In this episode, we talk about Mike’s 1.3-mile walk in Washington, DC, where he recorded five quick videos while on the move. We also discuss the Supervisor/Postmaster Academy happening in our area, including some of the topics being covered like FMLA provisions.

We also touch on how demanding the job of a letter carrier can be, and Mike shares a preview of some upcoming locations where he’ll be “kicking the tires.”

This week on Mike Drop Monday, we’re having the conversation a lot of carriers are thinking about but, not everyone is saying it out loud.

We break down the real differences between PTFs and CCAs; the pay, the benefits, the schedules, and the way each position is treated on the workroom floor. Why do so many CCAs feel like they’re carrying the weight of the operation while being paid the least and offered the fewest protections?

From unpredictable hours and limited benefits to the long road to career status, we dig into why CCAs often feel severely undervalued  and why that conversation matters now more than ever.

John Murphy (a Full-Time Regular carrier), set the tone immediately in his introduction:

“I’m currently at Step D… as in dog sh*t.”

That raw honesty opened the door to a deeper discussion about the pay scale, morale, and how even career employees can feel stuck or underappreciated.

We also had a powerful moment with a non-union member who shared her frustrations openly  where the union fell short for her, why she stepped away, and what made her skeptical. Instead of shutting it down, we leaned in. Through real conversation and accountability, she ultimately agreed to give the union another shot.

This episode isn’t about complaining, it’s about transparency. It’s about respect. And it’s about recognizing the value of the carriers who keep everything moving.

There is also discussion about continuing rallies and  30 for 30 movement

$30 an hour starting pay. 30 carriers to 1 manager.

Fair pay. Fair staffing. Real respect for the work carriers do every single day.

As contract negotiations continue, carriers across the country are organizing rallies to raise awareness and bring real visibility to these priorities. This isn’t just a slogan, it's a call for sustainable staffing, equitable compensation, and a stronger future for the workforce.

Now is the time to show up, stand together, and make sure our voices are heard at the bargaining table. If you’re a CCA feeling overlooked, a PTF navigating the middle ground, or a regular wondering why morale feels low, this one’s for you.

What if Mike was the one sitting across the table from USPS?

In Episode 36 of Mike Drop Monday, Mike opens the show as if he is leading contract negotiations as NALC President and he does not hold back.

We break down:

• What bargaining with USPS should look like
  

• The power and reality of contract rallies
  

• NEERMP, what it is and why it matters
  

• The question people keep asking. Is Mike being selfish?
  

And in true Mike Drop Monday fashion, we mix in some real life moments too. Renee shares that her son just lost his first tooth, reminding us that behind the negotiations, rallies, and big conversations, we are all balancing family and real life along the way.

This episode pulls no punches. If you care about the future of the contract, union leadership, and where things are headed, this one is for you.

Drop your thoughts in the comments. Would you negotiate differently? Are rallies effective? Is Mike out of line or just saying what others will not?

March Madness Link:

https://bit.ly/4kNcA3P

USPS NALC Article 15 grievances and a newly declared interpretive issue are raising concerns among letter carriers about delays, steward pay, and how grievances are being handled during contract negotiations.

Mike Drop Monday Midweek Update

In this episode, Mike covers what the interpretive issue means for the grievance process, why some issues are being pushed toward impasse, and why many carriers worry about repeating problems seen during the HIPP process.

Mike covers:

• What an interpretive issue means inside the USPS grievance process
• How Article 15 timelines and grievance resolutions may be affected
• Steward pay and escalating remedy concerns
• The risk of grievances sitting unresolved or being delayed
• Why union leadership is expected to address this during upcoming meetings

This update focuses on protecting the grievance process and making sure issues affecting letter carriers do not disappear during procedural delays.

Subscribe for weekly USPS updates, labor news, and real conversations about contract negotiations and workplace issues.

USPS NALC contract rallies are growing across the country as letter carriers organize to build visibility and put public pressure on contract negotiations. In this episode of Mike Drop Monday, we explore the successes, challenges, and real-world experiences behind the movement.

Episode 35 features conversations with organizers and carriers from across the country, including Chris Persampieri of Next Generation Carriers, Johnathon “Badmouth” Morris, Xavier Gonzalez, Dustin Saville, Ken Grigsby, and Cesar Medina. We talk about what’s working, what isn’t, and why organizing infrastructure and community support matter more than ever.

Topics include:• Rally successes and challenges nationwide• Public pressure and contract negotiations• Planning stand-outs and rallies with limited time• Building stronger organizing teams inside the union• Family-friendly events and community visibility• Why local leadership and member involvement matter

Find a rally near you:https://www.nalc.org/news/fight-like-hell#CA

Rally flyer:https://www.nalc.org/news/body/FLH-contract-rally-flyer-2.pdf

Next Generation Carriers:https://www.nextgenerationcarriers.com/https://www.youtube.com/@NextGenerationCarriershttps://open.spotify.com/show/0BAN1x0LVmdpJD5NwffY2yhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-generation-carriers/id1786141834

Rally chant list:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A4zeb-2ZT9FF-AdJZ0vO2tLivEzlrQfKqi7LB0xfFhA/edit?tab=t.0

See Johnathon “Badmouth” Morris’s work here:https://youtu.be/B-AKujZYBsg?si=PzmYlkeAw_gPhOfPCut

NALC Region 10 YouTube page:http://www.youtube.com/@NALCRegion10

USPS geo tracking, contract negotiations, and social media use on the clock are becoming major flashpoints for letter carriers across the Postal Service.

In this episode of Mike Drop Monday, we break down what USPS geo tracking really means for employees, where letter carrier contract negotiations currently stand, and why social media activity on the clock has become such a heated issue.

We’re joined by Jay H, a USPS-focused content creator and commentator, to separate fact from fiction and talk through what letter carriers should actually be concerned about right now.

Topics include:
• USPS geo tracking and employee monitoring
• Letter carrier contract negotiations and labor impacts
• Social media use on the clock and discipline concerns
• Union reactions and perspectives, including APWU leadership
• How workplace technology is changing postal culture

Mike Drop Monday delivers weekly conversations on USPS issues, labor news, workplace policy, and real-world impacts on postal employees.

Catch Jay H here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC42yFmssPztcKgowV14IDqA

What it means to be a mailman in today’s United States Postal Service goes far beyond delivering letters. In this episode of Mike Drop Monday, we explore the human side of the job, the economics shaping the USPS, and what “service” really means.

Mike Drop Monday - Episode 33 features author Stephen Starring Grant, author of Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, and special guest Abrahim Askar.

We talk about:
• What the word “service” in the United States Postal Service truly represents
• The realities of being a mailman in rural America and Appalachia
• USPS economics and the financial pressures facing the Postal Service
• Ideas for improving postal operations and long-term sustainability
• How delivering the mail shaped Stephen’s life and perspective
• Guest insights from Abrahim Askar on postal work and community

Mailman My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home:https://bookshop.org/p/books/mailman-my-wild-ride-delivering-the-mail-in-appalachia-and-finally-finding-home-stephen-starring-grant/1b27909a0000b74aWhether you’re a USPS employee, a customer, or someone curious about the future of the Postal Service, this conversation offers a real look inside the life of a mailman and the system behind it.

The Minneapolis ICE shooting and union outrage continue shaping national labor conversations, and this episode of Mike Drop Monday breaks down what’s unfolding and why it matters.

We discuss the Minneapolis ICE shooting response, how America’s unions and AFL-CIO and AFGE leadership are reacting, and what this moment means for the broader labor movement. We’re also joined by Ronald L. Morgan Jr., candidate for NALC National Business Agent Region 3, to talk about his priorities, vision for the union, and what postal and federal workers should be focused on right now.

Topics include:
• Minneapolis ICE shooting and protests
• Alex Jeffrey Pretti and AFGE Local 3669
• AFL-CIO and union statements
• Federal immigration enforcement and labor implications
• NALC leadership race and Region 3 priorities

Mike Drop Monday delivers weekly conversations on USPS issues, labor news, union politics, and the real stories impacting working people.
 Minneapolis ICE shooting, union outrage, labor movement, AFL-CIO, AFGE, NALC, NALC Region 3, Ronald L Morgan Jr, National Business Agent, postal workers, federal workers, union activism, labor news, immigration enforcement, protests, Mike Drop Monday, USPS podcast, union podcast, labor politics

Links:
-Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xAQ1ZoMidZrgNbK4KHC0t?si=c3wz8WEyQ_i5YaH1GI9LPw
-Find your Member of Congress:
https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
-Additional reference document: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zZ7u5vzXtXGYTkaBPQgYovFyX2zHXVYxhkq_5mMOv4A/edit?tab=t.0
-AFL-CIO statement on Minneapolis shooting:
https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-mourns-killing-minneapolis-union-member-reiterates-calls-ice-leave-minnesota

Whether you’re following the Minneapolis situation, union activism, or NALC leadership races, this episode brings context straight from the battleground of current labor issues.

Subscribe for weekly USPS and labor news, deep interviews with union leaders, and explainers that connect the dots between policy, protests, and real people inside the movement.

 #MinneapolisICEShooting
#UnionOutrage
#LaborMovement
#NALC
#AFGE
#PostalWorkers
#UnionPodcast
#LaborNews
#MikeDropMonday  

No filters. No fluff. Just real talk, bold takes, and a few mic-drop moments you won’t see coming. We’re diving into the conversations people avoid, breaking down what actually matters, and keeping it 100 the entire way. Tap in live, join the chat, and be part of the moment because this one hits different.

This week on Mike Drop Monday, we’re bringing the conversation to the table, Table 2, to be exact. In this special roundtable episode, a group of Table 2 carriers sits down to have an honest, unfiltered discussion about the unique challenges they face within the NALC.

From navigating compliance gray areas and operational hurdles to dealing with misconceptions, insurance pressure, and limited resources, these carriers share the realities that don’t always make it into the spotlight. No fluff. No talking over the problem. Just real carriers, real experiences, and real solutions.

If you’ve ever wondered what life looks like on the Table 2 side of the NALC or you’re living it yourself this episode is for you. Expect insight, perspective, and a few moments you won’t want to miss.