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Final Q & A Before National Convention · United We Scan

0:14
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0:18
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Thank you. Now here are the hosts of the
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United We Scan podcast. Welcome back, everybody.
0:53
Episode 87, our final candidate Q&A before a National
0:59
Convention. We only have a handful of
1:01
questions this evening, but I knew now we have some
1:04
announcements and some other things to talk about.
1:06
So I think we'll start off with that stuff and then we'll wrap
1:11
it up with our questions. I know I have a couple things to
1:15
put out there. One thing that I know what's
1:18
kind of brought to my attention, which is fine and it mainly is
1:22
an interpretive type of thing for the most part is how I kind
1:26
of took it. Yes, we have, you know there
1:30
when it comes to talking about the status quo or the good old
1:34
boys club or failures in the NSS, we're not talking about
1:39
everybody that is in the NSS or everybody that holds a state
1:43
board position. There are some awesome, awesome
1:48
members out there in the NSS and in those state boards that are
1:53
fighting the good fight. And that's why they're there is
1:56
because the carriers are first and foremost for them and for
2:00
those members that are fighting that fight and aren't just doing
2:05
it to do it and appeasing those above them and just are there
2:10
for a namesake. You know, we thank you for for
2:14
stepping up into those positions to, to push this craft forward
2:18
to make things better for the craft in general.
2:22
And we definitely have every single one of those people's
2:25
backs. And I just wanted to clarify
2:28
that too. Also I agree with.
2:30
You on that. I agree with you on that
2:32
completely, Kristen, because I see it everyday.
2:35
People putting people down on social media over just innocuous
2:40
things or turning around and making things that are small
2:45
into big issues, and it shouldn't be that way.
2:50
I say it every episode that we're all in this together.
2:53
We need to start standing up together as a cohesive group
2:58
together and whether you like the people or not doesn't
3:02
matter. We are all one craft here.
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We are, we absolutely are, you know, and, and yes, I mean,
3:09
there are things that and there are people in positions that are
3:14
questionable for for those people in those areas.
3:19
And we understand that, you know, and we want to try and
3:22
help to fix that aspect of it. But those that are out there and
3:28
fighting the good fight for the craft and for the craft members.
3:32
Thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
3:36
That's, you know, that's, we're definitely not trying to put a
3:39
blanket over people that hold positions because other people
3:43
are, you know, if, if there's others in, in similar positions
3:47
that may not be doing what needs to be done almost to the point
3:53
of failing the membership. We, we're not, we're not putting
3:57
a blanket over, over all of that.
3:59
You know, those that are, are stepping up to do those
4:02
positions, whether that's, you know, full time union positions,
4:06
either on a state board or an NSS or, you know, those that are
4:11
Academy facilitators, you know, it not necessary.
4:14
It's not an excuse to get off the route for many of these
4:18
people. It is it is a way for them to
4:21
step up and to help the membership that needs the help
4:26
and those that are doing that job and doing it in a positive
4:29
light and making a difference within the craft for the
4:34
membership. Again, you know, that's, it's a
4:36
huge thank you. That's, you know, that's, that's
4:39
the primary goal. That's what we're all here for.
4:42
So I just want to put that one out there.
4:45
Lead off with that tonight. If I may enter, let me interject
4:49
here that even though we do not like the good old Boys club and
4:55
we do not like some of the individuals on the national
5:00
Board, it's not a blanket condemnation of the entire
5:04
board. And it's it's definitely not a
5:08
blanket condemnation based on personality because there's a
5:11
couple people on the national board that I really like.
5:14
But the fact of the matter is that the majority of the board
5:18
is still under the influence of the good old Boys Club.
5:22
And that's condemnation. You know, it's a, you know,
5:28
statement, blanket statement in regards to the fact that, you
5:31
know, we can't do business as usual.
5:34
We have to do better. We have to do more.
5:37
And we have to realize that these are positions of service,
5:40
not entitlement. And I'll get back to the
5:42
entitlement part because, you know, there's a, a certain
5:46
comment that our president made that I still can't get over.
5:49
And it, it'll be addressed at the National Convention.
5:53
But as far as state people, they get, there's good state people,
5:57
there's bad state, there's good carriers, there's bad carriers,
6:00
there's good stewards, there's, there, there's always the good
6:04
and the bad and whether the good and the bad are offset by each
6:08
other. And you have a neutral
6:10
territory. I hope not.
6:12
I I hope the good wins out over the bad.
6:14
And the problem of it is that when you get onto social media
6:18
platforms, most of the stuff you hear is negative.
6:21
It is the bad stuff. But the fact that there is so
6:23
much of it is what's disturbing. It's not just one individual.
6:28
It's thousands of individuals crying out for help, crying out
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for recognition, trying to get, you know, some type of support
6:38
for the what they pay their dues for and they're not getting it.
6:42
And that has to be corrected. Like I said, we we don't offer a
6:46
blanket statement of dislike and hate.
6:49
And you know, for national board, ours are geared towards
6:52
the individuals we feel are not performing up the task and we
6:56
believe we can do better. Absolutely, and I know there
7:01
was. I had my interview with Mr. Ron
7:05
Speakman from Fed Up that was released Saturday.
7:08
I know there was a comment made in a social Media Group about
7:13
Ron saying, you know, the speak up or shut up type scenario.
7:19
And he got, he got a little bit of a, a negative comment towards
7:24
that. And basically I, I'm not in that
7:28
group or I didn't see that post. It was whoever commented had
7:33
deleted it. Ron called me about it and he
7:36
did reply to the to the commenter privately as well.
7:42
But you know, I, I think what a lot of that is, is being an
7:46
active union member, whether even if that just means voting
7:50
for your delegates, but sending in a contract ratification vote.
7:56
I mean, come on guys. When you were only getting 15 to
7:59
20% of the membership returning ballots of any kind in I mean,
8:04
that is one way of having a voice and that is definitely,
8:09
you know, returning a ballot with a legal vote on it.
8:13
That that's just one, one minor way of being active and having a
8:19
voice. And there is, you know, so many
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other ways, you know, like stepping up to be a delegate,
8:24
whether that's at your state convention, you know, going to
8:28
your local meetings, running to be a delegates at national.
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I mean, there's so many other ways of having a voice.
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But in general, the bare minimum that you can do to have a voice
8:42
is voting on a contract ratification, whichever way you
8:46
choose to vote, sending that ballot back.
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I mean, when you only have 20% of 120,000 plus people voting on
8:55
a contract, you know, that's it's a lot.
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Or when you have only, you know, 1215% of delegation ballots
9:04
being returned in, you know that it's a little disheartening.
9:08
And then people want to bitch and moan and complain about this
9:11
and that. Well, you know, those two little
9:13
small little minute things can have a big difference.
9:16
Yeah. And on that, you know, another
9:19
one I got back on that from your interview was Ron had put out
9:25
there, you know, use your voice to let him know to, to vote for
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these people. And it's understands that only
9:34
1% of the craft is voting for who's going to lead this craft,
9:40
who's going to be the representatives for this craft
9:42
at National. And it was misconstrued in a lot
9:46
of ways because Ron's not a rural carrier.
9:50
He was a city carrier. So he does not fully understand
9:54
how our systems work, but he does understand that our voices
9:58
matter. And if you want to make a
10:02
difference for this election one way or the other, however it you
10:05
choose, find out who your delegates are that are going to
10:09
National Convention. Contact your state secretary.
10:12
Your state secretary has the list of delegates going there.
10:15
And if you know any of them, you can contact them and say, hey, I
10:18
want I'm rural carrier from this office.
10:22
I just wanted to voice my concerns for National
10:24
Convention. I could have a minute of your
10:26
time and help guide them in the way that the craft wants them to
10:31
Vote for everything at National Convention.
10:36
And there. Are just use your vote.
10:37
Yeah. And there are some states that
10:39
do publish the delegates in their state papers as well.
10:45
Not all states do. But yeah, that's just one one
10:48
way of getting in touch with your state delegation that is
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attending that is representing because delegate delegates are
10:56
one per 100 people within your state.
10:59
So yeah, it is only a 1%. And but yeah, so you know, being
11:05
when you have somebody that's trying to figure out something
11:07
out that's from a totally different craft and there's
11:09
operates totally different than ours, you know, things can get a
11:13
little misconstrued on that. So just some little
11:15
clarifications on that. You know, it's if you're not
11:18
going to actively do anything, you're not going to go to
11:21
meetings, you're not going to vote on anything you're not
11:24
going to, then you have no room to really speak on anything,
11:29
unfortunately. I mean, I understand being a
11:32
dues paid bubber. Yes, you, you have that.
11:34
But if you're not going to be even in the smallest detail of
11:38
voting for a delegate or voting on a contract ratification, then
11:42
you can't you can't bitch if you don't like the contract that got
11:46
approved because you didn't vote.
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I know, I know, a no vote, not a vote for no, but not voting at
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all is the same as voting yes in my opinion.
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It's the same as our political scene too.
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I mean, you want to sit there and piss and moan about taxes,
12:03
the economy, that and the other thing.
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If you didn't get out and vote, you have no right to complain.
12:10
You know, there's, there's very few countries that have the
12:14
right to vote freely any way you want.
12:18
And yet we abuse it. I mean, you know, it, it's just,
12:23
it's ridiculous how many millions of people have given
12:26
their lives to keep this country free that you have that right.
12:31
And you just, you know, in my estimation, you spit on their,
12:34
their sacrifice in regards to accepting responsibility of
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guiding this country. So if you, if you don't, if you
12:43
don't vote, if you don't participate, if you're not a
12:45
union member, if you're not a delegate, then you really have
12:49
no right to complain either. All right, you guys.
12:52
And then I did hear of some unfortunate news hitting the
12:58
lovely Palmetto SNDC down in the Atlanta area.
13:02
There was a mail handler that passed away recently and not
13:08
aware of the circumstances whatsoever.
13:11
All I know is that this building you go in, you don't have cell
13:16
service and the the landline phone was unaccessible due to
13:22
being locked up in a management's office.
13:25
So therefore trying to get emergency services was delayed
13:29
and unfortunately we have lost yet another USPS employee.
13:36
Now that rate there is on multiple fronts for me, not just
13:41
as a rural carrier and A and a postal worker, but also as a
13:45
first responder. I'm sitting there and I'm
13:48
reading that situation and how they couldn't get a phone call
13:51
out and how they couldn't get to a phone or any type of device
13:56
that could get first responders there other than a fire alarm.
14:00
I mean, that's the only thing I could have done was pull the
14:02
fire alarm to make it happen. And to me that's an OSHA
14:07
violation. There is no way that they have
14:09
anything other than a fire alarm to get people to respond to the
14:13
building. And the fact that these SNDC's
14:16
choose, and I say choose, to make management inaccessible to
14:22
carriers makes the safety aspect of these buildings even more
14:28
atrocious. And I believe when we get all
14:31
the facts from it, OSHA is going to have another fine for the
14:36
post office for this. And unfortunately, as as shown
14:40
in the slideshow that I gave before, they call those fines,
14:43
OSHA retaliation. Management doesn't even believe
14:47
that OSHA should be finding them.
14:50
They consider it a retaliation. And that right there alone tells
14:55
me exactly what management thinks about us.
14:57
We're just cattle in these buildings doing these jobs, and
15:00
we've got to do it the way they tell us or they're going to hit
15:03
us with a cattle prod. Well, here's a flash for you.
15:07
News flash, the SD and C that I moved into because Westchester's
15:12
office burnt down. OK.
15:14
Like I said, it's 3 football fields long, a football field
15:17
and a half wide. They have no sprinklers in there
15:22
except for over the parcel sorting machine Offices maybe,
15:26
but I'm not in the offices, but on the floor.
15:30
There are no sprinkler systems in that entire facility unless
15:34
you're underneath of the parcel sorting machine.
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Does that tell you about our value to management?
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All right, either one of you have anything else to add?
15:50
Well, there's. Been two weeks ago, James.
15:52
Oh yeah, we got to do that. Yeah, forgot the whole intro
15:58
parts of everything. Here we went.
16:00
Right into I was diving right in I you know my brain right now is
16:05
in six different locations, so bear with me I'm.
16:09
Getting we're all getting ready for National Convention.
16:12
You know, this was my last work week at the post office, getting
16:16
everything as set up as I can for the Subs to be able to run
16:19
my route while I'm gone. And unfortunately found out that
16:24
my label maker batteries died and I didn't have any on me on
16:26
Friday to replace them. So that kind of screwed that up.
16:29
So they have a few labels, forward labels to put up, but
16:34
that's on them now. Then Saturday was the dream
16:39
Cruise here and ended up early morning working on the Turbine
16:47
Car, Chrysler Turbine Car episodes for Jay Leno because he
16:52
was getting his car back. Finally.
16:54
You can see the news articles out there.
16:57
So I was a little bit involved with that and then ended up at
17:01
the Dream Cruise and got his signature handshake.
17:05
Everything there got the signatures from the guys that
17:08
worked on repairing the car and getting it back to running
17:12
order. So hopefully that engine will
17:14
last another sixty years in that car.
17:17
So, but other than that, just to spend today recovering from
17:23
spending all that time with a bunch of people trying to get my
17:26
social media back up to 100% ready for National Convention.
17:31
And so now I've got this next week off to get myself ready,
17:35
get everything squared away, put together so I can leave out
17:38
Friday early morning to start heading to Reno.
17:42
How about you, Bill? Oh, another wonderful week.
17:47
Temperatures moderated in the mid 80s, so it was warm but not
17:52
excessive. It's funny because the fact that
17:58
we got several editions of WSS splats and there was a little
18:04
question that they didn't, somebody didn't have one for
18:07
every address, so they didn't feel comfortable putting them in
18:10
WSS. I'm like, OK, I'm glad I'm not
18:14
bidding on your route. You know, I folks, if it says
18:16
WSS, it's WSS. Don't argue about it.
18:20
It's, you know, not for you to make the determination.
18:23
If they've already stamped it, then guess what?
18:26
That's what you're getting credit for.
18:29
The mail is dropped off substantially because it's
18:32
probably the last couple weeks before school starts up.
18:35
And then the, the, the flats are really picked up a bit, you
18:40
know, with all the preschool Flyers and advertisements that
18:44
we've had, parcel's been moderate.
18:47
One day I actually only had six trays of spurs.
18:49
And I'm like, OK, who's round of my arm?
18:52
Because if I don't have 10 trays of spurs, I don't, it's not a
18:55
normal day. You know, I, I won't, you know,
18:58
shrug at those days. I'll, I'll just take them.
19:00
I was out by 341 day and I'm not like, OK, what do I do with the
19:06
rest of my day? Because I'm not used to getting
19:08
done that early. The the, the main part of my
19:12
week was coming home and finding this large box on my front door
19:17
and I'm like, OK, what the hell is the wife order?
19:20
And I, I turn around, I open it up in this all these black
19:24
T-shirts with Kristen Wakeman for vice president on them.
19:26
I'm like, what the hell. There was a mix up in the
19:31
shipping and, and ended up getting sent to my house instead
19:35
of Kristen's. And so I turned around in that
19:38
evening and got it out to UPS Store, and it's on its way out
19:43
to you there, Kristen, or to your mother's.
19:45
Yeah, I double checked the tracking.
19:48
It said it should be there Tuesday.
19:50
Yeah, and I, I, I, I did mess up.
19:53
I put 1-2. It's one Z.
19:55
Yeah, I figured, you know, I'm sitting there looking out.
19:59
So that doesn't look like AZ. My wife goes, I think it's AZ,
20:02
but yeah, it's it's on track to get there on time so that'll be
20:06
good. And let's see, we spent the
20:09
Friday night Saturday with Hudson, and we had little Noah
20:14
over today with my son Gregory. So we've had a good grandson
20:18
weekend and the weather's looking decent for the week.
20:22
And you know, I've already already got everything packed
20:25
for the convention. All you got to do is put my
20:27
toiletry bag in there and I'm gone.
20:29
And I can't wait. I'm just, I'm so hyped about
20:32
this. I can't wait to see everybody
20:34
and I I can't wait to really get, you know, get in the into
20:39
the middle of the the fight, because this is a fight.
20:43
This is a fight for every rule carrier out there.
20:46
You know, it's not for me, it's not for James.
20:48
It's it's for all of you all. And you know, it's like Sunday
20:53
nights. We we give our time freely to do
20:55
this podcast and, you know, sure, we'll get paid, you know,
20:59
on the national board, but we, you know, we'll be able to
21:02
quadruple our efforts as members of the national board.
21:06
And I hope we get the opportunity to prove it to you.
21:09
How's your weekend, Chris? Chris or your week, Kristen.
21:12
By a week. Well I worked all six days but
21:15
that was already pre planned so no big deal.
21:18
Everything was pretty average for me.
21:21
Still VMF still has my truck was not happy they were coming to
21:26
pick another one up and I said do I get mine back and my
21:28
postmaster looked at me and said no.
21:31
I said oh just that's when they called.
21:34
That was the first thing I asked them was are we getting route 3
21:37
struck back and they told me Nope.
21:39
I went OK, so, but other than that, I, you know, was getting
21:44
everything around writing in the communication book little
21:47
notebook I have at my case to I know my, my sub is off Monday.
21:54
So I got another one filling in with the postmaster helping.
21:59
So I left them notes and other than that I am, I am off now and
22:07
we have to be at the hospital bright and early at 7:30 AM
22:12
tomorrow to start baby Kingston's eviction process.
22:16
So I I will be hanging out with my daughter until I bring her
22:26
and the grandbaby home and then my parents are going to be
22:29
coming up Wednesday because my mom's going to stay at the
22:32
house. And then Wednesday I will be
22:35
loading the car and taking my father back home and picking up
22:39
my T-shirts from my parents house and departing from there
22:47
on Thursday to head to Reno. I have just about everything
22:51
packed. I got my convention clothes
22:53
packed. I still have to do my non
22:55
convention clothes. My driving went got snacks and
23:00
stuff yesterday. And yeah I still got a little
23:04
bit of things to do but that's not too bad.
23:07
And it should probably only take me maybe 20 minutes to finish
23:10
off my packing. And I'll be officially ready to
23:14
go. I know once I get done tonight
23:17
with everything, I got to back up the laptop and everything
23:21
else as well. So yeah, then we'll start our
23:24
road trip later in the week after we welcome the grandbaby
23:28
in and there will be no Facebook posts on the grandbaby.
23:32
If you're on Discord, that's where the updates will be for my
23:35
daughter's request. Nothing on Facebook so.
23:38
I got 6 lbs twelve oz down where you live, Matt.
23:46
I got AC note on it. Well, we'll find out when he
23:51
makes his way into the world here.
23:53
Thank you. Yeah, yeah.
23:55
Yeah, which means we have to leave at 6:15 in the morning
24:00
because it is about an hour drive up to the hospital.
24:02
So I live in a rural area. What can I say, you know?
24:06
Yeah, it's going to be a late night, early morning.
24:09
And luckily the hospital has really awesome birthing suite,
24:12
so if I want to lay down and take a nap, I get to.
24:15
Do do what my wife's employee did.
24:18
She started contractions. They were down to like 10
24:23
minutes. They left for the hospital.
24:24
They got to the hospital and she gave birth right there in the
24:26
parking lot, you know, at the emergency room.
24:29
And that was a week and a half ago and I think it was Friday.
24:33
She got the bill from the hospital for $29,000.
24:37
Ouch. Hold on, what the hell did you
24:40
do? The kid was already on the back
24:43
seat. But you know, but you know, they
24:47
should have sent a janitor's bill or something.
24:49
But yeah, it's amazing. You know, they they'll still
24:53
charge you for the full service, you know, even if you delivered
24:57
it in the damn backseat of your car.
24:59
But she had a nice, healthy baby boy.
25:01
So, you know, everything's fine. Mom and baby's fine.
25:04
And she, she even even came by working and they had my wife
25:09
Carol holding the baby while she was doing some entries on the
25:12
system. And, and Carol was just in her
25:14
glory. You know, it's like being a
25:16
surrogate grandmother. But yeah, it's a wonderful
25:21
experience. It'll change it, Kristen.
25:24
It'll. Change it.
25:24
Oh, I'm sure it will. I mean, I've been in her
25:28
position three times. Well, technically 4, but three
25:32
times. And so being on the different
25:37
position of it is a, yeah, it'll be, it's just me and her.
25:42
So it'll be, we'll see how it goes, obviously, but I think
25:48
James has another announcement to make.
25:50
Yeah, I've been hearing rumblings across all different
25:55
states of managers saying that they are locked out from the
25:59
mapping program and that they are unable to access the
26:03
mapping. The mapping doesn't get locked
26:06
out until the end of the mini mail survey.
26:11
Any manager that's trying to say, oh it's locked out, it's
26:13
locked out. Well, mapping starts supposed to
26:17
start on the 20th. You're supposed to be able to
26:21
map your route. You could do it before then, but
26:24
it's supposed to start on the 20th and go through September
26:28
6th, the end of the mini mail survey.
26:32
And any manager that is doing that, contact your designated
26:34
union Rep immediately because management is trying to mess
26:38
with your money. Management is falsifying
26:40
documents if they're not allowing you to map because they
26:43
still have to certify all the maps every month.
26:46
They have a program that tells them how many routes are not
26:50
certified in their office each month.
26:53
So get on your managers if they're not willing to work with
26:56
you on it. Get with your designated union
26:58
Rep if you have to file a grievance on it because you need
27:02
to be doing your mapping. Yes, yes you do.
27:06
Mapping is important. Oh, it's the most important
27:09
thing, remember. Oh yeah.
27:11
Yeah, I have to keep pushing. I have to keep pushing, keep
27:13
pushing. Yeah, they say mapping is the
27:16
most important, and they then they turn around and say that's
27:19
OK because the bread crumbs will establish your actual mapping.
27:23
You know, hold on, make up your mind.
27:24
You know, is is it this or is it that same thing, like an
27:28
unscanable parcel? Yeah.
27:30
Somebody please tell me what that is.
27:33
It's whatever. I can't fit in my case without
27:35
manipulating more than a flat. That's what it is.
27:40
I found an old Step 4 that was not 4 parcels but it actually
27:45
spoke of it and said that if it doesn't fit in your case you are
27:49
allowed to turn a letter over or put a marker in there or
27:52
whatever to mark that you have a parcel.
27:55
So even that So one inch slots is what you get for your flat
28:01
casing on your on your PO6O31 inch slot.
28:06
So anything over one inch that doesn't fit in the case or
28:11
anything that doesn't fit in the case is a parcel according to
28:14
this step four, and this Step 4 is still enforceable.
28:18
All righty. All right, let's get into this.
28:21
We only have five, well, technically four questions
28:25
because I don't think the one actually pertains to us in
28:28
general. So I'm going to lead off with
28:32
that one because I, I found it rather entertaining to read
28:35
because I was like, huh. So when are you people going to
28:40
stand up for the people who pay you?
28:42
Question mark, question mark, question mark, come on.
28:47
Well, we're, we're not the union paid people as of right now.
28:56
So I can't say that that applies to us, but I did put that
29:00
question out there for those that are.
29:03
So yeah. We await their answers.
29:08
But I'll say this, you know, the only person that pays me right
29:11
now is my job, and the people that pay that are the people
29:16
that pay postage. I will, I will admit if there is
29:24
management out there that is standing up for carriers and
29:28
defending them against their management, I will stand with
29:30
them to fight against the management that's putting
29:33
carriers at risk, putting carriers in trouble, and I will
29:37
go after the right person causing the problems.
29:41
Absolutely, as I do believe myself will do the same.
29:45
And Bill, right. Oh, big time, big time.
29:51
Oh my God, we're we're, we're going to start, we're going to
29:55
start so much shit. You're going to think we have
29:57
Stockton, Seth pulls. Really all.
30:00
Right, I got, you know. You know, go ahead, go ahead.
30:03
As I say, you know, we're, we're, we're going to be, you
30:06
know, working 20 hours of the day the 1st 30 days because our
30:10
ours is going to be action-packed and filled.
30:13
And we're going to be wanting a lot of answers from the people
30:17
that are beneath us on that board in regards to what's going
30:20
on because there's a lot of stuff that's not getting
30:23
accomplished. They're being paid 6 figures to
30:27
do the job. I want answers.
30:29
Craft wants answers. Everybody wants answers.
30:33
And we're not getting anything. There is no transparency.
30:36
We're going to bring that to the rule Craft.
30:39
Absolutely. I have one question that is for
30:43
one person, this is directed towards James.
30:46
The rest of them are for everybody.
30:48
So I'll start off with this one single one.
30:50
If you happen not to win the position of Director of Stewart
30:54
Operations, are you still going to be as dedicated to helping
30:58
carriers who reach out to you and still view keeping carriers
31:03
informed as a priority? Keeping carriers informed is the
31:07
utmost priority and I have done as much work as I can here on
31:14
this podcast to help carriers. And I will not stop because the
31:20
bane to management is a well informed craft.
31:24
And when the craft stands up together against management,
31:28
management eventually gets in line because it's easier just to
31:33
do the right thing than it is to keep hitting a brick wall.
31:38
And I'm not going to stop helping carriers because as it
31:42
stands right now, I've been available all the time except
31:47
for when I'm asleep or driving because I don't do unsafe
31:51
driving. But I will not stop helping
31:55
carriers with issues that they have with management ever,
32:00
because this craft means the world to me.
32:04
This craft is where I have found my calling, which is to help
32:10
carriers. So if I do end up not getting
32:15
elected to this position, I will still be available to every
32:18
craft member at all times, and if I get elected, I'll be
32:23
available to all craft members at all times.
32:28
All right, now the last few are geared towards everybody.
32:33
With the way the NALC convention went with the charges, the
32:38
establishment backing the president as Corey put puts it,
32:42
I imagine we have the same at our convention.
32:44
I have never been, but I was at state and it seemed that way at
32:48
points. How do you guys and GAIL plan to
32:51
overcome the obstacle to get the votes needed?
32:55
Bill? Education, information.
33:00
I mean, you know, use every social media platform available
33:03
to us. You can't have anything become
33:08
successful unless you have it out there and you have
33:11
discussions on it and you take that feedback from the crack.
33:16
It's it's funny that Don would sit there and say, well, the MOU
33:20
is that, you know, for helping on other routes and on Sundays
33:24
is wanted by so many other carriers because they want the
33:27
extra income. Oh, Mr. President, if Table Two
33:30
and Table 4 weren't enacted, and if you were paying them a good
33:35
wage, and if the Rcas weren't stuck at the same pay scale,
33:39
whether they've got 30 days or 30 years in, they wouldn't need
33:43
to work that extra time, would they, if we forced the post
33:46
office to honor their hiring practices and commitments for
33:51
the contract? This is a matter of getting the
33:54
word out. And I mean, this is, you know,
33:57
utilizing the NSS. This is utilizing your state
34:00
officers, the state, the state secretary, treasurers have the
34:04
ability to contact everybody. The postcards like we do for our
34:08
local meetings, nation in the hands of the craft that that's
34:13
the the most direct way of affecting that and and getting
34:18
the results that you want in regards to where the policies
34:22
go. James.
34:24
What the convention for the NALC?
34:28
When exactly how we expected it to go, we expected it to be one
34:35
of those where the craft actually stood up and said no,
34:40
we have the ultimate voice, not you, Mr. President.
34:43
And even if the votes didn't go the way a lot of people wanted
34:49
them to go, it's still proved to the National Board of the NALC
34:56
that they are the ultimate voice, not the executive
35:01
council. It didn't matter whether they
35:05
agreed with the appeal or didn't agree with the appeal.
35:08
It didn't matter if they sided with the executive council or
35:10
not. What mattered is the craft used
35:13
their voice to say we are the voice of this craft.
35:19
And that is the same thing that we're doing here is we are
35:22
trying to inform this craft that you guys have a voice.
35:27
Your national board is not giving you a voice.
35:31
They're not listening to what's going on.
35:34
And they're turning around and saying it's OK Management's
35:39
doing what management's supposed to be doing.
35:41
Management's fine, you know, give them a slap on the wrist.
35:45
It'll be OK. They'll stop doing it if we just
35:47
tell them to stop doing it. And that hasn't worked and it
35:52
won't work. It hasn't worked in 130 years.
35:55
You tell somebody to not do something over and over again.
35:59
They're just going to sit there and go, OK, I won't do it again.
36:03
And then they do it again because they're waiting on you
36:06
to actually increase the punishment.
36:08
How many times have you trained a dog and told that dog, don't
36:12
do that, don't do that, don't do that, and the dog still does it.
36:16
The dog doesn't realize it until you give it a punishment.
36:20
It's the same thing with management.
36:22
They don't change their ways until you add a punishment.
36:27
So it's time to put people into these positions that are going
36:30
to give management punishment, or as I like to say, an
36:35
incentive to not do it again. Yeah, it, you know, I understand
36:42
the struggle that it is with going over it.
36:46
But you know, is that quote I actually posted on my Facebook
36:49
earlier today, it says you ain't too old to start over.
36:52
You're too old to keep doing what isn't working.
36:55
You know what, guys? It isn't working the way that
36:58
the, the, the changes that are going on within USPS.
37:03
If we keep going the way we've been going as a union, it's not
37:08
going to work. We need to make a change.
37:12
We need to give new people a chance to try and make that
37:17
change for the positive. I mean, that's really the
37:21
biggest thing that one can put out there is, you know, it isn't
37:24
working. It's not the same.
37:25
It's not the same post office when I first hired in nearly ten
37:28
years ago. It's I know it's nowhere near
37:31
the same as when Bill started 26 years ago.
37:34
So, you know, it's things are changing.
37:37
Therefore we need a system within the union that is going
37:43
to be proactive instead of reactive.
37:46
I mean, we see the things we from being on the floor, boots
37:50
on the ground, we see where things would need to be
37:54
proactive rather than reactive when it comes to these changes
37:57
that are getting implemented on to us every time we turn around
38:01
or blink. And really, I mean it, that's
38:04
the whole thing with, you know what pretty much for the most
38:08
part of this entire year of campaigning via the podcast and
38:15
reaching out with other podcasts and, and going to the area
38:18
conferences when we could and our state conventions, you know,
38:22
not necessarily and focusing on the business aspect, but on the
38:27
down times, talking to our craft from members as well and letting
38:33
them know that yes, we're here for the craft.
38:35
That's the biggest thing. And that's a big, our biggest
38:38
message to put out there for, for, for the entire craft is
38:41
that we are here for the craft. We want your input.
38:46
We are going to work for you. And that's to make this a better
38:51
future for, for everybody, for the entire craft, whether you're
38:55
up in Vermont or you're in California and everybody in
39:00
between, you know, that's Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, I
39:05
can't forget them either. Everybody we're here for the
39:07
entire craft and that's the biggest then the hardest wall to
39:13
break down is those that feel that are afraid of change.
39:17
You know, you put somebody new up there, guess what?
39:21
Next year if you don't like what somebody did, then you have that
39:25
opportunity to vote them out. It's not like you're stuck in a
39:28
four year term like City side is.
39:33
You know, we have with those top five seats, they could be
39:38
elected out the following year. So you guys have to remember
39:41
that as well. Don't be afraid to make a change
39:46
and to see where it could go. It could go great or next year
39:50
you could come back, say, you know what, that really wasn't
39:53
what we were hoping. For.
39:57
Oh yeah, it's and we, we know it's a challenge.
40:00
We all do. So you guys are ready for the
40:04
next one? Yeah.
40:06
I'm back. All right.
40:10
That technical difficulty there. All right, so we have when will
40:16
there be a solution for the 9000 routes that are not being
40:19
counted correctly at the plant? Our flats are being counted
40:23
during the survey and times by 52 weeks which is not fair when
40:29
Rex is supposed to be accounted daily for the yearly average.
40:33
All we have been told from either the Virginia Home Office
40:36
is that there is no solution and they are aware of the problem.
40:41
They are. They are aware that there are
40:43
even carriers not being counted flats or DPS while Rex came from
40:48
arbitration and no one really wanted it.
40:50
These are the cards that we were dealt with and all carriers need
40:54
to be counted correctly and fairly daily.
40:57
Well damn, aren't we supposed to be getting radar reports every
41:00
day showing the flats that are coming in from the plant?
41:04
End of run reports which has your DPS numbers.
41:07
DPS on there, yes, I mean, you know, you're supposed to be
41:10
getting your your raw flats from the plant, you know, in tubs
41:14
with the tags on there showing that they're being, you know,
41:18
separated and skewed through the AFSM 100 machines.
41:23
So that would be your daily number.
41:25
So why is management telling you that it's only during the two
41:29
week mini mail survey? It's a 52 week a year, you know
41:33
process here again, management that has no training whatsoever
41:37
and they're speaking out their ass.
41:40
Also the the flats that you're supposed to get on your radar
41:43
report are the ones that are coming in with bundles.
41:46
Those are also supposed to be calculated from the printer and
41:51
with a 19% adjustment rate in our favor for any shortages.
41:56
Now mind you, when the flats for the political mail, you better
42:03
start keep track of those because of the fact that I've
42:06
never seen any reports reflecting those numbers
42:10
whatsoever. When we had the primaries
42:12
earlier in this year, those numbers weren't showing up and
42:17
we had to file a grievance about that.
42:19
But all other flats should be reported on a daily basis and
42:23
not just during the mini mail survey.
42:26
James. It should be some way of
42:29
verifying all this information. We should be able to see what
42:34
these people are sending to each office, to each route.
42:39
We should be able to see all the data involved in this stuff.
42:43
I have talked to carriers that have checked their mail for 52
42:48
weeks against their radar report in 99% of the time they were
42:55
under the volume that they had 99% of the time, some of them
43:00
off by as much as 22 to 23% off. Not the 19 percent that they
43:07
calculated in, but when you only have 1% of the numbers being at
43:14
or above the numbers that you're receiving.
43:17
It goes to show that this system does have too many flaws with it
43:21
to accurately counter routes. But at the same time,
43:26
management's not being held accountable for this through
43:30
national office. They're not being held
43:32
accountable with the dispute process because 99% of disputes
43:37
are being returned with no action needed instead of
43:41
actually doing the research. This is the first time I've had
43:46
to prove that I'm right on something versus management
43:52
having to prove that I'm wrong, and that's just wrong in another
43:57
aspect, You know, it's guilty until proven innocent in a lot
44:00
of ways. So unfortunately that's going to
44:04
have to be the processes that are changed with new national
44:08
representatives elected to the board.
44:11
Definitely if there's states or regions that are not getting
44:15
accurate numbers or within that 19% like James is saying 99% of
44:23
the ones that he's talked to were off by margins, you know,
44:28
that's definitely something to look into because as far as I
44:32
understand is that anything that goes through with that is done
44:36
through the Postal One system. So if there's states or regions
44:41
or what not that are not recording numbers properly,
44:44
yeah, that would definitely, I would be looking into that as
44:46
well and why they're not throughout the year.
44:50
And James brought up the good point that the burden of proof
44:54
is on us and not management. Here's the problem.
44:59
Our national representatives had to agree to that.
45:02
They're the ones that put our asses out there to prove that
45:05
management is failing and not that management has to prove
45:09
they are not failing. There's, there's quite A twist
45:12
there. This is like the old French
45:14
justice system. You are guilty until proven
45:16
innocent. Oh, guess what, folks?
45:20
When, when you get this grievance settled that says, you
45:23
know, settled for language or you get a dispute that says, you
45:27
know, you know, no action required.
45:30
Same damn thing. Our representatives at the Step
45:34
2 talking with district are not doing their jobs.
45:38
Yes, there are cases where people aren't supplying enough
45:41
information regards to their disputes.
45:43
And then again, disputes again are flawed because you have to
45:47
put in a dispute form for each article that you're disputing.
45:52
And the reason that is being, and I know it's asinine in some
45:56
people's eyes, the reason being is that you can't have 5
46:00
disputes on a form, have all of them thrown out because one's
46:04
invalid puts the onus on you to provide the proof.
46:09
But by providing the proof in five disputes and one thrown out
46:13
and four settled in your favor is a difference of night and
46:17
day. So it is a piss poor system and
46:22
you know the burden of proof is on us, but if it's the only
46:25
system you got then you have to work the system.
46:28
Exactly. So yeah, no, stuff like that,
46:31
definitely. We have no issues with looking
46:33
into it and seeing why things aren't going the way that
46:36
they're supposed to be going. And are you guys ready for the
46:39
last one? We kind of touched on this a
46:42
little bit on the After show last week, but I think we can
46:46
kind of put it out there more because this question pertains
46:49
to that. Are you ready?
46:51
Ready. Hi, first I wanted to thank you
46:54
all for trying to help our craft.
46:56
I was wanting to know if hopefully when you guys are
47:00
elected into office you'll still do podcasts and continue sharing
47:04
info and knowledge with us. I really enjoy listening to you
47:08
all and I try to learn as much as possible for myself and to
47:11
help others in my office. I really appreciate all you do.
47:15
I hope you all have a good week in Reno.
47:18
James So from a legal standpoint, and that's the way
47:26
I'm going going to address this is from a legal standpoint, it
47:30
is very risky to do a podcast as the nationally elected
47:38
representatives of the craft. And doing so would have to be
47:45
something that is very regulated on the aspect that everything
47:52
you say can and will be misconstrued, misinterpreted and
47:58
misapplied when used against you in contract negotiations.
48:02
So we're going to have to weigh the pros and cons of every
48:07
aspect of that. But I believe that when elected,
48:13
having an NRLCA podcast that is of the elected representatives
48:21
would be the best benefit to the craft.
48:23
Overall, the United We Scam podcast could continue going on.
48:29
However, I believe that as a term of protection for the
48:34
representatives that are elected, it would probably have
48:38
to be other individuals stepping up to continue the process that
48:43
has already been started by those that were elected to
48:45
office. And if there was to be an NRLCA
48:49
podcast it would we be one that would only be accessible, I hate
48:55
to say this but to do staying members via the website.
49:00
Yeah, unfortunately that that's the sticking point in regards to
49:05
us put doing anything is that now it has to be, you know, and
49:09
within the confines of the Union.
49:13
Even if we did video messages like our present president, Don
49:18
Matson and you know, put it out there off on the national
49:22
website, again, it would be for union members only.
49:28
So they they kind of hurts us in regards to a, a certain aspect
49:35
of, you know, support. But then again, if you're
49:38
following the podcast as you, as you have been, and you're not a
49:41
non union member and you see value in what we're doing, well,
49:44
then maybe you'll join the union so that you can access the
49:48
information that we will be providing you.
49:50
But you know, as president, I, I don't mind having the, the
49:55
director Stewart operations or labor operations or the, or the
49:58
vice president get up there and, and do their own messaging, you
50:02
know, video chat. But again, we have to keep that
50:07
restricted to the union membership.
50:09
And that's it's a bummer in in in all respect, but we have to
50:15
respect the fact that that's what it union membership is
50:19
entitled to. Now I'm.
50:21
Going to disagree just slightly with you there, Bill on that.
50:24
I believe you're. Fired, I said.
50:26
You're fired. I believe, I believe that
50:32
information regarding wages and work conditions should be
50:38
available to all craft members on the basis that it affects
50:43
dues paying membership. And I believe that having enough
50:48
information out there to entice them to join as dues paying
50:55
members can get a lot more people involved in the union and
51:02
get a lot more people actually dues paying.
51:05
I'm not saying it will get everybody to do that.
51:08
As you've pointed out previously, there's been people
51:11
you've worked with for years that could have become dues
51:14
paying members. I said why should I do that when
51:16
I can get the information for free?
51:18
And that's always going to be the case until either they make
51:22
it mandatory that dues are paid again or everybody that's non
51:27
dues paying leaves the job. So unfortunately, that is the
51:33
stick in the mud for a lot of individuals, especially, you
51:36
know, because they find that not paying dues is not doing justice
51:41
for the for the craft. But everybody has to know what
51:47
their job is if they're doing the job, otherwise they're going
51:51
to hurt the people that are paying dues.
51:55
And, and there are other outlets, James, that, you know,
51:58
they can get that information from.
51:59
I mean, somebody put up their rule info.net, which, you know,
52:04
they report information faster than our national board does.
52:07
So there's no harm, no foul because anybody can join on to
52:14
that do those are non dues paying, you know, members of the
52:17
craft. But the fact of the matter is
52:20
that you have to maintain the constraints of a union to make
52:25
sure that you have a strong union and you have to have a
52:30
unified union. And that that has to be the fact
52:33
of that. They're paying their dues.
52:35
They want to see value for their money, and they don't want to
52:38
see it given away. Just like I don't want my tax
52:40
dollars given away to illegal immigrants.
52:43
OK? That that just horrifies me, you
52:47
know? Oh, they're escaping a horrible
52:48
situation in their own country. Well, you know, we had a
52:51
horrible situation called this, you know, the American
52:54
Revolution. And, you know, people stayed and
52:57
fought against, you know, the tyranny of Great Britain.
53:00
You mean to tell me that you can't do that in your own
53:02
country? I mean, you know, I, I don't
53:05
understand, you know, the, the aspect of I, I don't have to
53:10
pay, but I'm entitled to representation that bugs the
53:13
living shit of me. But it's the law.
53:16
So, you know, I can't argue that.
53:18
Guess what, folks? We get We got to stay within the
53:21
constraints of our contract and the law.
53:25
Absolutely. So yeah, that's that little bit
53:29
of a slippery slope there when it comes to that.
53:32
That actually is all the questions that we that we.
53:37
Had, Kristen, I think we should turn around and we did have that
53:40
one question directed at me. But we should ask both you and
53:44
Bill that if you you're not going to happen to win the
53:48
position, are you still going to be as dedicated to helping
53:51
carriers who reach out to you? And will you view keeping
53:53
carriers informed as a priority? Absolutely.
53:57
No question about that. Absolutely yes. 100% I mean,
54:02
what, what, what other reason is there, you know, if you're not
54:04
going to help other people? Somebody put in the chat.
54:09
If real representation happens, the problem of people not
54:12
joining won't even exist. Oh yes, it will.
54:16
It will always exist. You always have people who are
54:19
going to be. But yeah, then that's just the
54:22
nature of people, OK. In the same way you have people
54:25
who, you know, break the rules at the office of working off the
54:28
clock, you know, falsifying their timesheets just so they
54:32
can stay under their 2080 or 2240.
54:35
You know, everybody operates within the system on their own
54:40
personal basis. That's the problem is that, you
54:43
know, a union is one for all, all for one and every, every
54:49
rule, every contract article, every MOU, every, everything
54:54
that's in there is for everybody, not just for a select
54:57
few, not for the misinformed. Well, not for the well informed
55:02
people, not for the teachers, pets who get away with
55:05
everything under the moon. And, and we all know we have
55:09
those people in our offices. OK, let's not, you know, be
55:13
fantasy Island here. We, we, we've all seen this in
55:16
the course of our careers. But the fact of the matter is
55:19
there is a rule of the land and you follow it.
55:21
And, you know, if somebody else breaks the rule, well, that's on
55:24
them. But I'm going to stay within the
55:26
the constraints of the rules, do my job the best that I can.
55:31
Ioffer the most, you know, sincere, efficient service
55:35
earnestly to my customers who love me.
55:38
I know a lot of people. You know what I feel love, Bill.
55:41
Yes, my customers love me and when I went back after being out
55:46
for my operation, they were just so happy to see me back.
55:50
Not because my sub isn't going, they miss me.
55:53
And the fact of the matter is I miss my people too.
55:56
I really do. I miss the kids.
55:58
Oh hell, I, I've got one family I haven't seen the son in like 3
56:04
and Jesus Christ, he just sprung up and, and he's a grown ass man
56:08
now going to college. And it's like, I just had to
56:12
laugh and, and Dan, the father was like, yeah, you haven't seen
56:16
him for a while. And it's just so nice to see
56:18
what a well-rounded young man he's turned into.
56:24
And that's, that's the joy of being a carrier, you know,
56:27
growing with your customers first.
56:30
That's marriages, divorces, everything that that just adds
56:34
to the humanity of our our jobs and and we're part of families
56:40
all across our routes. And you don't realize, like
56:44
Kristen has said, when you have somebody who's on their own,
56:48
there is, you know, an 87 year old widow and you're checking
56:51
on. That's that's the one of the
56:53
most important things of the day is that they feel that they're
56:57
valued and somebody came by and checked on them a care.
57:03
And and you know, as hard case as I am, there's nothing more
57:07
than showing that, you know, you care for people.
57:10
That's the greatest gift that you can give people is to show
57:15
that you care, not lip service, genuine care.
57:20
And just like, you know, the people in your office, you don't
57:23
like them all, but you care for their well-being.
57:26
You care for their their checks, their futures, you know, their
57:30
income, their children. You care because without having
57:34
a good stable job, without having a a financially sound
57:39
future, it's the point of being there and over.
57:45
Not really. Not really a rant, but.
57:47
You know, no, no, no. It's, you know, it's a good
57:50
point. How many phone numbers do you
57:51
have? I have, I have it at least 100
57:55
phone numbers for customers on my route so I can check in on
57:59
people. There are 4 customers on my
58:01
route that twice a year they get the, you know, fruit boxes from
58:06
Harry and David's from me. One of them's a widow.
58:09
You know, one of them's an older woman and her husband married
58:11
together. Another's a widow.
58:13
And let's see, Mary, Mary and Kevin, they're married.
58:17
So, but they're, they're the best people on my route and
58:21
they, they really, you know, they come out and check on you,
58:23
make sure you have water, make sure you're, you know, you're
58:26
doing fine. They, they know about your
58:28
family, you know, about their family.
58:30
I mean, it's like having, you know, almost like having, you
58:34
know, substitute parents for me and I, I love them all for it.
58:39
I have an old couple on my route that make sure I have a lunch
58:42
snack for when I'm on the route so.
58:47
Oh yeah, I had some customers that, you know, I let them know
58:50
I was going to be gone for the next 2 1/2 weeks and whatnot.
58:54
And I had some of them like, oh, we're going to miss you have
58:57
safe travels, you know, can't wait to see pictures of the
59:01
grandbaby and, and stuff like that.
59:05
So, you know, it was, you know, it was good to hear that I had
59:09
the several that I went ran into this past week to, you know,
59:12
definitely have their support as well.
59:14
So because they are, they do become family.
59:19
That's the best part of the job. Once you get out of the office
59:23
and you see the kids, the dogs that cut your customers, even
59:27
the UPS guy that I'm friendly with and and he knows not to put
59:30
anything in my mailboxes. OK, You know, that's the best
59:35
part of your job. I don't care.
59:37
Even when it's raining out, you know, snow and people come out,
59:41
they're concerned about you, you know, and, and you look out for
59:43
them. I mean, I love it.
59:48
I, I, I can't wait to get out of the office.
59:50
I want to be efficient on my route.
59:52
But you know, once I get out of that office and get on my route,
59:55
that's the best part of my day. Same here, other than my
59:59
construction in Orange Barrel Swallow until they get that bike
1:00:03
path finally done. But yeah, and and and the new
1:00:09
garbage truck driver who? Was insistently putting empty
1:00:14
garbage cans in front of mailboxes this past week.
1:00:18
I will have to say a word to him next time I see him.
1:00:20
But other than that, yeah, you know, it's the customers and
1:00:25
that's the dogs, the kids. I got to meet one of my
1:00:29
customers granddaughters the other day.
1:00:32
And, you know, it's just, yeah, that's, you know, once you get
1:00:36
out of that office, you're it's good regardless of what the
1:00:40
weather's like, you know, it's good.
1:00:42
That's that, that's that's the happiest place.
1:00:45
Unless you live in Michigan, then it's January.
1:00:48
But you know, other than that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
1:00:56
Just saying. I was already accustomed to
1:00:59
wheel, rear wheel drive in the winter, so that I did have that
1:01:03
on my going for me there. But yeah, no, it's, yeah.
1:01:08
You know, the one thing, you know, if we get elected to the
1:01:11
board, that's the one thing I will will miss.
1:01:15
You know, during my term of service would be would be my
1:01:19
customers for sure. It doesn't mean that, you know,
1:01:22
the times, the chances I get to come home for a little bit here
1:01:26
or there, I wouldn't be stopping and checking in on a few of
1:01:29
them. The ones that I normally stop in
1:01:31
and check in on, you know, those would be the ones that would
1:01:34
still be like, hey, you know, I was home for a long weekend or,
1:01:39
you know, a day or two. I just, I wanted to stop in, say
1:01:43
hi, see how you're doing, check in, you know, stuff like that.
1:01:47
James, don't you think it's funny that, you know, under
1:01:51
President Bill May, she's going to get a long weekend?
1:01:58
Holiday weekend, I don't know the the off chance I get to come
1:02:03
home. Yeah, you know.
1:02:07
I could totally see you turning around and saying if you're
1:02:10
going home, you're working from home.
1:02:13
I would be too. I would be too, yeah.
1:02:16
Yeah, I would be too. I mean.
1:02:19
You guys, you guys have to remember I'm only a 2 1/2 hour
1:02:22
drive from home and in Alexandria so. 12 hours for me.
1:02:28
We're not having a vacation while we're working.
1:02:32
It's it's going to be work the whole time what that we're there
1:02:35
because we are going to be paid to be working for this craft.
1:02:40
And that is what we're going to do is work because.
1:02:44
We were to. Take a lot of.
1:02:46
Vacation we would be using our leave that we would receive.
1:02:52
Is that a slant towards Clifford Dailing?
1:02:55
Never used any leave for 20 years.
1:02:57
No, I'm just saying we'd be using our leave if we were to be
1:03:03
in a non work capacitation. Yeah, wait, wait till somebody
1:03:11
sees that plastic acid tape up there with his name on there
1:03:14
too. You know it's $1,000,000 in two
1:03:17
years. It's one of those things that
1:03:21
our craft is more important to us than anything else.
1:03:25
And we're going to be working diligently every single day,
1:03:30
seven days a week while we're there because the problems don't
1:03:34
stop. And if our carriers are working
1:03:37
Sunday through Sunday, we're going to be working Sunday
1:03:40
through Sunday because every carrier matters.
1:03:44
And we're going to try and solve as many problems as we can this
1:03:48
very first year, because there are a lot of problems that need
1:03:54
a resolution and we're going to work our tails off to get that
1:03:58
resolution. And and for anybody who's going
1:04:02
as, as a delegate, as a paid delegate to Reno, I want you to
1:04:06
remember John Adams running for Director of Labor operations.
1:04:11
This is a man that I know, you know first hand.
1:04:14
And when we had our fire in Westchester and calls were made,
1:04:19
this man was returning phone calls on Sunday, not the ADR,
1:04:23
full time ADR, not the full time Dr. John Adams answered and
1:04:29
returned phone calls on a Sunday.
1:04:32
It took eight days for my Dr. to get back to me.
1:04:35
It took five days for our ADR to get back to us.
1:04:39
So let's let's get some votes out there for John Adams so that
1:04:43
we can have somebody who's willing the hours, the time in
1:04:47
for the craft. Absolutely.
1:04:50
That's that's The thing is, you know, every single one of us and
1:04:54
including Toasty who's not with us tonight.
1:04:57
You know, we're, we're for the craft as well as as John Adams,
1:05:00
who's currently an NRO who was elected in 2022 in Orlando and
1:05:05
is stepping up to run for director of Labor.
1:05:08
You know, that's they're for the craft.
1:05:11
They're for the they're for for the craft in general, you know,
1:05:15
to make sure things are going the way that they're supposed to
1:05:20
go and are going to fight for the people of the craft.
1:05:24
All right, guys, Do we have anything else tonight?
1:05:28
I'm good. How about you, James?
1:05:30
You all right? I'm perfectly content.
1:05:33
All right, I am you. Look Content.
1:05:35
Put it out there that as of the way right now with plans and
1:05:39
stuff, we may not have an episode next Sunday and if we
1:05:44
can try and get one during the week, we will.
1:05:47
But it is not guaranteed, not promised one way or another.
1:05:52
The following Sunday after that with travel plan, it would
1:05:57
especially James and I will be on the road and everybody else's
1:06:00
travel plan. So as of right now, I'm going to
1:06:03
say the next episode that we have planned scheduled will be
1:06:10
the Sunday after Labor Day, unless something comes up and we
1:06:14
put something out beforehand. Right now, the next scheduled
1:06:18
one will be two weeks from tonight.
1:06:20
I want the same money though you'll.
1:06:22
Get the same money, don't worry about that.
1:06:24
All right. We'll still be working, just in
1:06:26
a different capacity. And and don't forget to put on
1:06:32
their listener chat. You know where we're going to be
1:06:33
meeting at Monday. Yes, I will put that out Monday
1:06:38
right around 8:00 PM or so. There's a couple seminars that
1:06:43
go until 8:00 PM. So following those, we'll be
1:06:47
doing our meet and greet at the Banyan Bar, which is located in
1:06:53
the casino at about 8:00 PM roughly.
1:06:58
So I will put an event up in both the group in on the page
1:07:03
for those that are going that are interested and that's where
1:07:06
you'll be able to hang out with us Monday evening at the Banyan
1:07:09
Bar. It's the jungle themed 1.
1:07:13
And we'll try. To wear my leopard.
1:07:14
Thong, oh boy, oh boy, we're gonna we're gonna try to put
1:07:20
updates out out while we're at convention, and I'm sure other
1:07:25
members of the craft will also be putting out updates for
1:07:28
everybody. So stay tuned to the group pages
1:07:31
as well as our discord server. If you don't have a link, go to
1:07:34
the United We Scan page, grab the link from there and join in.
1:07:39
So just keep track there. We'll try and keep you guys
1:07:42
updated as much as possible so that's all we can do.
1:07:47
Yeah, So your final words for this evening, James?
1:07:52
It's that time of year, it's election time for our national
1:07:56
representatives, and it's time for us to make a change to
1:08:01
people who no longer support management and support the
1:08:07
Postal Service's destruction of the rural craft.
1:08:11
It's time to put in people who are there to protect you.
1:08:15
It's time to put in people in there that want to protect you
1:08:18
and want to make this craft better because we're all working
1:08:24
our tails off on the ground and we have representatives that are
1:08:29
ignoring you. We have people who aren't
1:08:31
returning phone calls. It's time for new leadership
1:08:37
instead of representatives, people who are of the craft, by
1:08:42
the craft, and for the craft to tell management it's time to
1:08:48
honor your obligations. And that is to the contract and
1:08:52
other postal documents. And we will not rest until
1:08:56
management finally gets a clue. Because as a craft, when we
1:09:02
stand up, we show management. We're all in this together.
1:09:07
Well, well as a footnote as a of APSA, there was a question about
1:09:14
satchel for rule carriers. Not that I know this to be true
1:09:20
100%, but 99.9%. If you look in the six O 3,
1:09:25
there is a clause in there that requires rule carriers to carry
1:09:30
a satchel, but I advise you to contact your local union
1:09:35
representative in regards to that.
1:09:37
Most management individuals aren't aware of it, but if push
1:09:42
comes to shove and some intelligent creature happens to
1:09:46
stumble across a management argument in regards to the
1:09:49
satchel, it is in the six O 3. So just be aware of that.
1:09:55
As always, We're we're winding down.
1:09:59
I mean, most of us are traveling what Thursday you guys are
1:10:02
traveling Thursday, I'll be traveling Sunday, others
1:10:06
Saturday and Monday. So yeah, this is our last week
1:10:10
before A2 week hiatus. This week is going to be
1:10:13
critical, and I do mean critical in regards to the direction that
1:10:17
this union goes. And I pray that, you know, we've
1:10:21
reached enough people and we've made a sound enough argument for
1:10:26
our, you know, election to the national board so that we can
1:10:30
get this craft back on track. We can get the union leadership
1:10:35
back on track and in the direction is supposed to be in
1:10:39
the direction of serving the craft, not entitlement for
1:10:43
themselves, but serving the craft.
1:10:46
This is no longer, you know, to be considered a retirement
1:10:50
program for these individuals to pad their income before they do
1:10:55
retire. I I pray that people can look
1:10:59
beyond my anger slash passion because of the fact that the
1:11:05
anger drives the passion and the passion is what drives me.
1:11:10
And I want you to understand that, you know, it's very
1:11:13
frustrating to see some of these stories and talk to some of
1:11:17
these people in our craft and hear our stories that are out
1:11:21
there. And like I always say, you know,
1:11:24
you can't make this shit up. That happens every day.
1:11:28
And and that's disturbing, ladies and gentlemen.
1:11:31
I mean, nobody should be treated like we are.
1:11:34
Nobody should be getting that, you know, their paycheck just
1:11:38
assaulted every time you turn around, whether it's through the
1:11:41
the the reorganization of the routes, whether it's for route
1:11:45
adjustments through the mini mail survey.
1:11:48
No, nobody should be making less money than they did 20 years
1:11:52
ago. And yet it's happening.
1:11:54
So consider our voices, consider our pledges and our commitment
1:11:59
to this craft. And let's change the leadership
1:12:03
so that we can have a better and brighter future for everybody.
1:12:07
As always, make sure that you know you do your job diligently,
1:12:10
efficiently, professionally, safely and make sure you make
1:12:15
that most important delivery you home to your loved ones because
1:12:18
you are the most important delivery of the day.
1:12:21
Kristen. Thank you guys.
1:12:23
Yes, this is coming up on to National Convention starting in
1:12:29
a week and I know I will be hitting the road.
1:12:32
I am driving to Reno. So I'll be hitting the road
1:12:35
Thursday just after welcoming the grandson into the world.
1:12:39
So that'll be a little difficult, but that's what video
1:12:43
calls are for, right? And yes, guys, just just
1:12:49
remember, you know, those that are, are, if you're going as a
1:12:52
delegate, just keep in mind the important keys, you know, and,
1:12:56
and vote the way I, you know, trying to find the right wording
1:13:02
here. Sorry about that, but we're not
1:13:05
going to tell people how they should and shouldn't vote.
1:13:07
Vote the way that you feel is the best for the craft.
1:13:12
And yeah, so we look forward to seeing everybody at National
1:13:16
Convention that'll be there. Meet and greet again will be
1:13:20
Monday evening approximately 8:00 PM at the Banyan Bar there
1:13:24
in the casino. And until then, as of right now
1:13:30
for two weeks out. So we will keep you updated as
1:13:34
things go. But other than that, so we'll be
1:13:37
back on the air in two weeks. None.