Episode 188: A bit of chit chat and getting back into 6-day count.

From A to Arbitration

This episode focuses on the implications of Mike Caref filing charges against NALC President Renfroe and the need for a more militant union approach to combat management abuses. Corey begins with listener shout-outs and an advertisement for Brookfield Uniforms, emphasizing the importance of supporting businesses that value letter carriers. He then addresses rumors about his own interaction with postal inspectors, clarifying that he was questioned but not arrested or disciplined.

The core of the episode centers on Caref's announcement of charges against Renfroe, citing Renfroe's negligence in contract negotiations, lack of transparency, and failure to adhere to convention resolutions. Caref details the process for handling the charges and emphasizes the importance of member participation in holding union leaders accountable. He stresses that the charges are intended to prevent Renfroe from being the chief negotiator in the next round of bargaining. He highlights the extended timeframe of negotiations and the negative impact of the lack of transparency on member morale and the union's ability to bargain effectively. Corey emphasizes the importance of a unified front against management and calls for greater member engagement in the process.

Corey then pivots to discussing the planned contract rallies on October 14th, emphasizing the need for proactive member mobilization and public awareness campaigns. He discusses the importance of using this opportunity to pressure the USPS into negotiating a fair contract and highlights the need for a more unified and assertive approach from the union leadership. He notes that many members feel demoralized and are considering leaving the union due to the prolonged contract negotiations and management's unwillingness to comply with contracts and agreements. He then pivots to discussing the need for greater accountability among union leadership.

Corey criticizes the current leadership's response to various issues, such as the falsification of HIP training records and the use of GPS data for disciplinary actions. He emphasizes the need for a more aggressive and proactive approach to grievance filing and contract negotiations, advocating for a return to a more militant union culture that prioritizes member needs and holds both management and union leaders accountable for their actions. He highlights examples of management misconduct such as the imposition of arbitrary time limits, the use of intimidation tactics, and the practice of taking unauthorized photographs of carriers' cases. He emphasizes that management's actions are driven by a desire to cut costs at the expense of carrier well-being and that this needs to be met with an equally forceful response from the union. He provides specific examples of grievances and arbitration cases where significant monetary awards were obtained, emphasizing the importance of seeking escalated remedies for non-compliance and of using cease-and-desist language in settlements. He stresses the need for a unified, national strategy for handling grievances and for greater member education on these issues. He concludes with a call for a complete overhaul of the union's leadership to replace the current “cowards and ass-kissers” with truly militant leaders who will prioritize the needs of city letter carriers.

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