fromatoarbitration.com

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concernedlettercarriers.com

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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

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