From A to Arbitration

Latest Episodes:

Episode 91: I Love You Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

Corey criticizes the lack of support and representation from union leadership, arguing that the root cause of this failure is a "lack of love." He emphasizes that love, in this context, means fiercely protecting and advocating for the rights of union members. He advocates for a ground-roots uprising, urging listeners to vote out ineffective union leaders and stand up for their rights. He concludes with an emotional appeal, expressing his love for the members and his frustration with the current state of the union!

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Episode 90: Bob Ross aka JB doing a bit of salted peanuts Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

The episode centers around educating letter carriers about their rights, particularly regarding grievances against management. JB emphasizes the importance of meticulous documentation, using examples like clock rings and tax reports to support grievance claims. He also encourages letter carriers to be aware of their rights as outlined in the M-41 handbook, especially regarding PM office duties and the processing of undeliverable mail. Ultimately, JB advocates for a unified workforce, urging letter carriers to support each other and utilize the grievance process to ensure fair treatment and adherence to contractual obligations.

20:00 Identifying falsified clock rings

43:00 defeating management's 5-minute pm office duties

1:00:00 defining the Part-Time Flexible (ptf)

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Episode 89: Memphis, Jason Atchley & hope for a new beginning Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

Corey details an account of a significant arbitration case in Memphis. He emphasizes the case's importance due to the "toxic working environment" in the Memphis installation, a situation the union repeatedly attempted to address. A key aspect of their success was the meticulous preparation and presentation of their case, particularly by Jason Atchley, whose expertise is applauded. The arbitrator's decision, a testament to the union's efforts, mandates the Memphis installation to cease its hostile work environment, provides EAP services for all employees, and establishes a conflict resolution committee. Corey celebrates this victory for the Memphis postal workers while acknowledging the unfortunate tragedy that precipitated it.

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Episode 88: THE Mike Caref, National Business Agent Region 3, getting us ready for collective bargaining. Special thank you to Cole Billups for saving my sanity. Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Business Agent, Mike Caref joins the show. Caref emphasizes the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations with the United States Postal Service, arguing that letter carriers deserve a contract that addresses their fundamental needs. He outlines significant issues including low starting pay, mandatory overtime, and disregard for contractual obligations by USPS management. Caref believes that the current contract fails to adequately address these issues and urges NALC members to demand a contract that improves their quality of life, threatening to vote against any agreement that falls short. He expresses optimism about President Renfroe's leadership while calling on members to hold their union representatives accountable for securing a fair and equitable contract.

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Episode 87: Shatter the damn podium, Article 8 & muscle memory. Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Corey provides a passionate analysis of Article 8 of the National Agreement, detailing its complexities and emphasizing the importance of "muscle memory," or a deep familiarity with the contract, for effective advocacy. He criticizes union leadership for inadequate communication and support, particularly regarding issues like mandatory overtime and stationary events, arguing that this lack of guidance forces carriers to seek information from unreliable sources. He encourages listeners to utilize all available resources, including past grievance settlements and compliance letters, to challenge management violations and protect their rights.

26:00 Article 8

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Episode 86: Salted Peanuts Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Corey dedicates a significant portion of the episode to informing listeners about their rights as postal workers, particularly focusing on strategies for navigating workplace disputes and challenging unfair management practices. Corey emphasizes the importance of understanding contractual obligations, using specific examples like Article 41 (concerning temporary supervisor positions) and the procedures outlined in Publication 552 (related to workplace harassment). The episode underscores his commitment to advocating for workers' rights and providing them with the tools to protect themselves against potential exploitation.

12:00 stationary events

31:30 management forcing carriers to buy personal clothing

C-11163 Talmadge

C-08170 Rentfro

C-13221 Erbs

49:00 204b's circumventing Article 41 120days/4-months

C-05230 Jacobowski

C-13823 Scearce

1:13:00 Postal Service Policy on Workplace Harassment, Publication 552/IMIP process dealing with unruly Management

C-30829 Bowers

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Episode 85: Salted peanuts with an emphasis on management's denial of advanced sick leave request Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

This episode centers on a conflict between Corey and the leadership of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Corey defends his decision to create a podcast focused on educating letter carriers about their rights, particularly regarding workplace issues and contract interpretation. He argues that this educational mission is essential, as many carriers are being taken advantage of due to a lack of knowledge about their rights. This commitment to education persists despite the NALC actively attempting to silence him, including blackballing him from official union activities and expelling him from the National Convention. Corey sees this response, driven by a desire to suppress information and maintain control, as detrimental to the rank-and-file members. He emphasizes the importance of information as power and encourages carriers to seek knowledge from any available source.

Cites

Foster c-00191

Snow c-22546

Levak c-08199

Cenci c-26893

Bahakel c-29815

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Episode 84: Vincent Sombrotto - Captain my Captain! Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Corey expresses his frustration with the lack of strong leadership within his postal worker's union. He argues that the union lacks a powerful figure like Vince Sombrotto, a former leader whom Corey believes would not tolerate the current status quo of noncompliance from management regarding worker rights and contractual agreements. Corey highlights the financial burden incurred by management due to these violations, using examples of arbitration awards that cost the postal service hundreds of thousands of dollars. He suggests that greater public awareness of these issues, perhaps driven by a charismatic leader like Sombrotto, could force the postal service to address the concerns of the overworked and underpaid carriers. Ultimately, Corey advocates for continued education and worker empowerment within the union, hoping for a future leader who embodies Sombrotto's fighting spirit.

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Episode 83: The quitter, the coward, and the Boogeyman Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Corey reflects on the rewarding experience of empowering letter carriers to advocate for themselves and celebrate victories. He contrasts this with the deeply upsetting reality of union leadership failing to adequately support these advocates, particularly by not enforcing “cease and desist” orders against management overwork. He recounts his personal experience burning out and quitting as a union representative after facing similar struggles with inadequate support. He encourages listeners not to quit, referencing his own story as a cautionary tale while emphasizing the need for solidarity and collective action. He concludes with a rallying cry, calling on his fellow union members to join him in fighting for their rights.

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Episode 82: Eight is enough: Basics of Article 8. Authored by Chris Strickland & Jason Atchley. Narrated by Corey Walton Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

This episode focuses on Article 8 of a labor union contract. Article 8, which defines work hours, overtime, and pay guarantees, is very important but also very confusing for both employees and managers. Corey emphasizes the importance of understanding the literal meaning of the contract language: "Article 8 says what it says. It does not say what it does not say." To illustrate how the rules should be applied, Corey details specific scenarios about overtime assignments, schedule changes, and the rights of different employee classifications, like CCAs and PTFs. Corey ends by urging all shop stewards, the intended audience of the podcast, to study Article 8, seek training, and strive to be a “champion for the people.”

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