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https://www.fightingnalc.com/cca-summer-materials

We recently had the honor and privledge to be involved in the massive Next Generation Carriers podcast round table regarding heat safety, featuring us, NALC Safety and Health director Mannie Peralta, Corey Walton (From A to Arbitration), Richie Ray (Hot House with Richie Ray), Alan Gegax and Michael Brasaemle (Classes of Mail), Joshua Shrum (Parcels of Knowledge), Elliot Simmons (On the Workroom Floor), and of course the guys from Next Generation Carriers (James Capone, Chris Persampieri, John Murphy).

https://www.nextgenerationcarriers.com/heat

In this emergency episode of "The CCA Corner," Mallory and Badmouth address the critical issue of heat safety, prompted by the recent passing of two union brothers, Jacob JT Taylor and Dan Workman, due to heat-related causes. They emphasize the increased danger of the job, especially during heat waves affecting various regions. The episode features extensive information sourced from OSHA, CDC, EPA, and carrier experiences, with a disclaimer that they are not medical professionals.

The hosts detail the symptoms and first aid for heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke, stressing the importance of recognizing signs like confusion, dizziness, and elevated body temperature, and calling 911 immediately. They also introduce less commonly discussed heat illnesses like Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo), heat syncope, and heat cramps. The discussion covers medications and pre-existing conditions that increase susceptibility to heat illness. They stress the importance of consulting doctors about these risks. Practical advice is provided on what management can supply (ice, water, electrolyte powders, cooling towels, sunscreen, fans) and what carriers can purchase themselves, such as coolers, water jugs, lightweight clothing, cooling vests, extra socks, and personal fans. They advocate for framing these items as safety gear to management and utilizing the union for procurement if management is unresponsive. Tips for staying cool include drinking plenty of water and electrolytes, preferably cold, and consuming hydrating foods like fruits and lightly salted snacks. They advise against chugging water and recommend avoiding alcohol and excessive caffeine. They also cover using cooling towels on pulse points, feet in ice water, and exploring accessible air-conditioned spaces.

Mallory shares her personal experiences with heat illness, crying from heat stress being her trigger to seek cooler temperatures, and finding relief through various cooling methods. Morris emphasizes the importance of hydrating the night before, drinking fluids consistently throughout the day, and using electrolyte supplements. He also shares tips on keeping coolers cold and utilizing wet wipes or makeup remover wipes for hygiene.

The episode stresses the importance of documenting heat exposure and conditions on 3999s, taking breaks diligently, and never refusing water offered by customers. They highlight the value of building a community through group chats to check on fellow carriers and sharing resources like accessible restrooms or cooling spots. They also mention the NALC's Heat Illness Prevention Program and the new Employee Retention Program, which allows consultation with other carriers about route conditions.

Finally, they conclude with a solidarity soapbox, encouraging CCAs and all carriers to look out for each other, offer water and support, and to push for necessary breaks.

Episode Summary

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Mallory and Badmouth dedicate a significant portion of the podcast to the crucial topic of mental health, acknowledging its prevalence and impact within the postal service. They begin by honoring two fallen brothers, Mathew Rorie from Branch 41 and Dan Workman from Branch 113, and offer condolences and information for sending cards. The hosts emphasize the importance of destigmatizing mental health conversations, comparing mental health struggles to physical health issues and highlighting the prevalence of neurodivergence. They explain that society and work structures are often designed for neurotypical individuals, and it's okay for brains to work differently. The episode delves into various mental health concerns, including stress, burnout, low self-esteem, and specific conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and others, noting their often invisible nature. They stress that mental well-being affects not only the individual but also their families, coworkers, and customers, reinforcing the concept of solidarity and kindness. The podcast provides practical advice on seeking help, discussing different types of therapy (CBT, psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioral) and mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, primary care physicians), with a recommendation to use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as a primary resource. They highlight EAP's usefulness in finding local mental health professionals and its confidential, free nature, and also mention the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The episode also touches on CareFirst benefits and resources like PsychologyToday.com for finding therapists. They encourage listeners to be their own best advocates, explore various treatment options, and not give up if the first approach isn't successful. The episode concludes with a powerful message of solidarity, encouraging mutual support, empathy, and personal growth, urging listeners to utilize available resources and take care of themselves and each other. They also mention upcoming episodes on CCA conversion, scheduling, and travel.

1-800-EAP-4YOU - Eap4you.com (USPS & Family)
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline -Call or text 988 for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor, 24/7 https://988lifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line - Text ACTION to 741741 to be connected to a crisis counselor https://www.crisistextline.org/
Samaritans - Preventing suicide and providing hope 877-870-HOPE (4673) https://samaritanshope.org/
Veterans Crisis Line - 800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1, Text to 838255 to connect veterans with a trained responder https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/
Teen Line - 800-852-8336 Text TEEN to 839863 to connect with highly trained teen listeners
The Trevor Project - 866-488-7836 https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people ages 13-24
Institute on Aging's Friendship Line - 800-971-0016 Email [email protected] Crisis line for people aged 60+ and adults with disabilities
Parent Stress Line - 800-632-8188 https://www.parentshelpingparents.org/stressline
National Helpline for SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - For individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders 800-662-4357 https://findtreatment.gov/
MA Substance Abuse Helpline - 800-327-5050 https://helplinema.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline - 800-370-9085
Project Semicolon - https://projectsemicolon.com/
Project YES (for teens having trouble accessing services) - https://www.schleiderlab.org/yes.html

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In this episode of "The CCA Corner," Mallory and Badmouth are joined by James Henry to discuss current issues and provide education for CCAs. The discussion begins with an update on recent events within the NALC, including the contentious tentative agreement (TA), and James Henry's perspective on leadership's handling of the membership's wishes. The focus then shifts to the rights of CCAs during disciplinary investigations (PDIs or IIs), emphasizing the crucial role of union representation. James Henry stresses the importance of CCAs understanding their rights, particularly their right to union representation throughout the entire process, and that management's questions can be seen as attempts to manipulate or trap carriers into incriminating statements. He emphasizes the importance of honesty and direct answers during such procedures. The episode covers the differences in disciplinary rights between CCAs and regular carriers. James Henry details the CLC's efforts to advocate for CCAs and the importance of member solidarity, highlighting recent additions to the team. The discussion touches on the political climate's influence on the Postal Service and the importance of collective action. A significant portion of the episode focuses on the vital role of union representation in defending CCAs, whether they're perceived as innocent or guilty. James Henry emphasizes the importance of upholding due process rights and citing the contract, and how management's attempts to pressure carriers into admitting guilt can be legally challenged. The episode concludes with a discussion of upcoming events and initiatives within the CLC, urging CCAs to be proactive in advocating for their rights.

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In this episode, Mallory and Badmouth welcome Thomas McDonald, Vice President of Branch 1642 in Yuma, Arizona. Thomas discusses the challenges and improvements he's seen in his office, particularly the significant CCA turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights efforts to improve communication and address concerns within the CCA workforce, leading to a more positive and productive atmosphere. The discussion transitions to CCA benefits, focusing on health insurance, with a detailed breakdown of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and the newly negotiated USPS non-career health benefit plan. This plan, available to CCAs regardless of their appointment year, allows for postal service contributions towards premium costs. The podcast covers eligibility requirements for various benefits, including dental and vision (FEDVIP), flexible spending accounts (FSA), life insurance (through the NALC Mutual Benefit Association—MBA), and death benefits (through the MBA). Specific costs, eligibility requirements, and contact information are provided. Important details regarding uniform allowances, leave policies (annual, sick, bereavement, FMLA, LWOP), and holiday pay are also presented, including details on how to claim uniform allowances and leave benefits. The episode concludes with a call to action for CCAs to get involved in their local union, emphasizing the importance of collective action in advocating for better working conditions and benefits, featuring outreach events in Texas.

https://fromatoarbitration.com/cca-corner/

This is a "CCA Corner" mailbag episode featuring Leo, a newly elected CCA steward from Philadelphia. Badmouth and Mallory begin by apologizing for the infrequent uploads, citing personal life events such as moves. Leo, the guest, shares their background as a practicing attorney before transitioning to a career as a letter carrier. They describe their current work environment as overwhelmingly busy due to handling all Amazon deliveries at their station and frequent changes in management. They explain how their legal background proves advantageous as a steward, drawing parallels between legal practice and handling grievances. Leo recounts how their first day at the academy inspired them to become a steward, discussing the importance of proactive advocacy. They note that they were unexpectedly elected as steward. They then discuss how management's disposition shifted from initially supportive to adversarial after they began actively defending carriers' rights, recounting instances where interviews were abruptly terminated due to disagreements over Weingarten rights. They reflect on the challenges of maintaining composure when facing management resistance and shares their system for managing the large amount of data involved in their steward duties. Leo acknowledges the initial apprehension some carriers felt towards him as a CCA steward but emphasizes that they aimed to gain trust by proactively educating and supporting coworkers.

This episode focuses on the concept of "opting" for hold-down assignments for CCA's. Badmouth and Mallory begin by explaining the Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) and its role in interpreting the national agreement. The central topic is the rights and procedures associated with opting, including eligibility requirements (full-time reserves, full-time flexibles, unassigned regulars, and predominantly CCAs). They clarify that opting is for the duration of the assignment, with certain exceptions and stipulations. The discussion includes the limitations on who can opt and specific circumstances when management may interfere with a hold-down assignment. Badmouth and Mallory also emphasize the importance of the correct use of the grievance procedure in these cases.

The episode stresses the value of "holding down" a route for CCAs in terms of gaining valuable experience, building a clearer understanding of the route and procedures, and establishing a more predictable schedule. This is presented as a tool to reduce the unpredictable on-call status often faced by CCAs.

The conversation includes the distinction between "clean bumps" (contractually permissible) and "dirty bumps" (grievable). Badmouth and Mallory provide examples of each type of bump, emphasizing that CCAs should be aware of their rights and should quickly engage their union steward to file grievances in the event of an unfair bump. They strongly advocate for the use of "malicious compliance" in a strategic, petty way to challenge management actions in these situations while still maintaining proper procedure within the contractual framework.

Badmouth and Mallory advocate for active union involvement and encourage listeners to join orgs and movements working for improved working conditions, including open bargaining, fair compensation, and a safer work environment for all carriers. They provide links to relevant organizations. Finally, the episode stresses solidarity and support within the carrier community, encouraging listeners to reach out and support each other during challenging times. The episode ends on a note of hope and solidarity, reminding listeners that the union will fight to protect their rights.

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https://www.fightingnalc.com/

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

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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