From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 161: Talking Union with Colin Smalley and Chris Dols from the IFPTE Jun 30, 2024

Show notes

This episode features Colin Smalley and Chris Doles from IFPTE, a large international union representing various federal and private sector workers. They discuss their upcoming union election and the campaign to shift the union towards a more assertive, member-focused approach. They highlight the challenges of representing a diverse range of federal employees across numerous agencies and the lack of unity and coordination among federal sector unions.

The discussion draws parallels between their situation and the NALC, emphasizing the shared frustrations with unresponsive leadership and the limitations imposed by working within the federal system (lack of right to strike, congressional control over pay). Smalley and Doles explain that their union's focus is on improving working conditions, given the limited scope of their collective bargaining rights. They contrast their approach to union representation with the incumbent leadership, who they feel are too focused on maintaining relationships with political figures rather than fighting for members' interests.

The conversation touches on the importance of rank-and-file education and mobilization, citing the successful strategies of unions like the Chicago Teachers Union. They discuss their plan to conduct a survey to better understand the needs of their members and provide more effective representation, highlighting the need for increased transparency, democracy, and direct action within the union. They emphasize their collaborative leadership approach and their hope for a renewed federal labor movement focused on unity and fighting for better working conditions and societal improvements. The episode concludes with plans to maintain contact and collaboration between the IFPTE and the NALC to advance these goals.

https://www.ifpte.org/

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Episode 160: Question and answer period with presidential candidate Mike Caref Part I Jun 23, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration features a question-and-answer session with Mike Caref, a presidential candidate for the NALC. The interview, conducted in person, covers a wide range of topics. Caref begins by outlining his top five priorities as president: securing a strong national contract, addressing postal service mismanagement, improving internal union organization and communication, and implementing a standardized training program.

He then discusses the NALC's food drive, criticizing the lack of national support and suggesting improvements to future campaigns. He explains his methods for maintaining connection with the workroom floor, highlighting accessibility and regular communication with branch leadership. The interview addresses Caref's decision to leave the CLC, explaining his reasons and emphasizing his commitment to democratic decision-making within the union.

Caref details his differing approaches to contract negotiations and grievance handling compared to the current administration, advocating for increased use of arbitration and a more aggressive stance against management. He outlines plans to improve the grievance process, address issues like mandatory overtime, and combat management's use of electronic monitoring and unrealistic performance metrics. He discusses the importance of open bargaining and his willingness to explore constitutional amendments to increase accountability. Finally, Caref offers his opinions on his fellow candidates and reiterates his commitment to representing the interests of letter carriers and bringing about meaningful change within the NALC. The interview concludes with plans to continue the Q&A in a future episode.

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Episode 159: Mid-week surprise. Interview with Mr. James Brennan candidate for Director of Steward Operations for the NRLCA Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

This mid-week episode features an interview with James Brennan, a rural carrier candidate for Director of Steward Operations within the NRLCA. Brennan discusses the frustrations of rural carriers with their union's current leadership, drawing parallels to the situation within the NALC and the CLC movement. He highlights issues such as inadequate steward protection, insufficient training on new systems (like RRECS), management's abuse of overtime policies, and a reluctance to pursue arbitration.

Brennan details the "United We Scan" ticket he's running on, outlining the candidates for president, vice president, and other positions. He explains the NRLCA's grievance process, which he criticizes for its inefficiency and aversion to arbitration. Brennan emphasizes the need for stronger union representation that actively defends carriers against management harassment related to stationary events, scanner monitoring, and workload manipulation. He also points out the significant pay cuts many rural carriers experienced due to the flawed implementation of the RRECS system.

The conversation touches on the issue of CCAs performing rural carrier duties, and the need for better communication and collaboration between the NALC and NRLCA to address this issue. Brennan expresses hope for a more unified approach to combating management abuse across both crafts and emphasizes the importance of strong leadership that prioritizes the needs of carriers over internal politics or financial concerns. The interview concludes with a shared sentiment of frustration with current union leadership and a desire for positive change.

https://www.nrlca.org/

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Episode 158: Salted peanuts, including the Panel report and Mr. Chris Jackson's rebuttal Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Corey recounts a recent trip to Brooklyn, NY, highlighting positive interactions with local branch leadership. He then announces upcoming interviews with Mike Caref and James Henry (after the NALC convention).

The core of the episode focuses on the NALC's handling of the Article 10 charges against President Renfroe. Corey expresses his discontent with the outcome, arguing that the panel's report was biased and omitted key evidence presented in the Weir report. He criticizes the panel for injecting ADA and FMLA defenses that were not raised by Renfroe or his attorney and points out inaccuracies regarding the testimony being under oath. An audio clip of a business agent, whose identity is protected, is played which reveals a pre-determined outcome in favor of Renfroe and a dismissive attitude towards Weir's investigative work.

Corey then presents the unredacted panel report (23 pages), highlighting key findings and criticisms. Following that, he reads Chris Jackson's rebuttal (9 pages), which argues that the panel erred in several aspects of their judgment, particularly in granting Renfroe retroactive leniency and overlooking the significance of his actions even when sober.

The remainder of the episode is devoted to highlighting numerous instances of management harassment and abuse of letter carriers through scanner messages, focusing on the imposition of unrealistic time constraints and the use of technology for intimidation. Corey emphasizes that this is all a result of the weak leadership provided by Renfroe and urges business agents and stewards to proactively defend their members, specifically providing templates and strategies to combat these tactics, especially during the summer heat. He closes with a passionate plea for stronger union leadership and a renewed commitment to fighting for the rights of city letter carriers.

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Episode 157: It will be the Wolf, James Henry. I set the record straight. My conversation with Region 2 National Business Agent Nicholas Vafiades Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration begins with the announcement that James Henry will be the CLC's presidential candidate. Corey expresses his surprise and positive impression of David Noble's previous interview and proposes a debate between Noble and Renfroe. He also announces an upcoming interview with Mike Caref.

Corey then clarifies the events leading to James Henry's selection as the CLC's presidential candidate, refuting misinformation about the process and emphasizing that the CLC's choice was made after a unanimous recommendation. He uses the metaphor of "cancer" to describe the internal conflict that led to Mike Caref's departure from the CLC ticket and praises James Henry's qualifications and experience, emphasizing his record as an arbitrator. He contrasts Henry's strong stance against management's use of electronic monitoring with Renfroe's dismissive attitude, illustrated by Renfroe's letters downplaying concerns about carrier surveillance.

The podcast continues with Corey sharing several examples of management's actions (e.g., imposing arbitrary time limits on tasks, using carrier data for discipline) that he believes demonstrate the failure of the current union leadership. He emphasizes the need for union leadership to fight back against these policies. Corey criticizes the ignorance and inaction of some business agents and RAAs, illustrating this with examples of poorly handled grievances and a lack of training on relevant issues.

Finally, Corey presents a Zoom-recorded conversation with Nicholas Vafiades, a National Business Agent from Region 2, who explains his vote against the charges filed against President Renfroe. Vafiades argues that the Weir report was not the final word, that the charges were not substantial enough to warrant action before a full hearing, and that considering Renfroe's past DUI after he had sought treatment for alcoholism was inappropriate. The conversation touches on the importance of due process and the need for accountability within the NALC. Corey and Vafiades discuss the complexities of the situation, with both agreeing on the need for greater transparency and a stronger union response to management's actions.

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Episode 156: Interview with David Noble part I Jun 01, 2024

Show notes

This episode features a three-hour interview (Part 1) with David Noble, a candidate for NALC president. Noble provides a lengthy personal history, highlighting his long career as a letter carrier and union activist, including his close relationship with former NALC President Vince Sombrotto. He emphasizes his extensive experience handling grievances and his role in past contract negotiations.

Noble discusses his lawsuit against the NALC, aiming to increase transparency and candidate access to communication channels with the membership. He criticizes the current NALC leadership, particularly Brian Renfroe, for failing to address contract violations and for the creation of the CCA classification, which he advocates eliminating. He proposes several key policy changes, including increasing arbitration access, enhancing member education through training and resources like podcasts, and reforming the grievance process to increase efficiency and accountability.

He advocates for merging the NALC and the rural carriers' union and for open bargaining. He expresses a preference for adversarial grievance procedures and criticizes management's use of scanner data for disciplinary actions. Noble also clarifies past allegations against him and defends his long-term pursuit of legal actions against NALC officers, detailing specific instances of malfeasance. The interview ends with plans to continue in a future episode.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 155: The ultimate salted peanuts May 28, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration covers several issues facing city letter carriers. Corey criticizes business agents for failing to educate members on issues like the 22-minute load time and 60-minute office time, arguing that management is exploiting these poorly communicated policies. He highlights one exemplary business agent who aggressively challenged management's tactics, contrasting him with another who blamed members for the grievance backlog.

Corey discusses the dangers of wire cages being implemented, referencing handbook P0-502, which he argues doesn't apply to city carriers. He dissects a management document outlining a 60-minute office time plan, highlighting its flaws and urging carriers to request stewards during performance conversations. He also addresses management's use of PET and DOIS tools to manipulate office times, and criticizes locally generated forms used to document carrier inactivity.

The podcast then features a lengthy critique of a bizarre article written by National's chief of staff, a non-union employee, which addresses workplace sexism and harassment but fails to mention the president's own misogynistic behavior. Corey expresses strong disagreement with the article's tone and message, emphasizing that only those who have worked as city carriers have the right to define the union's problems and advocate for its members. Finally, Corey announces upcoming interviews with several union officials.

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Episode 154: Salted Peanuts May 13, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration is a passionate call to action and a detailed discussion of ongoing issues within the union, focusing on the need for a new leadership ticket and financial support for the "Concerned Letter Carriers" (CLC) initiative.

The episode opens with announcements of upcoming guests (David Noble, Nicholas Vafiades, and others) and previews a series of episodes focused on crucial issues. Corey immediately praises a shop steward, Joshua, for successfully obtaining financial compensation for his branch.

He highlights several upcoming meetings (including a Zoom meeting on June 2nd with Tyler Vasseur) and urges members to get involved in the CLC movement and support it financially, stating the necessity of financial resources for the election effort. He likens the current union leadership to cicadas – making noise but ultimately being fleeting – and stresses that the CLC ticket is vital for change.

Corey then addresses concerns that he's soliciting funds for himself. He clarifies that all donations will be directed toward the CLC ticket. He discusses a personal anecdote about his initial efforts, including a near-coop from the National union to support his efforts, and how the union thwarted his efforts. He uses this to emphasize the importance of members' support for the new CLC ticket.

The episode then pivots to a detailed discussion of various ongoing problems, including the implementation of "one-hour office time," "22-minute load times," and "stationary events," arguing that these policies, implemented through memos, are unsafe and damaging to carriers, citing Corey's concern about worker safety. Corey asserts that these actions represent an abuse of power and a disregard for worker safety. He urges members to grieve such policies and to seek support from their business agents, and emphasizes the need for education regarding these issues. He directly blames the current union leadership for these issues, stating they are cowards and not doing their jobs. Corey encourages letter carriers to learn how to document these abuses for grievances and to file them. He stresses that carriers' safety is paramount.

The episode ends with Corey providing specific financial information and details for members to donate to the CLC ticket, as well as information on an upcoming MDA car show. Corey expresses his deep commitment to the city letter carriers and his belief in a new, unified, and aggressive direction for the NALC.

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https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Episode 153: We've got a challenger. Going on the offensive dealing with management and stationary events May 06, 2024

Show notes

This podcast episode discusses a challenge issued by Nicholas Vafiades, a business agent, to debate positions live and unedited. Corey accepts and calls for other challengers. Corey expresses strong disapproval of the current union president, citing incompetence and a failure to address critical workplace issues. Specific criticisms include the president's refusal to take responsibility, inability to tell the truth, lack of remorse, and penchant for blaming others. Corey uses the case of Susie Miller, a shop steward whose son was unfairly treated by management and whose union failed to assist, as an example of the president's failures.

The episode focuses on two major workplace issues: excessive "hour office time" and "stationary events," which management is using to discipline letter carriers based on scanner data. Corey argues these actions are violations of the contract and result from weak leadership and complicit business agents. Corey details instances of management's tactics, including measuring mail volume with tape measures, taking pictures and videos of carriers, and questioning them on the street. They provide guidance to letter carriers on how to respond to these actions, emphasizing the importance of requesting a shop steward and consistently responding "I was working" to any questions about time spent on tasks. Corey further explains how to file grievances based on violations of the M-39 handbook, specifically section 134 concerning street management and the requirement for supervisors to accompany carriers on their routes. The episode concludes with a call to action, urging letter carriers to educate themselves on their rights and prepare to fight back against management's actions. Corey also mentions plans for a new union ticket focused on representing the letter carriers' interests.

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Episode 152: Everything Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration focuses on the recent vote on charges against the union president and Corey's frustration with the union's leadership. Corey criticizes the current leadership for incompetence and a lack of transparency, arguing that they have not adequately represented the city letter carriers.

The episode delves into the specifics of the vote, highlighting Corey's belief that the executive council's actions protect the president and diminish the letter carriers' concerns. He contends that the vote was a clear demonstration of a dismissive attitude toward the city letter carriers' issues. Corey notes that only one of the substantial charges against the president was upheld. He also calls out the executive council's decision not to allow the appeal of the "not guilty" vote to be heard at the convention, citing this as further evidence of their disregard for the letter carriers' concerns.

He advocates for a new union leadership, emphasizing the importance of integrity, a history of fighting for the letter carriers' rights in the workplace, and the ability to delegate. Corey then discusses various workplace issues, including the use of memos containing unreasonable time limits for various tasks, the increasing frequency of "stationary events" and management's methods for monitoring carriers, and the inadequate support and education given to the letter carriers by their union leadership.

Corey highlights the contrast between management's actions and the union's response, arguing that the union leadership's inaction has created a hostile and demoralizing work environment. He advocates for a more assertive and proactive approach to addressing these issues. He predicts future difficulties in contract negotiations based on the current leadership's approach and calls for a higher starting pay for letter carriers. He criticizes the current union leadership for being excessively compliant with management's demands and advocates for a more aggressive approach to contract negotiations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the current leadership's motives.

The episode concludes with Corey reiterating his belief in the city letter carriers' strength and potential for positive change, and encouraging listeners to support a new leadership ticket that prioritizes the letter carriers' interests.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com

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