From A to Arbitration

concernedlettercarriers.com

fromatoarbitration.com

concernedlettercarriers.com

fromatoarbitration.com

concernedlettercarriers.com

fromatoarbitration.com

concernedlettercarriers.com

fromatoarbitration.com

Fromatoarbitration.com

concernedlettercarriers.com

fromatoarbitration.com

Corey opens "The Lion's Den" by reiterating his commitment to providing strictly educational content, aiming for episodes to be around thirty minutes. He begins with shout-outs to Branch 3028 in Texas, acknowledging the devastating floods they experienced and offering prayers. He also promotes fundraising events for CLC candidates Richie Ray (Region 15) and Bill Kribel (Region 12). Corey then issues a challenge to EVP Paul Barner, referencing past instances where labor reportedly influenced arbitrators to amend decisions or remove them from panels. He highlights a specific regional arbitrator's statement of not abiding by a national arbitrator's decision and challenges Barner to take action against this regional arbitrator, drawing a parallel to labor's alleged ability to influence arbitrator removals. Corey stresses his own commitment to never complying with such requests if he were in a leadership position, emphasizing that it's management's responsibility to adhere to national decisions. The core of the episode involves Corey reading several key M-documents and an arbitration decision related to PET, DOIS, and route time standards. He stresses the importance of these documents for carriers to understand their rights and for stewards to build cases, framing it as a choice between being "good" or "great" in their advocacy. He reads M-01664, M-01444, M-00385, M-00326, M-01769, M-00829, and M-00005, explaining how each document reinforces that DOIS/PET projections are not the sole determinant of a carrier's workload or performance and cannot be the basis for discipline without proper, documented evidence like efficiency counts (e.g., 4584s or 1838Cs). He emphasizes that management's reliance on these projections, especially when they fail to conduct proper observations or when mail volume is not accurately accounted for, is a violation of the National Agreement. Corey then reads an arbitration decision (C-29806 by Arbitrator Jonathan Monette from 2012) concerning a "pivot board" in San Diego, which he connects to the current issue of "auto pivots" and management's continued misuse of DOIS. He details how the arbitrator ruled against management's use of the pivot board and DOIS as the primary tool for determining workload and leave times, emphasizing the arbitrator's findings that such practices violated the M-39 and M-41 handbooks and national agreements. The arbitrator ordered management to cease and desist from using pivot boards, using DOIS as the primary tool, and instructing carriers on leave times without proper discussion. Finally, Corey shares a brief story about a carrier who refused to use a vehicle with a broken air conditioner, was instructed to take lunch, and consequently faced a grievance. He uses this to underscore the paramount importance of carrier safety, stating that management's disregard for it is a recurring theme and urging carriers to grieve such situations rather than take undue risks. He expresses his continued dedication to educating the membership and fighting for their rights, looking forward to the CLC's takeover and the increased transparency and fight they aim to bring. Concernedlettercarriers.com

Corey begins by apologizing for removing a Saturday episode and explains his intention to keep "The Lion's Den" episodes focused. He starts with shout-outs, first to Mallory, and then to Badmouth Morris, a friend and advocate for city letter carriers who is currently facing hardship and has a GoFundMe. He also thanks Branch 3792 in Midland, Texas, and acknowledges David Bryant from Iowa for his advocacy. Corey then expresses his strong disagreement with the notion that the NALC provides sufficient education to all its members, citing feedback from individuals who learned more from his podcast than union meetings. He contrasts this with the extensive educational efforts of James Henry, the current CLC candidate for president, whose responsibilities have reportedly been stripped due to his candidacy. Corey passionately defends James Henry against what he describes as a smear campaign, highlighting Henry's extensive resume and vision for change within the union. He criticizes the current leadership and those who oppose Henry, accusing them of clinging to the status quo and using divisive tactics. Corey then explains the reason for deleting his Saturday episode: extreme anger stemming from a video of a young female carrier in Chicago who brought her children to work in her vehicle. While acknowledging the carrier's actions were wrong, Corey empathizes with her situation, imagining her struggles with childcare and attendance, and her potential reliance on the promises made by the current president regarding pay increases. He sees this as a reflection of the broader issues faced by carriers, such as financial hardship, attendance-related discipline, and the union's leadership failing to deliver on promises. This empathy and anger led to a highly charged episode he felt compelled to remove. Corey reiterates that management is the "enemy" and describes their tactics as dishonest, disloyal, and harmful to carriers. He criticizes the misuse of tools like PET, DOIS, the 16.7, and scanners, as well as the weaponization of attendance policies and the hijacking of the grievance procedure, citing examples of management refusing to settle grievances or falsifying documentation. He contrasts this with James Henry's vision for a more aggressive, educational, and transparent union, emphasizing the "Dogs of War" initiative to tackle toxic work environments and other issues by holding management, including district managers and AVPs, accountable. Corey expresses his excitement for the upcoming changes under the CLC, promising to educate all members, not just stewards and advocates, and to be transparent with live Zoom sessions. He encourages listeners to educate themselves and volunteer for the new teams being formed. fromatoarbitration.com https://gofund.me/1215dffd

Corey begins "The Lion's Den" by informing listeners that he will be pre-recording the upcoming "From A to Arbitration" episode due to his attendance at the Texas State Convention. He then emphasizes his desire to keep "The Lion's Den" episodes focused and relatively short, though he anticipates today's will be longer due to reading arbitration sites. He references last week's episode where he played a teleconference recording, highlighting the "disdain" and "incompetence" of upper management towards city letter carriers, and reiterating his long-held belief that they need to be more aggressive in their approach. Corey stresses the importance of education within the union and mentions that the incoming CLC leadership will bring a more militant and offensive approach. Corey then dedicates the majority of the episode to reading and analyzing three arbitration sites. He explains that reading arbitration decisions is a crucial self-education tool, allowing one to understand management's arguments, the union's positions, and the arbitrators' decisions. The first case, from February 2009, deals with the Postal Service's use of DOIS (Delivery Operations Information System) projections to set carriers' daily office and street times, and whether this created a hostile work environment. Corey notes how management's arguments then are remarkably similar to current ones, particularly regarding PET and DOIS. He meticulously breaks down the union's and management's arguments, as well as the arbitrator's findings, highlighting how the misuse of DOIS primarily as a basis for setting leave and return times and the resulting stressful environment violated the M-39 handbook and related settlements. The second case, from 2015, addresses similar issues of management using DOIS projections as the sole determinant of carriers' leaving times and the practice of announcing all mail is up before it's actually distributed, leading to undue stress. Corey reads the facts, the parties' positions, and the arbitrator's discussion and findings, emphasizing how these practices created an impossible situation for carriers. He draws parallels to the current use of PET and the denial of 3996s. The third arbitration site, from 2019, focuses on the removal of a CCA for "unsatisfactory performance," specifically for exceeding projected times. Corey highlights how management failed to provide evidence of actual misconduct or time-wasting habits, instead relying solely on DOIS/PET projections. He points out that management did not conduct proper street observations or gather evidence like 4584s or 1838-Cs to support their claims. Corey concludes by reiterating the importance of these arbitration sites for understanding arguments, contractual language, and management's tactics, and promises to continue educating the membership on these critical issues. concernedlettercarriers.com

Corey begins by thanking listeners and giving a shout-out to branch 82 in Portland for their hospitality during a recent visit. He also expresses gratitude for the birthday wishes he received. Corey then discusses a troubling teleconference recording he heard, featuring two upper management individuals who demonstrated a severe lack of understanding regarding postal contracts and operational realities. He highlights their reliance on unrealistic metrics like PET and DOIS, and the detrimental impact this has on supervisors and managers, who are then pressured to enforce these impossible standards. Corey emphasizes how this creates a toxic work environment, particularly for injured employees, as illustrated by the unprofessional and disdainful attitude displayed by one of the managers in the recording. Corey then shifts to analyzing a screenshot of management directives for city letter carriers. He criticizes several of these directives, including those concerning "no lunch" requests, mandatory personal phone contact for unscheduled leave, and the expectation for carriers to gather by scanner bays before their shift begins. Corey explains that these directives are often local policies that conflict with established handbooks and manuals, and that grieving them under Article 5 (past practice) and Article 41, Section 3k (prohibiting work off the clock) is appropriate. He also addresses the rising cost of uniforms and the potential for carriers to be sent home due to a lack of approved footwear, stating this also warrants a grievance. Furthermore, Corey discusses the disallowance of 3996s based on "delivery program estimates," which he connects back to the problematic metrics discussed earlier, and expresses concern about directives regarding route parcel verification and PM office time. He also mentions that management is increasingly refusing to meet and resolve grievances, instead sending them up the chain, and suggests including Article 19 and the USPS/NALC Joint Statement of Expectations in grievances related to this issue. Corey reiterates his commitment to addressing these issues and improving the workroom environment through the "Dogs of War" initiative, noting the overwhelming positive response he received for it. He concludes by urging listeners to be safe, especially in the heat, and expresses optimism for positive changes ahead. fromatoarbitration.com

In this episode of "The Lion's Den," Corey begins by apologizing for the delayed episode due to his travels and a lengthy search for a crucial audio recording. He describes the recording as a teleconference featuring a district manager and a station manager, highlighting it as a perfect example of the disconnect between upper management and frontline supervisors, and how upper management's directives create a hostile work environment. Corey expresses his intent to play snippets of this recording to illustrate how management discusses carrier performance, injuries, and the misuse of tools like PET (Performance Evaluation Tool) and DOIS (Delivery Operations System). Corey reiterates his focus on route protection and explains that PET and DOIS are central to this discussion. He elaborates on how these systems are used to set unrealistic expectations for carriers, particularly regarding office time and street performance, often disregarding fixed office duties, breaks, and individual circumstances. He shares his frustration with management's ignorance of established procedures and prior arbitration decisions, such as the lack of a street standard and the prohibition of using single-day counts for discipline. Corey then provides extensive grievance advice, referencing key legal and contractual documents that carriers and stewards can use to combat management's misuse of PET and DOS. He cites National Level Settlements M-01769 and M-01664, which clearly state that projections from these tools are not the sole determinant of a carrier's workload and cannot be used as the basis for discipline. He also references M-00304 and M-01444, which address the lack of street standards and the prohibition of using PET or DOIS as the sole basis for discipline. Corey emphasizes the importance of documenting everything, including carrier statements, management's words, and the actual conditions of the route, and advises carriers to request copies of all relevant forms, like the 3996 and 1017b. He critically analyzes the management's perspective heard in the audio, pointing out their focus on numbers over carrier well-being, their disregard for carrier injuries and requests for breaks, and their failure to follow proper procedures for performance evaluation and documentation. Corey stresses that management's actions, particularly the directives from upper management to use PET and DOS despite their flaws, directly contribute to a hostile work environment. Corey concludes by expressing his dedication to fighting these issues, promising that when the CLC takes over, they will have specialized teams well-versed in OSHA, grievances, and confronting management's ignorance and abusive practices. He reiterates his deep love for the city letter carriers and his unwavering commitment to their safety and well-being, urging them to protect themselves and to rely on the union for support and education. concernedlettercarriers.com

Mallory and Badmouth host a roundtable discussion focused on the Building and Fighting NALC (BFN) initiative, CCA Summer, and organizing CCAs. They begin by acknowledging the loss of fellow carriers Jacob JT Taylor and Dan Workman, stressing the dangers of the job and the importance of looking out for one another. The core of the episode centers on the BFN's "CCA Summer" program, aimed at providing support and education to CCAs, particularly on Amazon Sundays, where they often face demoralizing conditions, lack of information, and limited union presence. Chris Persampieri from Branch 34 Boston, along with Ryan Miller and Dennis Carson, details how they initiated their outreach by showing up at Amazon Sunday locations with coffee and donuts, educating CCAs about their rights, pay, and the importance of union involvement. They discovered a significant knowledge gap among new CCAs regarding basic union functions and contractual benefits. Ernest Gonzales from Branch 421 San Antonio and Cesar Hernandez from the same branch discuss their efforts in Texas. Ernest highlights the BFN's national platform, fightingnalc.com, and the available resources like informational flyers and scripts for organizers. Cesar emphasizes the importance of reaching out to CCAs and RCAs, especially in underserved areas of Texas, and the need for a union presence that understands their specific struggles. He speaks about the necessity of having representatives who share similar backgrounds and languages, like himself, to effectively organize and advocate for members. The roundtable highlights the challenges of organizing due to the demanding nature of the CCA job, the lack of consistent union support in some areas, and the deliberate tactics used by management to divide employees. They stress that even small gestures, like offering water or simply being present and available, can make a significant difference. The need for CCAs to know their rights regarding breaks and scheduling, and to utilize union representation for any issues, is reiterated. The conversation also touches on the importance of state associations and congressional advocacy, with a call to action to support HR 1065, the Postal Police Reform Act, which aims to provide better protection for letter carriers. There's a discussion about the ongoing fight for better wages and working conditions for CCAs, with BFN advocating for an all-career workforce and a $30 per hour wage. The episode concludes with plugs for various podcasts, upcoming events, and resources for those interested in getting involved in organizing and union activism. https://www.fightingnalc.com/cca-summer-materials http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/ https://fromatoarbitration.com/cca-corner/

Corey returns after attending a "Next Generation Carrier's" Zoom event and traveling to Seattle. He expresses his enthusiasm for the city letter carrier movement and the growing solidarity among different podcast hosts and carriers. He previews upcoming interviews with Pam Donato, a candidate for Director of Retirees and OWCP on the CLC slate, and James Brennan, a candidate for President of the Rural Carrier craft. Corey then delves into crucial safety matters, particularly regarding heat. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and utilizing various union documents and NALC resources when filing safety grievances. He meticulously breaks down key articles from the National Agreement (Article 14 and Article 19), the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM 8-Safety, Health, and Environment), and handbooks like EL801 and EL814. These sections highlight management's responsibilities and commitments to providing a safe working environment, which Corey stresses are vital for grieving management's failures. He specifically points out language regarding management's commitment to preventing injuries, their responsibility for employee well-being, and the requirement for training. He addresses common questions and issues raised by carriers concerning heat, such as broken air conditioning in offices, managers denying breaks, and the misuse of stationary time. Corey provides practical advice for carriers, including how to use PS Form 1767 to report hazards, the importance of documenting all interactions with management, and how to handle situations when denied breaks or assistance. He criticizes management's disregard for carrier safety, particularly when it conflicts with production numbers, and vows that the CLC, if elected, will create specialized teams to address these issues and hold management accountable. Corey then transitions to his interview with Pam Donato, who shares her extensive background in the union, starting as a steward in 1989 and progressing to branch president and a special assistant at NALC headquarters. She discusses her work in community outreach and her decision to join James Henry's CLC slate for the upcoming election, driven by a shared vision for a stronger, more responsive union. Pam expresses her belief in the power of the city letter carrier movement and her commitment to rebuilding the NALC. Following Pam's segment, Corey interviews James Brennan, a candidate for President of the Rural Carrier union. James echoes Corey's sentiments about the need for a fighting spirit, addressing toxic work environments, and holding management accountable. He criticizes the current leadership for their detachment from the craft and their handling of contract negotiations, highlighting specific instances of perceived failures. James emphasizes the importance of solidarity between city and rural carriers and calls for a unified effort to improve working conditions, fair pay, and management accountability. He stresses the need for updated union information systems to better support stewards and carriers. Both Corey and James express their shared goal of creating a union that actively fights for its members and makes a positive impact on the workroom floor. fromatoarbitration.com

In this episode of "The Lion's Den," Corey returns after traveling to Seattle and immediately dives into the topic of route protection, specifically addressing the use of the Performance Evaluation Tool (PET) and its misuse by management. He begins by describing an audio recording he possesses of a district manager berating a station manager for not adhering to PET projections, even when the station manager cited mail volume and carrier restrictions. Corey highlights how upper management's insistence on PET, which he argues is flawed and doesn't account for real-world conditions like office time, parcel counts, or weather, creates a toxic work environment. He plans to play a snippet of this audio in future episodes, provided it doesn't compromise the source. Corey then thoroughly explains PET, its purpose, and its limitations, emphasizing that it consistently assigns the same street time regardless of mail volume and fails to account for essential office tasks. He details how PET projections are used to create an unfavorable "office time" metric, automatically putting carriers at a disadvantage. He also explains how management uses PET and other tools like DOS (Delivery Operations System) to justify disciplinary actions, despite national-level settlements like M-1769 and M-1664 that state these projections are not the sole determinant of a carrier's workload or return time. Corey provides extensive grievance advice for situations involving PET, including proper issue statements, facts to document, and relevant contractual provisions and settlements. He stresses the importance of carriers verbally informing management if they cannot complete their routes in eight hours, requesting a PS Form 3996 (Carrier Auxiliary Control), filling it out completely with detailed reasons, and keeping a copy. He advises carriers not to argue with management but to politely ask for instructions and to call back to the office for clarification if needed, always documenting these interactions. He also touches upon the misuse of PS Form 1571 (Undelivered Mail Report) when management instructs carriers to curtail mail, and the denial of 3996 requests based on PET projections, particularly in the context of "auto-pivot" plans. He criticizes the union's current leadership for not adequately addressing these issues and for the perceived inadequacy of DRT (Dispute Resolution Team) decisions, which often seem to favor management. Corey expresses his deep frustration with the "establishment" within the union, accusing some of prioritizing their positions over the well-being of city letter carriers. He vows that if elected EVP, he will lead a militant union that actively confronts management and addresses these issues, prioritizing the carriers and creating a safe and harmonious work environment. He draws an analogy to the movie "300," emphasizing the need for the union to take the fight to postal management rather than waiting for problems to arise. Corey reiterates his commitment to the city letter carrier and his determination to bring about change, encouraging carriers to prepare for upcoming route inspections and to stand up for their rights. He ends by expressing his love for the city letter carriers and assuring them that better days are coming when the CLC ticket, with James Henry as president, takes over. He also announces his upcoming appearances on other podcasts and his continued dedication to addressing heat safety and route protection issues. concernedlettercarriers.com

In this emergency episode of "The CCA Corner," Mallory and Badmouth address the critical issue of heat safety, prompted by the recent passing of two union brothers, Jacob JT Taylor and Dan Workman, due to heat-related causes. They emphasize the increased danger of the job, especially during heat waves affecting various regions. The episode features extensive information sourced from OSHA, CDC, EPA, and carrier experiences, with a disclaimer that they are not medical professionals. The hosts detail the symptoms and first aid for heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke, stressing the importance of recognizing signs like confusion, dizziness, and elevated body temperature, and calling 911 immediately. They also introduce less commonly discussed heat illnesses like Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo), heat syncope, and heat cramps. The discussion covers medications and pre-existing conditions that increase susceptibility to heat illness. They stress the importance of consulting doctors about these risks. Practical advice is provided on what management can supply (ice, water, electrolyte powders, cooling towels, sunscreen, fans) and what carriers can purchase themselves, such as coolers, water jugs, lightweight clothing, cooling vests, extra socks, and personal fans. They advocate for framing these items as safety gear to management and utilizing the union for procurement if management is unresponsive. Tips for staying cool include drinking plenty of water and electrolytes, preferably cold, and consuming hydrating foods like fruits and lightly salted snacks. They advise against chugging water and recommend avoiding alcohol and excessive caffeine. They also cover using cooling towels on pulse points, feet in ice water, and exploring accessible air-conditioned spaces. Mallory shares her personal experiences with heat illness, crying from heat stress being her trigger to seek cooler temperatures, and finding relief through various cooling methods. Morris emphasizes the importance of hydrating the night before, drinking fluids consistently throughout the day, and using electrolyte supplements. He also shares tips on keeping coolers cold and utilizing wet wipes or makeup remover wipes for hygiene. The episode stresses the importance of documenting heat exposure and conditions on 3999s, taking breaks diligently, and never refusing water offered by customers. They highlight the value of building a community through group chats to check on fellow carriers and sharing resources like accessible restrooms or cooling spots. They also mention the NALC's Heat Illness Prevention Program and the new Employee Retention Program, which allows consultation with other carriers about route conditions. Finally, they conclude with a solidarity soapbox, encouraging CCAs and all carriers to look out for each other, offer water and support, and to push for necessary breaks. Episode Summary https://fromatoarbitration.com/ https://fromatoarbitration.com/cca-corner/