From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 101: making sure we are playing chess and not checkers with our heat training grievance. salted peanuts and grieving certified mail in the dps. May 22, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lengthy discussion, primarily focused on Corey's frustration with the union's response to various issues, particularly the falsification of heat training records.

The core of the episode centers around the importance of a strategic approach to grievances, contrasting a "checkers" approach (reactive and fragmented) with a "chess" approach (proactive and unified). He contends that some union leaders are not properly educating or preparing their members for these issues, leading to management's ability to continue harmful practices, citing specific instances where management failed to adequately address union concerns.

Corey delves into several arbitration cases to highlight patterns of management misconduct, particularly in the falsification of documents like heat training and time records. He argues that management often uses misleading metrics to create a perception of good performance while, in reality, placing carriers at risk. He emphasizes that falsification is a serious issue, often leading to removal in prior arbitration cases, and that the current approach of the union (often advising members to "just do the training") is inadequate.

Corey advocates for a more unified and strategic approach to these grievances, urging shop stewards and other union representatives to be more aggressive in challenging management actions and demanding complete transparency. He critiques the lack of collective action and unified strategy by the union, stressing that a fragmented approach (playing checkers) will only result in continued disadvantage. He emphasizes that the union must play chess to defeat management's checkers tactics. He offers specific strategies, like demanding documentation and requesting interviews to thoroughly investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

Finally, the episode highlights a recent memorandum from management concerning certified mail handling within delivery point sequence (DPS) mail. Corey emphasizes this as a crucial point for future grievances, providing the contractual language and the rationale for filing grievances concerning the placement of certified mail into the DPS stream. The episode ends with a passionate call for more proactive leadership within the union to support carriers and with a call to action for listeners to be ready to fight for their rights, encouraging the use of arbitration decisions to build a strong defense.

arb. Goldstein C-17898

arb Talmadge C-28539 a-b

arb August C-34357

arb August C-32489

certified mail in dps starts at 1:45

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Episode 100: salted peanuts. Basics on the informal A meeting and the importance of 613 time not 513 time. May 15, 2023

Show notes

This episode of From A to Arbitration is a highly critical and passionate discussion about Corey's frustration with the NALC leadership, particularly its perceived lack of advocacy for letter carriers. Corey starts by acknowledging the episode's milestone (100th episode) and thanking listeners, then previews upcoming episodes.

The core theme is a critique of the NALC leadership for perceived inaction and a failure to effectively address issues impacting letter carriers. Corey discusses the need for union leaders to proactively address issues like heat-related safety concerns, arbitrary changes in working conditions, and the falsification of training records. He contrasts this with management's apparent success in disseminating information and strategizing, arguing that the union is falling behind.

The episode features Corey reading and analyzing several B-team decisions and arbitration awards that, in his opinion, illustrate management's successful manipulation of the grievance process. Corey emphasizes the importance of meticulously understanding contract provisions and past precedents.

He directly criticizes some business agents for not actively defending carriers, and the episode culminates in an impassioned call to action, emphasizing the importance of a more militant and unified union stance to confront management's alleged abuses. He stresses the need for shop stewards to take a proactive approach by gathering information, creating thorough case files, and challenging management's actions, urging listeners to adopt similar strategies.

The episode ends with a plea for a more forceful and educated union membership. Corey highlights the importance of education and unity in the face of perceived management tactics. He previews future episodes dedicated to specific grievances (including rollaway accidents) and encourages active listener participation, particularly regarding incidents they're experiencing, reiterating a commitment to defending letter carriers.

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Episode 99: JB's salted peanuts. 3999 & demonstrated performance. Grieving return to work letters requiring signatures. May 09, 2023

Show notes

This episode, featuring Corey and Jason “J.B.” Leath discussing various issues concerning letter carriers' rights and grievances. Leath addresses concerns about management's use of PS Form 3999 (a one-day mail count) to circumvent the TIEREAP route adjustment process. He argues that this is an attempt to establish new performance standards outside of agreed-upon procedures. He details how carriers should respond to management's use of 3999s, by immediately filing grievances for issues such as improper requests, refusal of copies, and discrepancies with estimated times. He also discusses how the use of one-day counts or 3999 evaluations could lead to violations of other articles (8, 16, and 41) and potential disciplinary actions. JB stresses the importance of documentation, pattern recognition, and unified action to resist these practices. A major point is the inappropriate use of a single day's performance to establish a carrier's performance standard and the carriers' rights to grieve such attempts. He also emphasizes that carriers are not obligated to sign non-postal forms, such as "welcome back" or "return to work" letters, unless those forms are compliant with existing agreements. JB cites various M-documents and handbook provisions to support his claims. The episode highlights the need for carriers to be proactive in filing grievances, educating themselves about their rights, and supporting each other. JB also promotes regional podcasts to address specific issues and help educate carriers.

17 minutes - 3999 and demonstrated performance

58 minutes - grieving management requiring carriers to sign return-to-work letters

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Episode 98: Spicy salted peanuts with an emphasis on HERO training falsification. May 01, 2023

Show notes

This episode focuses on grievances related to alleged management misconduct and the lack of support from the union. Corey begins by acknowledging JB Leath's absence due to baseball commitments and promises to cover the one-day count grievance in a future episode. He then dives into multiple listener emails and messages, detailing issues like management's alleged falsification of heat training records and attempts to enforce arbitrary time limits (e.g., one hour office time, 22 minutes loading time). Corey highlights a concerning pattern of management imposing new standards and policies without clear contractual basis, and without adequate union response. He critiques the union's perceived inaction and lack of proactive measures in addressing these issues. He also discusses a letter of warning for a carrier who experienced a minor accident, arguing that the wording and accusations are overly harsh and lack justification. Corey emphasizes the importance of carriers documenting instances of perceived harassment or intimidation and the critical need for proactive grievance filing. He then outlines the issues with mandatory scanners, threats made regarding completion of routes, and the noncompliance of existing grievance agreements by management. He specifically details the steps involved in falsifying HERO training records and argues for a class-action grievance against the management. As a remedy, Corey advocates for $50 per calendar day for every affected carrier from April 1, 2023, until the actual training is successfully completed. The podcast concludes with Corey reiterating his commitment to representing letter carriers, calling out perceived inadequacies in the union's response, and challenging any union officials to a public debate on the discussed issues.

EL 801 1-1 thru 1-7

EL 802 4-1 (f)

EL 814 intro

ELM 811.21-811.25

ELM 812.3-812.51

ELM 817.9

ELM 821.141

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Episode 97: Me & from A to Arbitration Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

Corey recounts a personal experience where he faced intimidation from postal inspectors and the subsequent decision to join the union. He now passionately advocates for letter carriers, citing numerous complaints about inadequate union support and management's attempts to reduce work time/load times through falsified training records.

Corey emphasizes that the union isn't always representing carriers effectively, leading to his confrontational tone and focus on filing grievances. He plans a future episode with JB focusing on grievances regarding improperly recorded training. He mentions a listener's concern about the negativity of the podcast and acknowledges that a portion of his audience is displeased with the shift in tone. He states that his focus remains on educating carriers and supporting them, even if it means confrontation. He highlights specific examples of management actions and encourages listeners to file grievances regarding these issues. Corey highlights the value of his podcast by citing over 217,950 downloads and the impact his episodes have had on listeners with successful grievance outcomes. Finally, Corey plans to continue his role as a voice for voiceless letter carriers, even if it means alienating some listeners.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 96: The possum or the Lion, which is it? Salted peanuts Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

This episode focuses on the perceived weakness of the NALC in addressing carrier concerns, likening the union to a possum, not a lion. Corey critiques the union's response to various issues, including management's increased monitoring (through memos and videos showing how to meet office time/load time standards), inadequate training documentation (including falsified records for heat illness prevention training), and the use of locally-generated forms that are inconsistent with the contract.

Corey emphasizes the need for the NALC to take a more assertive stance in defending letter carriers. He criticizes the lack of action from union leadership and business agents to address these concerns and points out the union's failure to issue cease and desist orders. He highlights examples of management using new tactics, documented via scanner messages, to monitor carriers' time. He challenges the validity of new management-imposed load and office time standards in light of documented past practices.

Importantly, Corey highlights several arbitration case summaries, specifically decisions from arbitrators Arlen Sensi, David Stanton, and Louise Wollatz, addressing violations of the contract. These summaries detail instances where locally generated forms were not properly promulgated, or forms violated national standards, and resulted in union wins. He urges listeners to examine these cases for their insights.

He also mentions a national video on how to meet new office time/load times that carries potential for discipline. Further, Corey discusses issues around certified mail and DPS procedures, highlighting contradictions between postmaster instructions and the contract (M-41 335.16). He provides a solution: use the contract to challenge these practices through grievances. He concludes by reiterating the need for the NALC to be more proactive and aggressive in defending the rights of letter carriers.

Finally, Corey emphasizes the importance of using arbitration case studies to inform grievances, and notes the use of discord and other online forums as avenues for support and information sharing among carriers. He further emphasizes the importance of the cease and desist orders in these grievances and urges listener engagement in such efforts.

Hutt C-35552

Stanton C-34924

Wolitz C-34211

Stanton C-34874

Cenci C-35989

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 95: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Salted peanuts Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

The episode leverages the adage, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," to illustrate their support for rural carriers who are also negatively impacted by management decisions, aligning both groups against a common adversary. This "enemy," management, is accused of unfair labor practices like manipulating route inspection data, imposing unreasonable time constraints, and disregarding medical restrictions. Corey criticizes the larger union for not adequately protecting workers and encourages carriers to actively resist these injustices by grieving every infraction and refusing to be conditioned into accepting unfair treatment. Ultimately, the episode reveals a struggle for power between labor and management within the postal service, with Corey urging individual workers to become informed and take action to protect their rights.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 94: John Poskin doin some salted peanuts as he's rubber banded to my microphone. Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

This episode, Corey, introduces John Poskin who provides an in-depth analysis of filing grievances, particularly focusing on PS form 8190 and its correct usage. John emphasizes the importance of accurately documenting details like seniority dates and grievance numbers, using real arbitration cases to illustrate their significance in achieving favorable outcomes for employees. A substantial portion of the episode centers around the concept of "light duty" assignments, delving into the specific contractual language and obligations of both the employee and the postal service. John discusses various clauses within Article 13 of the JCAM (Joint Contract Administration Manual) that pertain to light duty requests, eligibility criteria, and the responsibilities of installation heads in granting or denying them.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 93: Salted Peanuts Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

This episode Corey begins by expressing gratitude to his team, emphasizing the importance of their online platforms like the website, Facebook page, Discord, and Reddit for disseminating information and fostering a sense of community. He then addresses a listener's concerns about their local union leadership, specifically criticizing a business agent's "cowardly" explanation that blames letter carriers' behavior for weak contract negotiations. Corey then reads and comments on a letter from an "angry branch president" who is frustrated by weak pre-arbitration settlements that fail to hold management accountable for violating contract terms. Corey shares the president's anger and emphasizes the need for strong union representation that fights for the rights of letter carriers. He concludes by briefly addressing other topics like mail count procedures, disciplinary actions, and uniform allowances, reiterating the importance of utilizing the grievance process to challenge management and advocate for fair treatment.

1838c 22 minutes

CCA uniform allowance 1:00

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

Episode 92: Forgiveness and salted peanuts Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Corey apologizes for a technical issue and expresses his dedication to educating and supporting union members. He emphasizes the importance of filing grievances as a powerful tool for union members to assert their rights and hold management accountable. He delves into Article 17 of the national agreement, providing a detailed explanation of steward rights regarding grievance investigation time and urging stewards to challenge management's unreasonable denial of this time. Through various anecdotes and case studies, he highlights the significance of meticulous documentation, thorough investigation, and knowledge of contractual provisions to effectively challenge disciplinary actions and protect workers' rights.

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

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