From A to Arbitration

This episode of From A to Arbitration is a highly critical discussion of the NALC's leadership and management tactics, focusing on Corey's frustration with the union's handling of recent grievances, particularly those related to heat safety. Corey begins by thanking a guest and previews future episodes focused on specific grievances and tactics for challenging management. The central theme is a po...

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...

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 inact...

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...

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 reco...

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 carri...

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 preve...

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 restri...

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...

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 car...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 obligatio...

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 guid...

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 proce...

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...

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...

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 quittin...

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 shoul...

The episode features a collection of anecdotes and advice for postal workers navigating labor disputes with management. Corey emphasizes the importance of union solidarity and aggressive representation, illustrating his points with stories of management lying about employee infractions and manipulating disciplinary procedures. He encourages listeners to be proactive in challenging management claim...

JB explains in great detail how to interpret local overtime records and file a grievance if overtime has not been distributed equitably among employees. He emphasizes the importance of thorough documentation, careful analysis of clock rings, and understanding the contractual obligations of both management and employees. Interspersed with this technical information are heartfelt expressions of grat...

The episode features a guest speaker, John Poskin, a union steward with extensive experience in handling transfer grievances. Poskin provides a detailed explanation of Article 12 of the National Agreement, which outlines the process for employee transfer requests within the Postal Service. He emphasizes the importance of "full consideration" of an employee's work history, attendance and safety rec...

A letter carrier, Richie Ray, successfully grieved a new policy that imposed a blanket 60-minute office time for all carriers, regardless of mail volume. The grievance argued that this policy violated multiple articles of the National Agreement and disregarded established postal handbooks and manuals. Here's a breakdown of the key points: The grievance cited specific sections of handbooks M-41 and...