Classes of Mail

In this episode, we'll discuss all the things you have to do when you have your own route. I go over how to make changes in your edit book, how to manage your 3982's (pink cards) for forwards, and much more.

This episode is shorter than usual, because it turns out I was a sleepy head, and I didn't do a great job of reading. I'm going to publish it anyway, because we're so close to the finish line with the JCAM. This section spells out the rules concerning bidding on routes.

SIX big articles! We read about union and management cooperation, credit unions, local agreements, and a bunch of stuff in between. Enjoy!

I'll read and discuss a selection of M Documents from M-00001 to M-00150. Topics include the fact that there is no set pace for street delivery, how to qualify for a special route inspection on an overburdened route, and the circumstances under which you may be required to provide medical documentation for your sick leave.

These articles cover employee uniforms, tort and financial claims against USPS and employees, and the suspension and reinstatement of driving privileges.

In this episode, I tell a brief story about how I came to find the results of the various committees and task forces ensconced in the JCAM. The results are published, often, in the Materials Reference System, also known as the M-Documents. I will read a series of summaries for these M-Documents, to give you an idea what's in there.

These articles cover health benefits, leave for union duties, the right of the union to enter facilities, rules concerning bulletin boards, and higher level assignments like Carrier Technician.

How long should it take you to hit the street in the morning? Management can claim one hour all they want, but the real answers are in the M-41. Same for PM office time. Five minutes? Not hardly. We'll go over the actual provisions in the M-41 that detail all of our AM and PM office duties.

The Articles are getting smaller, so I decided to power through four of them. We cover the rights of stewards (17), we learn that we aren't allowed to strike (18), we learn that handbooks and manuals are contractually enforceable (19), and we talk about parking (20). Enjoy! Turns out I don't miss doing the accents.

We're 2/3 of the way through the contract! This episode covers discipline procedures, and is a must-listen for all stewards.

In this episode, I will get to learn how to merge two audio files. YOU will get to learn about a bunch of little things that longtime carriers probably take for granted, but new carriers struggle with. Guaranteed you'll learn something new. Also, I feel like this episode has more mouth noises. I tried to get closer to the microphone so I'd have richer sound quality, but it may have led to more unw...

This Article covers the grievance and arbitration procedures. It is a must-listen for any stewards or prospective stewards out there.

I'll give you three guesses what this episode is about.

It turns out there is information available on what sorts of things the union is negotiating for on our behalf. It's a list of resolutions that were voted on at the national convention, and that list is printed in the Postal Record. I'm going to read that list to you, and talk about it.

Just as the episode title implies, I'm going to read Article 13. In the beginning of the episode, I talk about some changes to my recording setup and my episode schedule. To skip that, fast forward about two minutes.

This is the second half of Article 12 of the JCAM. There is still a little bit of chattering at the beginning of the episode, but it clears up fairly quickly. This part of the JCAM continues to cover excessing, and consolidation of offices. It also covers transfers and mutual exchanges.

In this episode, I'm going to tell the story of how I came to be the carrier I am today. It's not particularly educational, and you should probably skip it. But if you want to listen, here it is. Also, the sound is a little jittery in the beginning because of an app I had running in the background. Lesson learned on that one. Luckily, it's still basically understandable, and I wasn't saying anythi...

In this episode, we will read the first half of Article 12 of the JCAM. It's long.1

Today I'm going to share an email that was sent to me, and I"m going to talk about the value of your statements in protecting yourself from discipline, and in protecting your and your fellow carriers from mistreatment.

A long reading of JCAM Articles 10 and 11. This time... accent free.

This topic is by request. I will go over the items that the M-41 lists as accountable, as well as some extra services that can be added to the mail. I'll also give some advice on how to safely deliver items to the door.

In this episode, we'll read the entirety of Article 9.

In this episode, I'll talk about the many ways management abuses carriers, and I'll give strategies and advice on how to deal with it. (This episode contains substantial profanity.)

We finish up our reading of Article 8, and I try out a new accent.

Yes, you have to do what management tells you. Even if it's dumb. We'll go over your requirements, and the exceptions; and we'll talk about management's obligation to make decisions.