Listen to the November 2025 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here.

This week, we’re proud to feature NALC members who have served in our nation’s military or are currently on active duty in honor of Veterans Day! Tune in to hear overviews of essential topics and resources for our fellow veteran letter carriers. Our sincere thanks go out to our special guests and to all our veteran members for their service to our nation. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts! Info about NALC Veterans Group and the Veterans Group Guide are both available at nalc.org/veterans.

00:00:50 – Committee of Presidents

00:03:56 — NALC Health Benefit Plan Seminar and Open Season

00:09:17 — Bargaining Subcommittee Updates 00:10:50 — 2025 National Rap Session 00:13:50 — "Shut Down Hunger" Food Drive 00:20:20 — Introduction to Veterans Day Episode

00:25:01 — Nora Stamper | Seattle, WA Branch 79 | Marines | Veterans’ Preference—Discipline Process and the Merit Systems Protection Board

00:39:12 — Troy Saunders | Baltimore, MD Branch 176 | Marines | Buying Back Your Military Time, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Website, the Buy Back Estimator, and Annual Leave Accrual

00:47:27 — Artegus Felder | Montgomery, AL Branch 106 | Army | The Hoover Executive Order 5396, MOU 00165, and Wounded Warrior Leave

00:55:56 — Carman Montgomery | Mobile, AL Branch 469 | Active Duty Air Force | Military Leave and Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

01:07:02 — Charles Bundy | Chicago, IL Branch 11 | Navy | ID.me Virtual ID, Veteran License, State and County Benefits, DMV Plates and Stickers, and the NALC Veterans Group

01:14:04 — Shane Davis | Jonesboro, AR Branch 1138 | Navy | On-the-Job Injuries—OWCP/DVA Dual Coverage, Veterans and Mental Health

01:27:53 — (In English and Spanish) Christopher Cotto-Sanchez | San Juan, PR Branch 869 | Army | DD 214 Requests and the Veterans Affairs App

NALC Health Benefit Plan Director Stephanie Stewart joins the podcast to discuss the Plan, Open Season, and what's new in 2026. Reminder: Open Season dates are Nov. 10 - Dec. 8.

Questions about the Plan? Visit nalchbp.org, call 888-636-NALC (6252), or contact your branch's health benefit representative. 

Listen to the October 2025 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here.

NALC's Emergency Response Team (ERT) deploys specially-trained letter carriers to assist other members following traumatic events. Director of Safety and Health Manny Peralta joins the podcast to discuss the ERT. Then, we hear from four branch presidents who have used the ERT to help their members: Sandy Laemmel, President, Detroit, MI Branch 1; Monique Mate, President, Rochester, NY Branch 210; Corey Grotte, President, Eau Claire, WI Branch 728; Ted Lee, President, Pittsburgh, PA Branch 84.

This week's episode discusses a national-level interpretive dispute recently filed by NALC regarding S&DCs (Sorting & Delivery Centers), followed by a look at the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act. Then, we hear from four members of the Branch Leaders group: Kelsey Crosbie, Columbus, OH Branch 78; Linda Johnson, Duluth, MN Branch 114; Veronica Ramirez, Arlington Heights, IL Branch 2810; and Vincent Smith, Worcester, MA Branch 12.

This episode is also available to watch on YouTube.

Hear more from Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee members here.

Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!

00:06:51 - What is an S&DC?

00:15:15 - Route adjustments and evaluations

00:16:38  - What is an MOU?

00:18:43 - TIAREAP expiration and M-02006/02007

00:21:27 - Route adjustment process

00:24:12 - The interpretive dispute

00:27:52 - Protect Our Letter Carriers Act

00:44:47 - Q&A

00:52:10 - Roundtable with Newer Member Rank-and-File committee members

This week dives into two national-level interpretive disputes recently filed by NALC. Then, we hear from four members of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee Contract Enforcers group: Yvette Kinard, New York, NY Branch 36; Juan Munoz, Corpus Christi, TX Branch 1259; Eric Porter, Sheboygan, WI Branch 102; Michael Ridgely, Silver Spring, MD Branch 2611

00:06:40 - Interpretive Step

00:15:40 - Article 15

00:19:31 - Two recent national-level interpretive disputes

00:53:26 - Roundtable with members of the Contract Enforcers Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee

01:31:14 - Ask the Mailbag

Special Assistant to the President Doug Lape joins the podcast to go in-depth on the structure and goals of the Rank-And-File Bargaining Committees. Then, we hear from four members of the Branch Leaders group: Valerie Castillo, Salem, OR Branch 347; James Collins, Knoxville, TN Branch 419; Elise Foster, Chicago, IL Branch 11; Leigh Smith, Decatur, GA Branch 2225

Watch the full episode here.

Hear more from Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee members here.

Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!

00:09:22 - Interview with Special Assistant to the President Doug Lape

00:13:21 - Developing the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees

00:18:18 - How were committee members selected?

00:23:30 - Goals

00:27:18 - Reports and meeting minutes

00:33:00 - What info and materials did the committees review?

00:35:30 - Structure and schedule / Economic proposals

00:45:00 - What's next?

00:47:10 - Feedback

00:49:40 - Roundtable with members of the Branch Leaders Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee

This episode breaks down the New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program (NEERMP)—from its origins to the positive changes it’s brought, to what new carriers can expect as they settle into the job. Watch here.

Check out M-02010, a jointly-developed document released by NALC and the Postal Service to answer commonly asked questions about NEERMP: nalc.org/m02010

00:09:36 – New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program

In this week's episode of Fight Like Hell, we deep dive into Article 8. Then, we review some scenarios and decide: Is it a gripe? Or is it a grievance? Watch the episode here. 

Click here for the special edition of The Activist. 

00:00:00 – Intro