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This episode of the CCA Corner podcast features an interview with Emily, a newly converted PTF (previously CCA) from Cincinnati. The discussion focuses on union involvement and the importance of CCAs attending branch meetings.

Emily shares her experience successfully passing a resolution for a "no" vote on the recent tentative agreement (TA) at her branch. She emphasizes that despite personally benefiting from the TA, she voted no due to its inadequate address of CCA issues, particularly the low starting wage. Her branch unanimously supported the no vote and publicized their decision. Emily encourages CCAs to attend meetings, emphasizing the free food and drinks, the opportunity to meet union officers, and the importance of CCA voices in shaping the future of the union.

She highlights the generally welcoming atmosphere of meetings and the need for solidarity and support among CCAs. Morris reiterates the importance of attending meetings, even if seemingly unproductive, to ask questions and hold leadership accountable. He also promotes Building a Fighting NALC and the CLC as avenues for further union involvement. The episode concludes with thanks to Emily and a call for solidarity and self-care.

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This episode focuses on the detrimental actions of current NALC leadership, specifically President Brian Renfroe and Executive Vice President Paul Barner, and contrasts their behavior with the proactive, carrier-focused approach of the Concerned Letter Carriers (CLC).

Corey details the CLC's recent training efforts, emphasizing their commitment to educating members and preparing them for future leadership roles. He criticizes Renfroe and Barner for their opposition to grievances and arbitrations, which he views as essential tools for protecting carriers' rights and securing financial remedies. He alleges that Renfroe is collaborating with management to reduce fixed office time, undermining carriers' efforts to combat the imposed one-hour office time metric.

Corey highlights a template created by a business agent to fight the one-hour office time mandate. This template includes grievance language addressing violations of the national agreement, handbooks, and memorandums. It also emphasizes the importance of carrier statements to document the toxic work environment created by this policy. However, Corey expresses frustration that Renfroe is simultaneously negotiating to reduce fixed office time, rendering the template less effective.

He further criticizes Renfroe for failing to inform carriers about upcoming street observations by a headquarters safety team, as detailed in a letter sent to Renfroe in December. This lack of communication is compared to a betrayal, leaving carriers vulnerable to disciplinary action. Corey also condemns Renfroe's apparent lack of concern for a murdered carrier, focusing instead on James Henry's presence at a memorial event. He criticizes Renfroe for relying on prepared statements and lacking genuine passion.

The episode concludes with a discussion of a successful arbitration case where management was ordered to pay the arbitrator's full fees due to non-compliance with a Step B decision. The arbitrator cited USPS Policy Letter M-01517, establishing that compliance is not optional. However, Corey reveals that Barner, under pressure from national labor, convinced the arbitrator to amend the award and split the fees, a move Corey considers a major setback in the fight against non-compliance. He urges carriers to support the CLC in the upcoming election to oust the current leadership and restore a carrier-focused approach to union representation. He also promotes a uniform discount offered by a carrier-friendly vendor.

Cites: https://fromatoarbitration.com/episodes-201-300/

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This episode delves into the intricacies of the six-day count process, focusing on management's review requirements after route adjustments and the importance of meticulous form review to prevent manipulation of carrier time. Corey emphasizes the necessity of filing grievances if management fails to review routes or make necessary adjustments after an initial adjustment. He advises waiting 60-75 days post-adjustment to file, allowing carriers time to acclimate to the route and gather strong evidence of overburdening. This strategy also counters management's argument that carriers are simply unfamiliar with the route.

The episode then meticulously details sections 243.6 and 243.7 of the M-39 handbook, outlining management's responsibilities for reviewing routes, completing necessary forms (3997, 3999, 1813), examining time records for excessive overtime or auxiliary assistance, and ultimately readjusting routes if found to be out of adjustment. Corey underscores the importance of accurate data entry, highlighting a recent arbitration case where management was found to have falsified time records, and pledges to address such falsification head-on when he becomes Director of City Delivery.

Corey then transitions into a detailed explanation of various forms used in the six-day count process, including the 1840B, 1838C, and 1838. He explains how to interpret the data on these forms, emphasizing potential areas where management might manipulate figures to steal carrier time. He notes the importance of verifying entries for auxiliary street time, excluded time, and mail volume. The analysis of form 1838C emphasizes the need to scrutinize line items to ensure carriers receive appropriate credit for all performed duties. Corey gives examples of how management might misclassify recurring tasks as non-recurring (line 22 instead of 21) to deny carriers credit for their time. He stresses the importance of carrier and steward vigilance in reviewing these forms and requesting interviews with carriers to verify information accuracy.

Finally, Corey discusses form 1838, highlighting how waiting street time is frequently manipulated to underreport actual street time. He warns against unexplained deductions in street time and advises investigating any discrepancies through interviews, form reviews, and employee testimony. He concludes by reiterating the importance of scrutinizing these forms, as management is often trained to find ways to steal time from carriers. He then briefly mentions an upcoming CLC training session and promises a future episode covering other listener-submitted topics.

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This episode features an interview with Tyler Vasseur, a leader of the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) movement. The discussion focuses on the successful "Vote No" campaign against the recent tentative agreement, the NALC leadership's response, and BFN's plans for the future.

Corey begins by praising BFN's efforts and highlighting Mallory's call for members to submit educational resources to the From A to Arbitration website. He then introduces Tyler, commending his courage and leadership. Tyler discusses the historic nature of the TA rejection, emphasizing the increased voter turnout and the parallels to a similar rejection in 1978. He attributes the "no" vote to inflation, anger at NALC leadership, and the organized efforts of the reform movement. He stresses the importance of making the union a real force in the workplace to increase membership participation.

Corey and Tyler criticize President Renfroe's handling of negotiations, particularly his broken promises and lack of transparency. They see his recent adoption of BFN's talking points, including calls for an all-career workforce and a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), as an attempt to save face. Tyler, however, views this as a victory for the reform movement, demonstrating the effectiveness of pressure and organized demands. He calls for nationally coordinated contract rallies to maintain momentum.

Tyler outlines BFN's plans for the future, including a campaign for the right to strike. He encourages listeners to join the upcoming BFN Zoom meeting and details how to start a local chapter. He emphasizes the importance of organizing and building a strong foundation for future fights, including the national convention, leadership elections, and contract negotiations in 2026. Corey reiterates his support for BFN and offers to promote their events.

Contact Mallory:

[email protected]

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/contact

http://www.fromatoarbitration.com/

https://www.fightingnalc.com/

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oL-uZSHURhuzHlKGDL-3eA#/registration

This episode of the CCA Corner features an interview with James Henry, the current NALC Vice President and presidential nominee for the CLC ticket in the 2026 election. The discussion centers around Henry's background, the CLC's platform, and their plans to address concerns relevant to City Carrier Assistants (CCAs).

Henry details his extensive union experience, starting as a shop steward and rising through the ranks to National Vice President, emphasizing his commitment to member education and advocacy. He outlines the NALC's structure, from the national president down to the local branch level, and criticizes the current leadership for a lack of accountability and transparency. He also expresses frustration with having his duties reassigned by the current president.

The conversation turns to the CLC's platform, highlighting their focus on transparency, principled contract negotiations, member education, and empowering CCAs. Henry advocates for standardizing training and opportunities across all NALC regions, emphasizing the need for consistent standards and mentorship for CCAs. He addresses concerns about the current lack of transparency within the NALC, promising more open communication and information sharing with the membership.

Henry discusses the CLC's commitment to improving the CCA position, advocating for better wages, working conditions, and career advancement opportunities. He also expresses his long-term goal of abolishing the CCA position altogether in favor of an all-career workforce. Finally, he stresses the importance of solidarity, both within the NALC and with other labor organizations, emphasizing the need for a unified front to advocate for workers' rights. He closes by encouraging CCAs to stay involved and unified, assuring them that the CLC and other NALC activists are fighting for their interests.

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https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

This episode focuses on the current state of the NALC, criticizing President Brian Renfroe's leadership and the recently rejected tentative agreement. Corey argues that Renfroe's statements about getting every possible penny from negotiations undermined the union's position and led to a poor agreement. He expresses anger over the low pay raise, the continued existence of CCAs, and other unfavorable terms, accusing Renfreo, Tulino, and DeJoy of "stealing" from letter carriers. He praises the membership for overwhelmingly rejecting the TA, viewing it as a sign of a grassroots uprising against incompetent leadership.

Corey emphasizes the need for the union to be a "consequence" for management's abuses, using an anecdote about protecting an inmate in jail to illustrate the role of union representatives. He criticizes management's use of 1767s and other tactics as forms of harassment and calls for stronger pushback. He details specific strategies for challenging 1767s, including referencing relevant M-numbers and requesting interviews with all involved management personnel. He advocates for aggressive grievance filing and using tactics like filing quarterly overtime grievances nationwide to pressure management.

Corey also discusses the upcoming NALC elections, expressing confidence in the CLC ticket's victory and his own future role as Director of City Delivery. He acknowledges the division within the union but believes it will resolve itself with the removal of Renfroe and his allies. He ends by thanking his listeners and promising to fight for their interests.

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Two episodes are previewed: one with James Henry discussing the rejected NALC/USPS tentative agreement (TA), and another covering various topics like a retirement dinner and grievance payouts. Corey thanks his helpers for fixing his tech issues, enabling him to address a message backlog. He praises Henry's integrity and anticipates a strong discussion about the TA rejection, which Henry interprets as a clear message for better terms regarding workforce, hours, and pay. Henry argues letter carriers deserve top industry compensation due to their unique demands and stresses the need for a contract addressing both economic and work rule concerns. He outlines the next steps, including renegotiations and potential arbitration, advocating for a full TA review and greater officer involvement.

The conversation shifts to negotiation strategy concerns, with Corey and Henry discussing rumors of leadership potentially agreeing to non-pay TA items before focusing solely on pay. Henry insists everything should be renegotiated. They discuss the upcoming "day of action," with Henry encouraging participation and unity against the USPS. Corey questions President Renfroe's planned appearance, given his previous TA support. Both emphasize trustworthiness in leadership, with Henry affirming his commitment to honesty and advocating for fair treatment of all letter carriers.

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https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Corey celebrates the city letter carriers' overwhelming rejection of the proposed tentative agreement with the United States Postal Service. He frames this as a historic moment, a declaration of war against both the Postal Service and their own union leadership, particularly President Brian Renfroe. Corey accuses Renfroe of being a "failed leader," "reckless," "clueless," and a "danger" to the union. He criticizes Renfroe for initially praising the TA as "historic" and the "best offer" while later shifting the narrative to claim the Postal Service made the offer. He highlights the grassroots uprising against the TA, emphasizing the disrespect shown to the city letter carriers by both the Postal Service and the union leadership. Corey claims the TA was full of "concessions" and "cowardice," and that Renfroe lied about its contents. He sees the TA rejection as a sign that the CLC will take back control of the union in the 2026 elections and that Renfroe and his supporters will be ousted. He emphasizes the CLC's power and unity, expressing immense pride in their actions and promising to continue fighting for their interests, even if it means going to arbitration. He contrasts the current situation, where the Postal Service and union leadership are "eating steak," with his vision of the future, where the city letter carriers will also "fight for steak." He reiterates his unwavering support for the CLC and his determination to continue advocating for them.

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