Caref4Prez

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. 

On this episode of Mike Drop Monday, Mike sits down with Elliot Simmons to unpack a rare five-part arbitration saga out of Manteno, Illinois. What started as isolated disputes evolved into a full-blown strategic marathon, testing preparation, persistence, and pressure at every turn. Along the way, the conversation dives into certified mail tactics, timing pitfalls, and why upcoming USPS postmark changes in 2026 could have serious implications for arbitration filings, proof of service, and deadline disputes. Elliot breaks down how the arbitrations connected, what changed from one to the next, and the hard-earned lessons that only come from fighting the same battle five times. If you care about arbitration strategy, endurance, and learning from repetition, this episode delivers.

We’re taking a short break and won’t be dropping new episodes until after the New Year.

But don’t worry—you can still catch Mike popping up on other podcasts in the meantime 

Wishing you all a happy holiday season and a strong start to the New Year. Thanks for the continued support, and we’ll see you in 2026 with new episodes!

Check out Beyond the Satchel and Next Generation Carriers for some Mike content in the meantime:

Beyond the Satchel

Episode Featuring: Region 3 NBA Mike Caref

Youtube: https://youtu.be/hD8By7cxXhU?si=f_vrR-GpEf-4w4Hu

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1h4uXlhxpXYjFZC8zbCWIl?si=ef5edb32395040e4

Next Generation Carriers Featuring Mike Caref and Branch 9

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ2Z4MWXCcI

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rVlbhkFHwCjfJX1YfzYYN?si=432c2e4b9e004314