CCA Corner Volume 5: Mailbag Episode 1 Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

This episode of the CCA Corner podcast features an interview with Gus, an OJI trainer and academy instructor in Boston. Gus emphasizes that new CCAs often overstress about memorizing the case at the academy. Instead, he recommends focusing on learning the process of casing mail efficiently, such as starting with bundled flats, then larger flats, and finally letters. He also highlights the regional variations in postal terminology and encourages new hires to ask questions and not compare themselves to experienced carriers. Gus stresses the importance of taking each delivery one at a time, prioritizing accuracy and safety over speed. He reassures listeners that it's okay to ask questions, even after training, and encourages more experienced carriers to mentor newer colleagues.

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

Episode 212: A touch of salted peanuts and some house cleaning Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Corey provides a link to his recent in-depth interview with Ron Speakman. He emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency in his own commentary and discusses the ongoing challenges facing letter carriers.
The episode features:
Shoutouts: Recognition for dedicated union stewards, educators, and organizers.
Fundraising Announcements: Information on upcoming fundraisers, including a bowl-a-thon for MDA and a scholarship fundraiser.
James Henry's Response to California Wildfires: Corey praises James Henry's proactive response to the California wildfires, highlighting his on-the-ground support for affected carriers and his advocacy for improved working conditions.
Discipline Analysis: A deep dive into a sample disciplinary notice, focusing on identifying potential weaknesses in the investigation and challenging the validity of the charges.
Addressing Recent Controversy: Corey clarifies his stance on a recent disagreement with Mike Carref, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the issues and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

The CCA Corner Volume 4: An Impromptu Conversation with Alan Gegax Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Alan Gegax, from Classes of Mail. The interview discusses the treatment of City Carrier Assistants (CCAs), and the perception of CCA treatment from the East Coast. Gegax argues that CCAs are often mistreated by management and that the union does not do enough to protect them. He also discusses the importance of education and empowerment for CCAs. This comprehensive discussion gives a unique perspective toward perception of the CCA position, the union itself, and handbook provisions that receive little attention.

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

https://fromatoarbitration.com/postal-podcasts/

The CCA Corner Volume 3: How to Survive Your 90 Days - A Comprehensive Guide Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

This episode of CCA Corner provides a comprehensive guide for new City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) navigating their first 90 days at the post office. It covers both office and street procedures, emphasizing safety, accuracy, and the importance of union membership, and includes a guest feature from Richie Ray, host of Hot House with Richie Ray.

Office Procedures: We discuss the initial stress of the office environment, dealing with management, and the varying helpfulness of colleagues. It highlights the importance of On-the-Job Instructors (OJIs) as resources.

Street Procedures: We cover details of the three main types of mail delivery:

Park and Loops: Parking the truck and walking a street. Emphasizing proper parking procedures ("curb it, park it, break it, take it"), carrying the satchel correctly, and using dog spray.
Dismounts: Short stops at individual addresses, with similar safety precautions.
Mounted Boxes: Delivering mail from the vehicle, stressing the importance of placing the vehicle in neutral or park at each box.

Some additional tidbits we cover include:

Safety First: Checking the vehicle for safety issues and reporting them is paramount. Carriers have the right to refuse unsafe work.
No Mistake Pace: Prioritize accuracy and safety over speed. Speed will develop with experience.
Forming Good Habits: Establishing proper procedures from day one is crucial for long-term success.
Union Importance: Joining the union is strongly recommended, for protection and advocacy. Stewards are available to answer questions and help with issues.
Schedule Awareness: CCAs should check their schedule daily, as it can change. They are entitled to a minimum number of work hours if scheduled.

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

https://fromatoarbitration.com/postal-podcasts/

Episode 211: The Wolf, the post turtle, and another closing argument Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

This episode discusses the ongoing conflict between city letter carriers and postal service management, focusing on management's manipulation of clock rings to falsely reduce recorded office time. Corey criticizes Renfroe for his inaction and perceived complicity with management, endorsing James Henry as the next president. Corey details a specific arbitration case where management falsified over 480 hours of clock ring data, highlighting management's dishonesty and the union's struggle to hold them accountable. He emphasizes the need for stronger union leadership under the Concerned Letter Carriers (CLC) to combat management abuses, particularly concerning the joint statement on harassment and the falsification of time records, advocating for escalated monetary awards and holding upper management accountable. Corey also promotes upcoming CLC educational initiatives, including a new podcast and YouTube channel, and encourages listeners to support the CLC and MDA through merchandise sales. Finally, he recounts instances of management attempting to influence arbitration decisions, emphasizing their unethical tactics and reinforcing the need for a more assertive union.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

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