Classes of Mail

In this episode, I'll talk about a change I'm seeing in the way our union is being run. The rank-and-file are getting more and more power, because they are no longer being kept in the dark. Podcasts like From A to Arbitration are empowering carriers with information that shifts the balance of power away from management, and away from the gool old boy network that has been running our union for too...

We learn more today about the laws that govern the Post Office. We'll also talk about some jargon that's unique to the Post Office. Finally, we talk about why supervisors are often of such low quality.

Tyler Vasseur is back on Classes of Mail. He puts the failings of our Tentative Agreement in a historical perspective, and talks about why we need to reject this agreement for the benefit of our own work/life balance, and for future generations of letter carriers. Your vote matters. Be the voice our union needs. To join Build a Fighting NALC, head to fightingNALC.com and sign up today!

In this episode, Michael and I talk about the charges that were brought against us by the election chair. Labor laws are pretty clear that union members have free speech, and that freedom specifically includes the right to be critical of union officials. But here we are. Enjoy!

In part two, we get into the election portion of our branch meeting. Tough questions were asked by the crowd, and NOT answered by our branch officers. To say it was lively would be an understatement.

In this episode, Michael Brasaemle comes over to talk about what went down at our most recent branch meeting. We wound up needing THREE EPISODES to cover everything. This first episode covers my effort to force the president of my branch to fulfill his obligation under our bylaws to fill vacancies. Specifically, the steward position at my station that has been vacant for a year. This is what it lo...

Today I am joined by a friend going back to Junior High. He is my primary sounding board for most of my activism within the union. And he served as my primary advisor for my run for vice president. Today, you will hear an outsider's perspective on what's been going on at my branch, and my history with the post office and the union. There are significant insights in this episode about who I am as a...

WE'RE STILL VOTING NO! But now we have better reasons. Listen in for a more thoughtful analysis of some of what's known about the Tentative Agreement.

Today we'll give an introduction to Season 5, and we'll get started in the Academy, talking about the basics of being employed at the Post Office. I tell some stories from my time as a carrier, and we all get to learn something. I really enjoyed teaching this material again. I hope you enjoy listening to it.

It's time to move on from season 4 of Classes of Mail. I'll give another update on my local branch election, talk a bit about union accountability and ethics, and reiterate my position against the tentative agreement. Finally, I'll talk about what's to come in season 5.

My running mate Michael, and our campaign advisor Leslie, sit down in my back yard to talk about EEO complaints. Equal Employment Opportunity is a set of laws that cover mistreatment of certain protected classes of people. Michael and Leslie go over some of the basics of putting these laws to use.

In this episode, Michael talks about a grievance settlement he won, concerning "deems desirable." We'll read some chunks from the settlement, and talk about the process. It's educational. FYI, this episode was recorded in my back yard, before I got my new audio set up. Please bear with the sound quality.

The results are in! For now... Our election is essentially guaranteed to be rerun. For now, we've lost. The incumbent ticket won across the board, which is no surprise, given their inherent advantages, and the additional advantages conferred by the election's improprieties. This episode also features a brand new computer that will be dedicated to podcasting. I recorded on Audacity for the first ti...

Amazingly, there are still more improprieties in our branch election. Michael is in studio to talk about the latest developments. It's a doozy!

John Murphy is back to talk about the Tentative Agreement, and more importantly, about the labor movement in general. We talk about our plans to vote no, and we talk about the importance of staying in the union and transforming it into a true rank-and-file movement.

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...