Classes of Mail

Sometimes I think about what it would have been like if I would have realized earlier in my career that I don't have to run, that if I just do the job the right way, it can be low stress. It took me fourteen years to come to those realizations. Ryan Akers figured it out MUCH faster. He joins me on this episode to talk about what it's like being a newer carrier who actually knows his rights.[I forgot to add the outro music after the episode. Sorry about that.]

These are key provisions. We cover the fact that you are NOT an on-call employee! We also go over the rules governing overtime, out-of-schedule pay, and more.

Howard Komine came to Vegas to campaign with the CLC at my branch meeting. I was fortunate enough to meet up with him at his hotel for an in-person interview. This is Howard's first podcast interview, and he did GREAT! In this episode, he talks about his role as a trustee, how he runs his own branch, and why the oversight a trustee provides is so vital to our union.

Well, well, well... the shoe is on the other foot! Michael Rivera is a reformer from Branch 70 in San Diego who found himself in the national spotlight (at least among reform-minded podcasters) when he brought charges against NALC President Brian Renfroe; and then brought charges against the entire Executive Council. Michael recently ran for office in his own branch, and found what he believes to be significant deviations from the NALC's published election rules. He brought those issues to light with an election appeal, and published that appeal on social media, along with the appeals of two other members of his branch.Now, the members of the branch's election committee have brought charges against Michael for that publication. In this episode, we talk about the charges, and how the charges mirror similar charges that Michael Brasaemle and I faced stemming from our own branch election.

James Henry visited my branch last week, and he brought the energy! I found his speech to be heartfelt, enthusiastic, and indicative of where his mindset is. If you've only heard James Henry on podcasts, you owe it to yourself to give this a listen. I have the audio from his speech, and I also talk a bit in the beginning and end about what it was like to have him there in person, along with Howard Komine and Corey Walton.

There were some articles in the December 2025 Postal Record that are relevant to issues important to Michael and me. We discuss them.

Sometimes when you fight, you lose. Michael and I discuss what happened with our appeal, and why it's important to fight, even if you sometimes lose.

My surgery is now behind me, and things appear to be going well. I have my first follow-up in a few days, so this is everything I know as of the date of recording.

This episode is by request, from our friends in New York City. Michael bring the hits with some of his favorite grievance wins. It's a fun list, and the last grievance is a banger.

Mike Caref joins me to talk about the enormous grievance settlements that featured in the Office of the Inspector General report that was released earlier this year. We discuss some of the specific grievances, and the specific payouts. More generally, we go over what it takes to get management to actually comply with the contract.

This one's a little dry. But it does contain some gems that shed light on the fact that Brian Renfroe has no intention of getting rid of the CCA classification.

We drop the educational portion of the podcast, to bring you this very special episode of Classes of Mail. We get to hear Michael Brasaemle's story: how he came to the United States from Korea, his time in the Air Force, and his path through the USPS. It's an amazing story.6

Michael came up with a route inspection checklist that's aimed at CARRIERS (not stewards). It's filled with a ton of useful advice on how to make the most of your route inspection, and how to give your steward as much ammunition as possible for any grievances after the fact.

Michael and I talk news! A final kidney update before my surgery, and the two topics mentioned in the title. For the attendance interview, we go through all the questions in an investigative interview template that has been circulating on social media, to be used against carriers who use their earned benefit of sick leave. We have suggestions on how to answer these awful questions.

Lino Miranda came on to Classes of Mail to talk about the two documentaries he's produces, which expose the Post Office's systemic delay of deliverable mail. We talk about the reaction he got, the legalities of recording on postal premises, and the harm done by the delay of mail. Finally, we talk about CREA, Lino's artificial intelligence grievance research tool.

OK, the first one wound up being pretty well received, so Michael is back for more. In this episode, Michael talks about unadjudicated discipline, deems desirable, and much more.

Bill Kriebel talks about his run for NBA in Region 12.

Holy moly this article is LONG! This section covers transferring to other installations, and the conversion of CCAs/PTFs to full-time regular. It also covers the prohibitions on crossing crafts.

Michael and I read the remainder of the OIG report on grievances. This episode covers the OIG's recommendations, and the Post Office's response.

In this episode, Michael and I read the OIG report that discusses how much money management wastes by not following the contract. During the 3-year period the OIG investigates, it totaled A BILLION DOLLARS!

This episode is what Classes of Mail is all about. We do a deep dive into the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) Section 508. In this section, we learn about what makes a proper mailbox, how we're supposed to handle "refused" mail, what we do when a person doesn't pick up their vacation hold in a timely manner, and SO MUCH MORE!

Michael and I talk about what we have planned for the LA Convention, and a few other items of interest.

We skip Article 6, which is about layoffs. The short version is that we're protected from layoffs. Article 7 is much more relevant, and much longer. Today, we get through all of Article 7.1, which covers the CCA category of employees.

I open the show by explaining WHEN outgoing mail gets its postmark dates. It's handled by a machine called the Advanced Facer Canceler System. Then I get into how that machine actually works. Finally, I answer a question from the mailbag about Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (like the UPS Store), and what we're supposed to do with their mail. This episode kind of gets into the weeds, and that's exactly where Classes of Mail likes to be!

Today we power through FOUR articles of the JCAM. Article 2 is about accommodations for deaf employees, and I share a funny anecdote from the Carrier Academy. Article 3 is about management's rights (and their obligations). Article 4 is about the impending robot uprising. Article 5 is about unilateral changes and past practices.

Michael asked me if he could come into the studio and say what's really on his mind, without me holding him back. This episode is the result.

Season 6 is here! I'll be reading the entire JCAM from cover to cover, this time with much better audio quality and fewer accents. Today I read from Article 1, which empowers the NALC to represent carriers, and covers cross-craft work by supervisors and 204B's.

This was supposed to be an episode about route inspections, but my passions got the better of me, and I wound up doing a whole episode about how the machines work down at the plant. I find it incredibly interesting.

This episode is intended for regular carriers, not stewards. Michael and I talk about the inspection process, and address a lot of the fears carriers have surrounding the actual day of inspection,

"You can't use the master's tools to tear down the master's house." C Moline is an all-time favorite podcast guest. Today, she talks about how our grievance process is inherently broken, and why it can't fix the daily injustices our carriers face. Instead, C talks about a handful of tools that everyday carriers can use to protect their rights and stop abuse in its tracks.

There is some fantastic information in here about the criteria management is supposed to use when issuing discipline.

Adam Crosby has added his voice to the growing ranks of postal podcasts. His core message is that our union needs to do a better job of representing its table two carriers. In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about the Post Office's use of the Amazon model of hiring, they systemic mistreatment of CCAs, and the disappointing lack of empathy shown by carriers on table one.

I have a medical update about my kidney issue. Spoiler alert: it's cancer. But it's not that bad, as far as cancer goes. Michael and I also talk about some stuff going on in our branch, and at the national level. Finally, we give a hearty endorsement of the new Table Two Ticket podcast.

Michael and I read more from the EL-921, management's guide to handling grievances. This section covers precedent, and a few other items of interest.

I've been looking forward to reading this one. It's management's playbook for how they're SUPPOSED TO handle grievances. It provides valuable insights into how the grievance process works, and how management is supposed to cooperate with stewards. This is part one of what will probably be three parts.

Both Michael and I have received discipline letters that are active now, for attendance. We read the discipline, and discuss at length how we would pick apart management's claims. We'll go over the relevant sections of the ELM, and we pull from a few additional sources.

Michael joins me to talk about all the extra benefits that veterans have earned through their service. We also talk a bit about Michael's time in the Air Force.

In this episode, my lifelong friend and listener favorite Rich joins me to talk about the appeal I have right now at the National Committee on Appeals. I read the entirety of my appeal, the entirety of the branch reply, and we comment on both. Not surprisingly, we find my arguments to be more compelling. Even so, we present the other side as written, and try to give their positions fair treatment.

I'm joined by Chris Persampieri (Next Generation Carriers), Graig Samoluk (President, Branch 334), and Derek Liemohn (BFN alternate steward, and newly minted full-time regular), to discuss plans for nationwide contract rallies in February of 2026. Now is the time to get the ball rolling if we want to have a better outcome in our next contract negotiations.

There are important safety tips in this section including clarification of some controversial topics like curbing your wheels and wearing your shoulder belt.

I've decided to do a reading of the EL-814, the Employee's Guide to Safety. It's full of interesting and useful information.

Michael talks about the proper use of the route count, the one-day count, and office observations.

There is a provision in my branch's bylaws that requires a seminar to be held for anybody who's interested, if the branch pays for a person to attend any special meetings or schools. It's being ignored by my branch president. I want you to listen to the circumstances, and give me your advice on what I should do in this situation.

Michael and I finish the route protection handbook

Michael and I read from a route protection handbook. We talk about how to ensure you get all the time credit your route deserves.

Great questions. Adequate answers. And some corrections.

Results from the election, our takeaways, and our future plans.

Michael and I answer some excellent questions from the mailbag, and we talk a little bit about tomorrow's Branch 2502 election.

More questions, more answers

Michael and I share fun stories from out on the route. We need a break from all the campaigning, and you probably do, too.

The campaign is in full swing, and momentum is building for the good guys.