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© Alan Gegax, 2023
Description
This podcast is intended to empower city letter carriers. Through education, we'll make ourselves better carriers who are immune to discipline and mistreatment by management, and are forces for positive change and reform within our own union. I do not speak for the USPS or NALC (or anybody else, for that matter!), this is not an official USPS or NALC podcast, and all opinions and advice are my own or my guests'. Submit feedback, questions, or topic suggestions to classesofmail@gmail.com .
226 Episodes
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Michael asked me if he could come into the studio and say what's really on his mind, without me holding him back. This episode is the result.
Season 6 is here! I'll be reading the entire JCAM from cover to cover, this time with much better audio quality and fewer accents. Today I read from Article 1, which empowers the NALC to represent carriers, and covers cross-craft work by supervisors and 204B's.
This was supposed to be an episode about route inspections, but my passions got the better of me, and I wound up doing a whole episode about how the machines work down at the plant. I find it incredibly interesting.
This episode is intended for regular carriers, not stewards. Michael and I talk about the inspection process, and address a lot of the fears carriers have surrounding the actual day of inspection,
"You can't use the master's tools to tear down the master's house." C Moline is an all-time favorite podcast guest. Today, she talks about how our grievance process is inherently broken, and why it can't fix the daily injustices our carriers face. Instead, C talks about a handful of tools that everyday carriers can use to protect their rights and stop abuse in its tracks.
There is some fantastic information in here about the criteria management is supposed to use when issuing discipline.
Adam Crosby has added his voice to the growing ranks of postal podcasts. His core message is that our union needs to do a better job of representing its table two carriers. In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about the Post Office's use of the Amazon model of hiring, they systemic mistreatment of CCAs, and the disappointing lack of empathy shown by carriers on table one.
I have a medical update about my kidney issue. Spoiler alert: it's cancer. But it's not that bad, as far as cancer goes. Michael and I also talk about some stuff going on in our branch, and at the national level. Finally, we give a hearty endorsement of the new Table Two Ticket podcast.
Michael and I read more from the EL-921, management's guide to handling grievances. This section covers precedent, and a few other items of interest.
I've been looking forward to reading this one. It's management's playbook for how they're SUPPOSED TO handle grievances. It provides valuable insights into how the grievance process works, and how management is supposed to cooperate with stewards. This is part one of what will probably be three parts.
Both Michael and I have received discipline letters that are active now, for attendance. We read the discipline, and discuss at length how we would pick apart management's claims. We'll go over the relevant sections of the ELM, and we pull from a few additional sources.
Michael joins me to talk about all the extra benefits that veterans have earned through their service. We also talk a bit about Michael's time in the Air Force.
In this episode, my lifelong friend and listener favorite Rich joins me to talk about the appeal I have right now at the National Committee on Appeals. I read the entirety of my appeal, the entirety of the branch reply, and we comment on both. Not surprisingly, we find my arguments to be more compelling. Even so, we present the other side as written, and try to give their positions fair treatment.
I'm joined by Chris Persampieri (Next Generation Carriers), Graig Samoluk (President, Branch 334), and Derek Liemohn (BFN alternate steward, and newly minted full-time regular), to discuss plans for nationwide contract rallies in February of 2026. Now is the time to get the ball rolling if we want to have a better outcome in our next contract negotiations.
There are important safety tips in this section including clarification of some controversial topics like curbing your wheels and wearing your shoulder belt.
I've decided to do a reading of the EL-814, the Employee's Guide to Safety. It's full of interesting and useful information.
Michael talks about the proper use of the route count, the one-day count, and office observations.
There is a provision in my branch's bylaws that requires a seminar to be held for anybody who's interested, if the branch pays for a person to attend any special meetings or schools. It's being ignored by my branch president. I want you to listen to the circumstances, and give me your advice on what I should do in this situation.
Michael and I finish the route protection handbook
Michael and I read from a route protection handbook. We talk about how to ensure you get all the time credit your route deserves.
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listening in northwest Indiana!
You are amazing! Thank you so, so much for reading the JCAM and M41!