Classes of Mail

The election in my branch is a mess. We're closing in on election day, and Michael and I are getting positive feedback from carriers, in spite of all the improprieties. We know that carriers in our branch are being disenfranchised, and we're fighting back against it.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, will be a National Day of Action for letter carriers. C Moline is on the program to talk about the contract, to urge all of us to VOTE NO, and to tell us what WE can do to help win back our rights and improve our conditions within the NALC. As always, C is a fantastic guest who brings great energy and enthusiasm, as well as a ton of information. Help us Build a Fightin...

Leslie ran for president of Branch 2502 in 2016 and lost by a razor thin margin. Before and after, she has been a tireless supporter of her carriers, and she has been a mentor for Michael and me in our run for office, and as stewards. In this episode, she'll share her insights into the process, the role of branch officers, and a handful of other topics. This episode was recorded in my back yard, s...

Shenanigans are afoot in the Branch 2502 elections. And wouldn't you know it... they all seem to favor the incumbents. We have still more errors in the election process. We also have a new development: Michael and I have been on the receiving end of a smear campaign. Good times. Michael and I talk about what's been going on as the day of the election draws near.

Correction: the 1.3% raises are not cumulative. They are each 1.3% of the original base salary. They do not compound. I am joined by special guest Michael Brasaemle, my running mate for office of Branch 2502. We talk about our opinion of the tentative agreement. Spoiler alert: it's unfavorable. We'll also talk about a possible path forward, using the referendum process, to end Renfroe's role as ou...

I have another update for you about how my campaign is going. It's been interesting, exciting, and stressful.

We'll read the election rules, and I'll talk a bit more about the process of campaigning.

It's official! I have been nominated for Vice President of Branch 2502. In this episode, you'll hear the follow-up to the issue with our election notification requirements. I'll also talk about how the meeting went, and give you some thoughts on strategy, and the future of our branch. Also at the meeting, there was a resolution to hold an informational picket on October 14, 2024, along with many o...

This episode is DOOZY! You have to hear about Section 5! (And so do my branch officers, who apparently have never read it!) I am running for office in my branch, so these rules are of great importance at the moment. It's a lively read, and I think you'll enjoy listening.

We finish up reading about the rules from the NALC Constitution governing federal and subordinate branches. These sections features your APPEAL RIGHTS if you are wronged by the branch, or by a branch officer. We also learn about the process for bringing charges against branch officers. I wish I'd have had this information when my local president fired me from the Carrier Academy, but what's done i...

C Moline really impressed me at the convention. She spoke powerfully on the convention floor, and captured the room at the Build a Fighting NALC rally. In this conversation, we talk about the role of the union, what she's doing for her branch in Seattle, and we even get around to talking about delivering mail in the rain.

This episode will cover the duties and responsibilities of your local branch. I have been anxious to get to this content, and to see how well my branch is living up to its obligations. Listen in and find out! And see how well your own branch measures up.

We made it to 100 episodes! To properly honor this special occasion, we are graced with a special guest: James Henry! Join me as we get to know the next president of the NALC. Mr. Henry and I talk about his upbringing, his time in the Marine Corps, and how those experiences shaped the values he has today. We'll also talk about some of the changes Mr. Henry wants to bring to the office of president...

This episode finishes off the first portion of the NALC Constitution. In this episode we'll learn about how amendments and resolutions get put before the members, and we'll learn about the special category of members who are in the NALC only for the health benefits. It's noteworthy this this is episode 99 of Classes of Mail. If things go according to plan, I will have a VERY special guest for epis...

Rick is an educator, a leader, and a wonderful speaker. He hosts a weekly Zoom meeting called "Coffee with Letter Carriers," which covers educational topics. He also has a back catalog of podcasts that focus mainly on the NALC's political activities. Rick and I discuss the value of training and education, and how the Post Office benefits from a properly trained work force. We also talk about what...

On today's episode, we'll talk about the union's obligation to defend ALL carriers. When we defend carriers, we're also defending the contract.

We cover a lot of ground this episode. We start with the procedures for removing or disciplining a national officer. Next, we cover the union's various committees, our collective bargaining rights (including the possibility of striking), and we talk about branch by-laws. We finish up the episode with an article that describes what happens when your branch is so out of line that a trustee has to be...

In this episode, recorded at the NALC Convention, I sat down with Eric Ellis. He's an Academy Instructor, and the CSALC District 4 Officer, but that's only the beginning. In this episode, we'll learn about the many active roles that are open to carriers within our union, and Eric will tell us about his experiences with the Post Office and the NALC.

In this episode, we'll learn all the different national level positions, what their responsibilities are, and how much they get paid. (It's a lot!) We'll also go over how the NALC raises money, how it distributes that money, and who is responsible for it. (In this episode, I ask a question about Brian Renfroe getting a raise. It turns out I had heard misinformation. The NALC's LM filings showed Re...

In this episode, I sit down with one of my co-workers at the East Las Vegas Post Office. We'll discuss issues within the branch, the region, and the NALC in general. We talk about some contractual rules, and implementation of Article 15. David was actually one of the first people I ever interviewed for Classes of Mail, but my episode schedule has been so busy, that it's only just now being publish...

I got a letter! It was sent to me at my station, anonymously. It was an attempt, by this anonymous person, to discourage Michael, Jonathan, and me from running for office in our upcoming branch election. The letter asked a series of questions (mostly about knowing people's names, which is odd) that the author thought should be considered before we would take office. So that's what Michael and I di...

We'll read Articles 5 and 6 of the NALC Constitution, which cover election rules, and some stuff about the convention. In this episode, since we're covering some convention rules. I'll also tell the story about my branch president getting me kicked out of our branch seating area at the convention.

On this episode, recorded in my hotel room at the convention in Boston, I got to talk to John Murphy. He's something of a legend in these parts, because as a CCA, he and a handful of others WALKED OUT on an Amazon Sunday and didn't get fired. You'll hear his story, hear about his union roots, and about the labor movement more broadly. To read the story of John's walkout, follow the link below: htt...

In this episode, the candidates for president, executive vice president, and vice president (THAT'S ME!), get together to go over our platform for the upcoming Branch 2502 election. If you're a carrier in our branch, I would urge you to listen to the ways we want to transform the branch, bringing transparency and accountability back to the hall. If you're outside of the branch, I'm sure you'll sti...

We're back to normal episodes. This week will kick off Season 4's objective of making sure we treat each other well. The NALC Constitution governs the way our union will run, from the national level down to the branch level. In this episode, we'll read through the first four articles, which cover the basic setup of the union, and the rules surrounding the biennial convention.