In Solidarity Podcast

Beat the Heat is an essential summer safety episode of the In Solidarity Podcast. Co-hosts Clifford Dodd and Armando Pedreira discuss the dangers of working in extreme temperatures and the rights letter carriers have to protect themselves while on the route. From recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke to understanding management's obligations under Article 14 (Safety and Health), the Heat Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), and various agreements between the Postal Service and the NALC, this episode equips carriers with the knowledge they need to stay safe, speak up, and take action when conditions become hazardous. Whether you are a new carrier or a seasoned veteran, this discussion reinforces the simple but critical truth: no piece of mail is more important than your health, your safety, or your life. Please be safe out there and share this episode with any Letter Carrier dealing with extreme heat.

Armando and Cliff discuss the importance the PS Form 3971 to document letter carrier leave choice, how to protect yourself from potential pitfalls and mistakes with this postal document, and the provisions of Article 10 of the National Agreement that secure letter carrier's leave rights.

With the expertise of our first special guest Dave Picconi, Region 15 RWCA (Regional Workers Compensation Assistant), co-hosts Clifford Dodd and Armando Pedreira detail the important first steps for injured letter carriers including; the Department of Labor's ECOMP portal, essential forms (CA-1, CA-16, CA-17, CA-20), medical requirements, and NALC resources available that are necessary to get most injury claims approved.

In Episode 6 of the In Solidarity Podcast, co-hosts Clifford Dodd and Armando Pedreira break down the power of properly communicating your daily time needs as a City Letter Carrier to maintain a fair days work for a fair days pay. From PS Form 3996 and PS Form 1571 to RIMS scanner messaging, this episode explains how documenting your workload is a right and responsibility. We break down how to handle requests for auxiliary assistance, approvals, denials, curtailed mail, in a way protects both carriers and the integrity of the mail. Grounded in the National Agreement, the M-39, M-41, and key grievance principles, this episode empowers carriers to understand that clear communication is not just a responsibility its a right. Mastering these forms and techniques are some the strongest tools carriers have every single day to protect themselves, their routes and the craft.

Armando and Clifford provide some key insight into the Informal A meeting, offer some strategy, and detail into the responsibilities of the union under Article 15 of the National Agreement, particularly the obligation to meet and complete sections 1-13B of the PS Form 8190 within the 14-Day timeline of the incident date.

Armando and Cliff take a deep dive into the remarkable power and importance of statements or interviews in the grievance arbitration procedure. Put ink to paper and let the voice of the letter carrier be heard. There is power in your words. The pen is mightier than the sword. Organized workers need to articulate their ideas on paper.

Armando and Clifford talk in depth about Weingarten Rights and what to do in regards to a Pre Disciplinary Interview (PDI) or Investigative Interview (I&I). Understanding these together can make all the difference when defending the rights of letter carriers and mounting successful defenses to any potential discipline.

Episode 2 The PS Form 8190. It is back to the basics as Armando and Cliff detail the great importance of the Joint Step A Grievance Form as it is the controlling document for NALC grievances. Please follow along as we detail the significance of why every box on the form must be filled out with care.

Episode 20: Understanding AM Office Duties takes letter carriers through the essential responsibilities that begin the workday before we ever hit the street. Cliff and Armando discuss the importance of properly performing our morning office duties, essential time allowances, including preparing for the day, communicating with management, and conducting a complete vehicle inspection before leaving the office. We take a closer look at the Expanded Vehicle Safety Checklist, the value of using the buddy system, and the practical steps carriers should take to identify problems with tires, lights, signals, fluids, leaks, mirrors, brakes, and other safety-related equipment.

This episode is also about understanding that these duties are real work that requires real time. Vehicle inspections should never become a rushed formality simply because management wants carriers out of the office faster. We discuss why carriers should actually perform the required checks, communicate defects when they are discovered, and never sacrifice safety for an arbitrary expectation. For letter carriers and shop stewards alike, Episode 20 reinforces a simple principle: do the job correctly, take pride in your work, do not skip essential functions, communicate what you need, document problems, and make safety part of the route before your vehicle ever leaves the parking lot.

In Episode 21 of the In Solidarity Podcast, we continue our Article 8 series with a practical look at how to identify, document, and grieve Daily 12-Hour List violations when management improperly uses 8-hour carriers for overtime before maximizing available ODL carriers.

We again break down TACS Carrier Everything Reports and show how to separate and track 12-Hour ODL carriers, 8-hour carriers, Work Assignment carriers, and CCAs. Using an Article 8 spreadsheet and real-world examples, we demonstrate how stewards can calculate available overtime hours, identify violations, and build the documentary evidence needed to support a successful grievance.

The goal is simple: follow the data, enforce the contract, and secure the appropriate remedy for our members. Article 8 grievances can look complicated on paper, but once you understand how the reports and numbers fit together, the violation tells its own story.