Classes of Mail

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.

The Goodest Oldest Boy sent a letter to the retirees of our branch. To call it misleading is to be generous. Michael and I respond to his letter, and we elaborate of his claim that we "have no plans to make our Branch better."

Michael and I talk about the different procedures and policies that exist at installations and stations around the country, and why answering questions from the mailbag might not be as easy as we originally thought. But we still do it, because we're here to help.

Paul Boulanger and I are both passionate about education. In this interview, we talk about what the newly recreated Director of Education will actually do, and what Paul's priorities will be when he takes the helm.

Michael Brasaemle went a little nuts and paid to send out a mailer to our entire branch for our election. He printed all the flyers at home, bought nearly 2000 stamps and 2000 envelopes, and came over to my house for an envelope stuffing party. We had quite a few people show up to help. On this episode, you get to meet some of those people, and hear their stories.

UPDATE: I am running for vice president, instead of secretary. Ballots for the election in Branch 2502 are out NOW!It's been about a year since my lifelong friend Rich Vala has joined me on the podcast. It's also been about a year since my branch had its tainted election. On September 3, 2025, I accepted the nomination for Vice President for Branch 2502. Now, we need you to vote.

This episode has two topics, which wind up being related. In the first half of the episode, I get on my soap box and talk about why we, as workers, need to unite across class. We are wrongly villainizing other poor and struggling people, when the real enemy are those hoarding ludicrous amounts of wealth at the top of the class structure. (To skip this part, go to around the 12:00 mark.)The second half of the episode talks about what our diet COLAs really are. Spoiler alert: we ALL only get about 55% of the actual cost of living. The rest is supposed to be covered by our general wage increases. Obviously that hasn't been happening, and that's why we've been falling further and further behind.

Just when you thought it was safe to go to the union hall... In this episode, Michael and I talk about what happens when you have a Presidential Ruling (actually, TWO presidential rulings!) from the national president, and then your branch president decides to defy those rulings. Shenanigans ensue, people are disenfranchised, and the Goodest Oldest Boy becomes an unlikely ally. For real, hold onto your hat for this one.

Joshua Shrum joins me via Zoom for an interview. We discuss the ever-more-crowded field of postal podcasting. More importantly, we discuss Joshua's upcoming run for vice president in Branch 4374.

More questions, more answers

David Grosskopf joins me again. He's always a great guest, and this time he's here to discuss his run for national trustee. We talk about what trustees actually do, and what his role would be on the executive council. We also discuss his recent victory at arbitration regarding scanner data.I have come up with a reference guide for Robert's Rules of Order that people can use at branch meetings. Send me an email, or reach out to me on social media, if you want a copy.

I got a letter in the mail yesterday from NALC Headquarters. It was unsolicited. As far as I knew, I had no outstanding issues pending at National. But I was wrong. it turns out my branch president tried one more hail Mary to disenfranchise the carriers in Branch 2502 by denying their right to run for office. The letter in my mailbox was an answer to that hail Mary. Guess how it went.

I ask Mike about the positions he takes in his platform. We talk about training, the grievance process, and much more.

On this episode, I read the entirety of Mike Caref's platform. This is in preparation for my interview with him, which will air the following day.

This is one of the most informative episode's I've ever done. Ron Speakman is an absolute treasure. He shares his knowledge about the worker's compensation system, and talks about what to do if you're injured on the job. Don't miss this one.

We get a few updates from Michael and from me. We announce our candidacy in the upcoming rerun of our tainted branch election, and we talk about some of the problems of mandating.

I received a letter from Brian Renfroe today, answering my question of whether it's permissible for me to be nominated for a branch officer position in our upcoming re-run election, AND to be nominated to serve as a steward. Turns out, yes. Yes it is. This ruling will strengthen involvement and democracy in my branch, which is a good thing.

I'm back from vacation! I'll probably talk about Peru at some point, but right now it's time to talk about my other big passion: education.

Michael and I answer questions from listeners.

Michael joins me in studio to talk about the importance of filing preventative grievances. Most of our grievances are reactionary, responding AFTER the damage has been done. Michael makes the argument that there is a role for grievances before the harms to carriers become great.

Carlton and Brian lost their bid to overturn the status quo in their branch election, but that doesn't mean they're giving up. I talked to them about their effort to update their branch's bylaws, the underhanded methods the good ol' boys use to thwart their efforts, and what the future looks like for their reform movement. Despite the discouraging subject matter, this episode serves as an inspiration for anyone who is dedicated to reforming their union.

This was a BANGER of a Zoom meeting! Michael and I took part in a national Zoom meeting with a bunch of other podcasters, and special guest Manny Peralta (Director of Safety). John Murphy did a great job of collecting questions about safety issues that affect all letter carriers. I know it's a long episode, but it is very much worth a listen.Sorry about the sound levels. It was recorded off Zoom, and people were at different volumes. I did what I could to balance things out on the fly. This is my recording of the Zoom feed, and includes a little bit of prep in the beginning, and a little bit of post-Zoom conversation at the end.