From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 171: Boston day 1. Don't ever underestimate the power of you Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

This episode is a recap of the first day of the NALC convention in Boston, focusing on the vote to overturn President Renfroe's decision to prevent appeals of the Article 10 charges from being heard. Corey begins by expressing condolences for the recent murder of a Chicago letter carrier and then emphasizes the success of the CLC in ensuring the appeals went before the convention delegates. He highlights the strong support shown for the motion to overturn Renfroe's ruling.

Corey thanks several individuals for their assistance with the podcast and emphasizes the power of the membership to effect change. He reports the results of the vote (2221 yays, 1596 nays), highlighting the significant margin of victory. He announces a planned shout-out session for branches at the Westin hotel. He expresses gratitude for the positive response to the podcast and the convention shirts, emphasizing the importance of member solidarity and the need to challenge the status quo.

He then introduces Jamie Partridge, who discusses his involvement in rank-and-file organizing efforts and promotes the upcoming Rank and File Exchange at the convention. Partridge emphasizes the need for greater transparency, stronger member engagement, and coordinated action to combat ongoing service reductions and management abuses.

Next, Charlie Miller analyzes the events surrounding the vote and President Renfroe's attempt to block the appeals process, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of Renfroe's action. He details the parliamentary procedures used by the CLC to get their resolution approved. He explains why the membership's right to hear and decide on the charges should be upheld. Miller expresses disappointment with those executive council members who voted to protect Renfroe but praises those who stood up for the membership and voted to uphold the charges. He also highlights the strong support for the open bargaining resolution and discusses the issues to be addressed on Wednesday during a CLC panel discussion.

Miller discusses the unusual security measures implemented at the convention and suggests this is a direct response to the growing rank-and-file movements. Corey concludes by encouraging listeners to attend the CLC events, emphasizing the importance of member participation in shaping the future of the NALC and highlighting the need for stronger, more accountable leadership. He promises daily podcast updates from Boston and encourages members to share their experiences and perspectives.

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Episode 170: Get in. We're going motherfuckerin Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration focuses on the upcoming NALC convention in Boston and the ongoing fallout from the Renfroe charges. Corey begins by addressing the "From A to Arbitration Shirt Day" scheduling conflict and providing updates on the MDA raffle and t-shirt sales. He then reveals Butch Lau as his source for information about the TRAP memos and criticizes the memos' design, arguing they intentionally opened the door for increased management surveillance of carriers.

Corey expresses anger over a letter from James Lloyd, which declares that heat illness prevention program (hip) training is not a contractual requirement and therefore not subject to grievance. He argues that this contradicts previous statements and actions by the USPS and highlights the ongoing falsification of hip training records. He then shares a memo from Manny Peralta highlighting the widespread falsification of hip training records and suggesting strategies for addressing this issue nationally. Corey criticizes Renfroe's response to the issue, noting his continued deflection and unwillingness to take responsibility.

He then introduces Charlie Miller, who discusses Renfroe's letter attempting to prevent the appeals of the charges from being heard at the convention. Miller argues that Renfroe's interpretation of the constitution is incorrect and that the convention has the supreme authority to decide these appeals. He emphasizes the importance of allowing the membership to hear and decide on the charges. The discussion shifts to the issue of Renfroe's lack of accountability, his apparent use of the ADA and FMLA defenses inappropriately, and his failure to apologize for his actions. Miller details his strong support for James Henry's candidacy.

Miller discusses the importance of transparency in contract negotiations and advocates for open bargaining. He notes that the current secrecy surrounding negotiations has created a climate of distrust among members, and it harms the ability to organize and mobilize around clear demands. He criticizes the lack of member involvement in recent contract negotiations.

Corey introduces Mike Caref, who provides an update on the planned balloon release in honor of the murdered Chicago letter carrier and clarifies the circumstances surrounding the incident. They discuss the need for a stronger union presence and improved safety measures, including increased funding for postal police. Caref also discusses the upcoming CLC meet and greet and the importance of member mobilization at the convention.

Corey then introduces Gary Lang, who details Renfroe's manipulation of the S&DC agreement to benefit a larger branch. Lang expresses frustration with the lack of response from both Renfroe and the business agent. He highlights the need for greater accountability within the union, and he mentions filing a charge against Renfroe.

The discussion shifts to the importance of member education and self-advocacy. Corey and guests discuss the need for stronger union leadership, increased member engagement, and a renewed commitment to fighting for better working conditions and wages. The episode concludes with Corey reiterating his commitment to fighting for the city letter carriers and encouraging members to attend the convention and get involved in the ongoing reform efforts.

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Episode 169: Getting militant with Mr. Tyler Vasseur and Mr. Ernest Gonzales. Talking about 'Build A Fighting NALC' BFN Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

This episode features Tyler Vasseur and Ernest Gonzales from Build a Fighting NALC (BFN), a rank-and-file reform movement within the NALC. Coreys begin by discussing the creation of a new section on the From A to Arbitration website dedicated to unique LMOU provisions, highlighting the need for greater transparency and resource sharing within the union. They also clarify Corey's previous comments about the TRAP process, emphasizing that his criticism is directed at those who used their positions to harm carriers, not those who genuinely tried to protect them.

Vasseur and Gonzales then outline BFN's plans for the upcoming NALC convention: canvassing, distributing flyers and buttons promoting open bargaining, and recruiting new members. They stress the importance of their movement in addressing widespread anger and frustration among letter carriers over low wages, poor working conditions, and lack of union support. They emphasize that BFN is not just a "young kids" movement, but a broad effort to reform the union and ensure better representation for all members.

The discussion shifts to the open bargaining resolution, highlighting its growing support and the strategies BFN will employ to ensure its passage at the convention. Gonzales emphasizes the importance of mobilizing state associations to exert political pressure on Congress. He also discusses BFN's plans to establish itself as a formal caucus within the NALC after the convention, emphasizing the need for a more democratic and member-driven approach to union governance.

Vasseur details the plans for a large in-person meeting during the convention and explains the upcoming GoFundMe efforts that successfully raised the funds needed for this event. The episode concludes with a reiteration of BFN's core principles and a call for increased member involvement and support. The team underscores the importance of challenging the status quo and holding union leadership accountable, and emphasize their determination to create a truly "fighting" NALC that effectively represents its members' interests.

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https://www.fightingnalc.com/

Episode 168: On to Boston Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

This pre-convention episode of From A to Arbitration begins with condolences for the recent murder of a Chicago letter carrier and then focuses on preparing listeners for the upcoming NALC convention in Boston. Corey clarifies that "From A to Arbitration Shirt Day" will be Wednesday, not Thursday, due to scheduling conflicts with other events. He provides updates on the 50/50 raffle for MDA (now accepting Venmo payments in addition to Zelle), and the convention t-shirt sales, which are doing exceptionally well. He announces upcoming podcast guests, including Tyler Vasseur, John Poskin, Jason Leath, Charlie Miller, and a pre-convention episode from himself.

Corey then reveals that Butch Lau, a retired postal worker, was his source for information about the "Trojan horse" nature of the TRAP memos, specifically regarding the use of GPS data for monitoring carriers. He criticizes the memos for allowing management to track and question carriers' activities without proper oversight, emphasizing the negative impact on morale and safety. He shares a humorous anecdote about his past collaboration with Butch on a safety initiative.

Corey discusses the ongoing contract negotiations, expressing skepticism about Renfroe's claims of progress and highlighting the lack of transparency. He criticizes the delay in arbitration and the apparent manipulation of the process. He then shares several emails and scanner messages illustrating management's continued harassment of carriers regarding stationary events and office time, emphasizing management's focus on "making the numbers" at the expense of carrier well-being.

Corey expresses his disappointment with the NALC leadership, particularly Renfroe, for its inaction on these issues. He then introduces a special guest, Mike Caref, who discusses the recent murder of a Chicago letter carrier and calls for greater protection of carriers. This segues into a discussion of the need for a stronger union presence, potentially including a postal police force, to address the increasing dangers faced by letter carriers. Caref also mentions a balloon release for the slain carrier and provides details about a CLC meet and greet in Boston.

Corey then introduces another special guest, David Noble, who explains the parliamentary procedure of "calling the question" and its potential use to limit debate at the convention on key issues such as open bargaining and the Renfroe charges. Noble discusses concerns about the integrity of the election process. Next, Gary Lang, a branch president, shares his experience with the implementation of the S&DC agreement, detailing how it was manipulated by the national union for political gain at the expense of his branch and his members. This fuels Corey's ongoing critique of Renfroe's lack of integrity and leadership.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the upcoming convention in Boston, the importance of member education and engagement, and a call for greater accountability from union leadership. Corey re-emphasizes the "slaughterhouse of failure" metaphor to describe Renfroe's tenure and his determination to help usher in a new era of fighting and transparency within the NALC.

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Episode 167: Getting back into education. JB goes beast mode on management changing our request for LWOP into AWOL Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

This episode focuses on addressing the issue of management arbitrarily changing leave without pay (LWOP) requests to absent without leave (AWOL) and provides guidance on handling such situations. JB begins with a personal update, sharing his excitement about becoming a grandfather and reflecting on a successful baseball coaching season. He then expresses gratitude to those who have mentored and supported him in his union work, emphasizing the importance of paying it forward and sharing knowledge to strengthen the union.

JB systematically explains the relevant contract provisions governing leave administration. He highlights the postal officials' responsibilities (ELM 511.2) and details the definition of AWOL from the F-21 handbook, emphasizing that AWOL requires a lack of notification or permission. He emphasizes the importance of obtaining and retaining documentation (IRM confirmations, 3971 forms, etc.) to prove proper notification and refute management's claims of AWOL. He also discusses the critical role of employee responsibility in submitting their own 3971 forms and carefully reviewing those generated by management. He provides specific details on using provisions within the ELM (sections 512, 513, 514) to counter management's claims and demonstrates how to argue that management acted arbitrarily and capriciously when changing LWOP requests to AWOL.

JB emphasizes the importance of obtaining interviews with management to establish their position on record and the use of various postal service reports (IRM denied leave log, IRMS leave summary) to support grievances. He concludes by encouraging members to utilize the knowledge provided to strengthen their own advocacy efforts. The episode ends with announcements regarding upcoming podcast guests and a call for increased member participation in upcoming convention activities.

Cites: https://fromatoarbitration.com/episodes-101-200/

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Episode 166: My conversation with THE Mr. Charlie Miller Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

This episode features an interview with Charlie Miller, a long-time NALC activist and former branch president, focusing on the appeals process for the Article 10 charges against President Renfroe. Miller begins by expressing condolences for the recent murder of a Chicago letter carrier. He then provides background on the Article 10 process, explaining the steps involved and highlighting the unprecedented nature of the charges against Renfroe.

Miller emphasizes the importance of the NALC's internal processes for addressing misconduct and expresses his belief in the union's potential for positive change. He commends Chris Jackson and James Henry for their courage in bringing the charges and criticizes those who remained silent or withheld information out of self-interest. He also praises Mike Weir's integrity in conducting the investigation despite pressure.

The discussion delves into the specifics of the appeals, with Miller reading the written appeals for each of the four charges. He highlights key points of contention and criticizes the panel's decision, particularly their acceptance of the ADA/FMLA defense, which he argues was not legitimately raised by Renfroe and misrepresented the application of these legal protections. He also criticizes the panel chair's ex parte communication with the NALC attorney and his failure to include the dissenting opinion in the final report.

Miller details his strong support for James Henry's candidacy and highlights Henry's extensive experience and accomplishments within the NALC. He criticizes Renfroe's leadership, pointing to instances of dishonesty, neglect of duty, and creating a hostile work environment. He contrasts Renfroe's actions with Henry's track record of integrity, competence, and dedication to members.

Miller concludes by discussing the importance of the upcoming convention, urging delegates to support the appeals and emphasizing the need for greater transparency and accountability within the union. He also promotes the CLC's efforts to reform the NALC and encourages members to get involved. The episode ends with a promotion of various NALC-related podcasts and a plea for greater member engagement and education.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 165: A one on one with the one and only Ron Speakman host of FedUp Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration features Ron Speakman, host of the FedUp podcast, discussing various issues facing carriers. Speakman begins by emphasizing the importance of carrier safety and encouraging listeners to prioritize their well-being over management pressure, particularly regarding heat-related concerns and the use of GPS tracking devices in postal vehicles. He acknowledges the union's reluctance to address GPS tracking concerns through grievances.

The conversation shifts to the role of union stewards and the importance of carrier self-advocacy. Speakman emphasizes the need for carriers to actively participate in documenting their experiences and gathering evidence, rather than solely relying on stewards or higher-level representation. He stresses the importance of detailed and accurate witness statements when filing grievances.

The discussion then touches on the lack of union education and the resulting complacency among some members and union leadership. Speakman highlights the need for improved training and information dissemination, especially among smaller branches with limited resources. He advocates for a more proactive and aggressive union approach to combating management abuses and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing members' needs over internal politics or financial concerns.

Speakman expresses his strong support for James Henry's candidacy for NALC president, highlighting Henry's leadership qualities, integrity, and experience. He criticizes the current NALC leadership for their inaction in addressing various workplace issues and their apparent deference to management. The conversation also touches on the importance of political action and the need for increased member contributions to the union's political action committee.

Finally, Speakman mentions an upcoming episode focusing on alleged misconduct by a specific HR manager and discusses strategies for addressing such issues within the union, emphasizing the need for thorough documentation and a systematic approach to pursuing accountability. The episode concludes with a promotion of Speakman's own podcast, FedUp, and a reminder of the upcoming NALC convention.

https://feduphq.com/

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Episode 164: Some novelties and special guest John Poskin Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

This episode focuses on non-compliance with grievance settlements within the NALC. Corey begins by announcing upcoming podcast guests and reminding listeners about the 50/50 raffle and convention t-shirt sales. He then criticizes Renfroe's collective bargaining update, highlighting the continued lack of progress and the secrecy surrounding negotiations.

Corey discusses the importance of open bargaining and criticizes those who argue against it, highlighting the fact that contract negotiations have not always been conducted in secret. He then presents an analysis of various documents relevant to non-compliance grievances (M-01517, M-01492, M-01967), emphasizing the importance of timely compliance and the use of strong language in grievance settlements. He illustrates how these documents can be used to build strong cases, particularly those involving escalated monetary remedies for repeated violations. Several examples of pre-arbitration settlements and arbitration awards from Region 3 are reviewed to demonstrate effective strategies for achieving compliance and escalating remedies for non-compliance. The awards illustrate how arbitrators are willing to order significant financial penalties for management's repeated disregard of agreements.

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing a training document from management outlining strategies for addressing "street inactivity" (stationary events), highlighting the tactics management uses to track and discipline carriers. Corey expresses outrage at management's approach and at the union's failure to adequately address these issues, placing blame on Renfroe's leadership and the inaction of business agents. He emphasizes the importance of fighting back against management's tactics and educating members on how to respond. Corey also critiques the way the union handles grievances, noting that some cases have been sent to arbitration while others, even those of similar nature, have been inexplicably dismissed.

The episode concludes with a call for stronger union action, emphasizing the need for effective training, assertive grievance filing, and a concerted effort to combat management's ongoing violations of the contract. A final interview with John Poskin, who discusses non-compliance from the perspective of a union steward, is included at the end.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 163: My interview of Mr. Tyler Vasseur with Build A Fighting NALC Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

This episode features an interview with Tyler Vasseur, a member of the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) coordinating committee. Vasseur provides an update on the open bargaining resolution, highlighting its significant growth in support since a previous interview. He explains that the resolution's popularity stems from both widespread anger over inflation's impact on letter carrier wages and heightened expectations among union members due to recent successful contract campaigns in other sectors (Teamsters at UPS, UAW).

Vasseur counters common arguments against open bargaining, citing historical examples of public actions in NALC and emphasizing that demands are not promises. He argues that a transparent contract campaign would mobilize members, build public support, and put pressure on USPS. He addresses concerns about potential negative consequences of open bargaining, such as a recession or Congressional backlash, emphasizing the need for a firm stance against concessions and building a strong, unified union.

Vasseur then details BFN's plans for the upcoming NALC convention, outlining strategies to ensure the resolution passes, including pre-convention mobilization and engaging delegates. He explains BFN's longer-term goals, including establishing formal leadership structures and a comprehensive program to transform the NALC into a more democratic and member-focused organization. The core principles of BFN are outlined: open bargaining, a $30/hour starting wage, an end to mandatory overtime, a workers' wage for union officers, and the right to strike. The interview concludes with information about BFN's upcoming Zoom meeting and a shared commitment to building a stronger, more effective union.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/ https://www.fightingnalc.com/

Episode 162: My rant, my union and the cold hard truth of who we work for. Not for the faint of heart Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

This episode is a passionate rant about the NALC's failure to adequately address management's harassment and abuse of letter carriers. Corey expresses intense frustration with the current leadership, particularly President Renfroe, whom he accuses of cowardice and dishonesty. He criticizes Renfroe's dismissive attitude towards concerns about carrier surveillance via GPS data and stationary event monitoring, arguing that Renfroe's responses minimize the issue and fail to acknowledge the resulting bullying and intimidation.

Corey shares numerous examples of management's actions, such as imposing arbitrary office time limits, issuing threatening scanner messages, and using GPS data to question carriers' activities without conducting proper street supervision. He uses Brother Gates' death as a prime example of management's disregard for carrier safety and the union's complicity in this disregard.

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to criticizing an email from a labor relations representative that Corey deems callous and dehumanizing. The email argues that the union shouldn't be responsible for carriers who disregard safety rules, using the example of a carrier being attacked by a dog for not carrying dog spray. Corey vehemently counters this argument, citing the union's responsibility under Article 14 to provide safe working conditions and its obligation under Article 16 to defend employees against unjust discipline. He argues that the email reveals management's lack of concern for carrier well-being.

Corey expresses anger at the union's inaction on various issues (start time grievances, stationary events, etc.), blaming both the president and business agents for prioritizing self-preservation over member protection. He announces his intention to become a business agent and promises a more aggressive approach to defending carriers' rights. The episode closes with an impassioned plea for a return to a more militant and member-focused union.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

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