Transcript

Dirty 30 · United We Scan

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Welcome to the United We Scan Podcast, the podcast by rural
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carriers. For rural carriers, the views
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Now here are the host. Of the United We Scan Podcast.
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And welcome back, everybody. Episode 30.
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Does that mean Dirty 30 like you when you celebrate your 30th
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birthday? Anyways, we're all on tonight.
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And how's the week been, Mike? My week's been pretty good.
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Let's see now. Nothing.
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Nothing. Nothing extraordinary.
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Just the. It's the average week out here
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on the Great Plains. Josh.
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Mom makes me pretty good at the 204 B be showing their superior
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intelligence this past week I have Thursdays off for
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appointments and Friday morning or no Friday afternoon when I
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got back off the street like well I didn't see your slip and.
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You didn't call out and I went to get my phone to pull up the
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screenshot I took of the ELRA request from early June for
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this. For this month, I don't want to
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see anything on your phone blah blah blah blah blah, So I just
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wrote out. What the dates when I submitted,
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the date I submitted them, what the dates were and the
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confirmation number for all of my requests from now through the
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end of August and left them on her desk Friday morning or
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Saturday morning. So nothing was said to me, but I
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let my ADR know so in case something comes of it.
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It's nice, James. How was your week?
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Oh, my coverage factor went up all week.
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I had a box holder every single day we work.
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On Monday I had the had the marriage mail.
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On Wednesday I had an EDDM. Thursday I had an EDDM.
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Friday I had an EDDM. So coverage factor's gone up on
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my route a little bit, at least for that.
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And talking with my postmaster and she's 100% behind us on this
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stuff and she's working with us. She's letting me know the emails
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that are coming down and stuff like that.
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Including the fact that they're trying to eliminate the two O 4B
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position by moving people right up into supervisory roles from
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that and trying to fill in where people are using 2O4B's with
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actual level 17 supervisors. They what they call that like a
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relief supervisor or something like that I saw.
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Yeah, relief supervisor. So instead of working at just
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one office, they're going to actually be covering multiple
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offices. Just traveling between all of
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them, you know, covering days off for other supervisors or
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postmasters. So we'll see how that goes.
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Yeah, we need people that don't even know people in the office
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trying to give direction to them and not knowing how those people
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actually work. So it's going to get interesting
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and but other than that, it's been pretty, pretty quiet on the
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front for now. Still working on a lot of
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paperwork and stuff like that, just making sure my ducks are in
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a row and trying to keep the peace with a lot of things, so
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we'll see how it goes. How was?
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Your ducks. Not in a row, I came.
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These are actually ducks. I think mine went to a ring.
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I saw earlier. What's that thing I saw earlier
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today? My ducks are not in a row.
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I think some of them are missing, and I think one of them
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is missing, and I think one of them is a pigeon.
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I think I've seen my power around also.
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Bill, how was your week, dear? Oh God, is the horrible, most
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horrible four days I had to work?
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Never mind. Is that a RCA supervisor?
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Can they travel up to 50 miles to an office?
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Well, they're they're supervisor, so they go wherever
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management tells them. But no, it's been one of them
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weeks where you just shake your head when the supervisor
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announces, oh, you have a WSS at your case.
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Make sure that you put it in correctly and it's an
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unaddressed box holder. But since she told us it was
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WSS, guess what we did? WSS.
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As we were instructed, You can't make this shit up, folks.
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You know, here we are. You know, almost two months past
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the minimail survey and they still don't know what they're
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talking about in my my area, I lost my ADR and and now you know
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everything else that goes directly through my Dr. and I I
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think he's about ready to, you know, commit himself.
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Well, that's beside the point. But you know, the fact that he
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has to do all the extra work. He's lost 2A DR's in the past
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three months. So I mean, you know, what does
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that say of our system and when the ADR's are bailing?
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I hear you. I hear you.
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Yeah. My week was fairly normal.
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They had to reschedule my new RCA training to this week coming
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up, which actually was kind of happy for that, given how hot
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and humid it was Wednesday. That was the last thing I wanted
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to do was sit in the back of an LLV.
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And then I had some really nasty thunderstorms Wednesday on the
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route I was delivering on. So that made it fun as I'm
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sitting there at a box watching the rain go sideways.
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That was one of those days prior to that portion of it that I had
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got. I'm like, oh, rain.
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I had to go get out. I roll the other window up and
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then it stopped. Get out, roll it back down.
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And then continue on my way. Got to roll it back up.
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Got to roll it back down. All right.
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I'm going to leave it ahead enough for I can move everything
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up to the front of the tray. Let's leave it down for a little
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bit at Nope. We need to roll this back up.
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Yeah, that was that was an interesting day Wednesday with
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the thunderstorm saw lightning strike shortly, probably about
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1/4 mile ahead of me. Cars were pulled off on the
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side, on the side of the road because it was raining so hard.
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And I'm thinking, I hope you move by the time I get up there
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because I'm still delivering. And then let's see, Thursday, I
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just had my ox route. Oh my, how's that happen?
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And then Friday I had my ox route and then I had to go
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deliver three stops for the route I ran Wednesday.
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Just because she was not going to fit everything in the LLV, I
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got creative Wednesday and was able to just fit everything.
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And then no, actually I didn't fit everything Wednesday.
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I did have the one sub that was running my ox route to deliver a
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lot of packages for me because I would not have fit them in the
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LLV. So Friday I delivered those
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stops for her because you know, you got to love it when people
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order 450 pound bags of dog food.
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Yeah, let's not start on that one.
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And then the other sub, I went and took the last 45 minutes off
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of him. And yeah, so that was my Friday.
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Saturday. I had my double again yesterday
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and it rained all day long and I got home and I was soaked to the
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bone and went and hopped in the hot dump for a little bit to
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warm up. And then, let's see, today I had
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to run my daughter home, my youngest, and finish my shopping
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for my vacation weekend next weekend.
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And then tomorrow I start training the new RCA.
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We've got another one that's going to be shadowing next
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Saturday. And then off to Academy he goes
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and then we'll start training him on that route.
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Yeah, that's about about the gist of my week.
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Someone actually realized that the day after a holiday was not
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a good day to train. Well, I wasn't overly worried
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about it, but you know, it ain't gonna be no different.
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Than just in general though. Actually somebody.
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Realized that it was not a good idea to bring a brand new person
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in to train them. No, this was actually the brand
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new person saying he needed to reschedule.
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It wasn't management's decision. OK.
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And. Since.
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Like yesterday I made my last dismount for a package just
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before the sky started falling, so that was a plus.
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No, I had plenty of dismounts 2 days this week where it was.
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It was coming down pretty good. You know, you got to love those
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people that order those wooden rocking chairs that you got to
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put together. Let's not order one, but two of
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them that we have to hike it up in the downpour to the front
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porch. Yeah, yeah, 2 for that house.
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Anyway, only two. Yeah, you know, New House who?
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Knows the other two are coming next week, yeah.
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Right, right. Order in the next rain, in the
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next rain for yeah. I I remember in high school I
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worked at the at the food court in the mall, which was a mile up
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the road from the house, and I would most days I would walk
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there, including this one particular afternoon that it was
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a torrential downpour with Thunder and lightning get all
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the way up to the outskirts of the mall.
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There was a. Grocery store at the very
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outstairs of the parking lot. Walk around the building there.
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Stop for a moment under the awning to dry it.
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You know to stop dripping for a second.
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Wipe my face off. Go and I get maybe 20 feet out
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from under the cover and 30 feet, maybe 40 feet at most to
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my left. A lightning strike hit the
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ground. I just.
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Booked it back under the cover and stood there until my heart
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finally stopped racing. Was about to call my boss and
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say you want me to come to work. You need to come get me as some
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little old lady offered to give me a ride to the mall if I
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helped her put her groceries in her car.
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Did you have to change? Your pants after that.
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I don't remember. And yes, I am going to start the
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OJT on a Monday. I know that's also another never
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a great day to do it, but I'm scheduled on that route tomorrow
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and that routes K day is Monday. So I think it'll be okay to this
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is what he's going to expect to walk into on Mondays.
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So that's where I plan on going with that one.
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We do have the other sub that's supposed to be running my OX
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route if he got back to anybody is going to be taking parcels
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that way. I'm not completely over and
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cramped into the back of the LLV with 100 packages.
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So we'll see how it goes, we'll see what happens in the morning,
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but on that note tonight. It's just kind of a
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lighthearted. We're going to kind of go back
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to why we're doing this podcast, got an e-mail this past week.
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I'm going to read this. I'm not going to mention names
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or locations just because that's not what we do here.
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But I want to kind of this right here is pretty much one of the
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main reasons why we started this and why we are continuing this.
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So on that note, I'm going to skip the first sentence because
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I'm obviously not reading off names or locations.
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So this person says I have been a real carrier for over 23
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years, Six years as a sub. I started this job when I was
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just 19 years old. I've given up so much of my
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youth in my life for this job. I love my customers and my dogs,
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even though I've been bit a few times.
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Yeah, we all have. Your podcast along with the
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years that I've had to sit quietly and watch as management
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continuously breaks contracts, breaks laws, breaks Morales, I
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have seen some of the worst treatment to my fellow carriers
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and Subs. I am sick of sitting there
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watching it and taking it. So now they have awakened the
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sleeping giant and it's time for them to be held accountable as
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they are the reason this place is failing so many levels.
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Thank you for your podcast. It is open my mind to what needs
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to be done. We are the union.
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And and she's right or they right, he's right, whatever that
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gender is. Because we are the union, not
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the national board. There are representatives there.
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They work for us. We are the union.
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And if it doesn't start on the ground floor at the front lines.
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It doesn't get done. Exactly.
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And it takes every single world carrier out there to stand up
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and do what's right now, what's they're told is right, but what
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is right for the union, and that is following the contract,
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following the rules and regulations of the post office
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and your PO6O3. Doing your job properly and the
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way it's supposed to be done is the best way to.
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To do the right thing. And if you can learn anything
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from any of the stuff we put out here and it helps you decide
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that you want to either rejoin the union paying dues or you
15:35
want to step up and be a steward or you want to run for a local
15:40
state or or national position, great.
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That's what we're here for. If we can get one person to do
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that. And it sounds like we've done
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that to multiple people with this.
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Then we've done what we wanted to do and that was to reengage
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the union and reengage the people into the union.
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And whether you're dues paying or non dues paying, it doesn't
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matter to us. You're still part of this union,
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you're still a rural carrier and you still deserve everything
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that comes in your contract and everything that we we stewards
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and everybody above. The local stewards can do in
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your office, whether it be your area steward, your assistant
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district Rep, your district Rep, your State Council, your
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national board. They all should be stepping up
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and helping you be a better rural carrier, because that's
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the only way we make the rural carrier craft better is if
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everybody steps up to the plate and swings for the fences.
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Another personal message I got a few weeks ago just says hey
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there, just wanted to pop by and say hi.
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I listen to your podcast every week and really listen to them
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for info I may have missed. I'm a regular carrier and also a
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newly certified union Rep I you know, people are, you know, you
17:09
guys are listening, you guys are stepping up and you're getting
17:12
involved in that. From the very beginning was our
17:16
mission is to get people involved.
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Getting the word out to get people to stand up for
17:23
themselves and for their carriers in their office.
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Right. Well, now, I don't know if this
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particular person was, you know, is a listener or not, but I know
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a friend of mine when I was talking to where at State, she's
17:39
her local president. There was a young man there who
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was feeling the way that a lot of carriers have been feeling.
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Was upset, you know, is upset with, you know, the union as a
17:53
whole and how things are going and with Rex and what's going on
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and was talking about wanting to get out of the union.
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She's like look, you know, it is what it is.
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Give it a year, he what happens. This is before the meeting
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started, when it came time for elections.
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He stood up and ran for secretary, treasurer, you know,
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and is now her new secretary, treasurer for her district.
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And and ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, don't wait until
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things get to that point where you're so frustrated you're
18:38
deciding to either, you know, get involved or quit the union.
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Start tomorrow. When you go to work tomorrow.
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Start tomorrow. Get involved.
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Pay attention. Educate yourselves.
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Don't let it come to a head. Because at that point you're
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going to either swing one way or the other.
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And you know, while one way would be beneficial to the
19:00
union, the other does not add to your health, your welfare, your
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family, It it just detracts. If you let it get to that point
19:09
where you're ready to scream, you need to do what Josh says.
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Step back. Take a deep breath.
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Clear your mind, Step back in, but please get involved
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tomorrow. Start tonight.
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Get on the get on the computer, check out the national website,
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check out the all the information that's available to
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you, check out your 603 M 38, check out the contract, go over
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direction way. Don't wait another day to get
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involved. I'm kind of going to go through
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some of our other comments on some of our episodes here.
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Let's see. I got you know a lot of a lot of
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valuable info here. Thanks.
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This is an awesome podcast. Thank you all.
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So glad I found it. Keep up the great work, it is
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appreciated. Another one I'm listening for
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about the third time to every podcast.
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Love this comment about bitching regarding the union.
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Great job. Get involved.
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If you're not, you know it. People are hearing it.
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People are getting there, people are getting involved.
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And you know, you, you can't make change from the outside if
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you're not part of the union, you really are the silent
20:23
majority or minority. And you, you don't have a voice
20:27
in where your future is, where your job's going, how people are
20:30
treated. And whereas you are afforded,
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you know, protection under the steward system, you still need
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the availability of the information that the Union does
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provide, what we provide, what all these other websites
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provide. So you know to effect change you
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have to be in the union. I mean, change could be as
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simple as writing a resolution, writing a binding constitutional
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resolution. That is something that, you
21:06
know, the board can act upon right away.
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Most resolutions, contractual, obviously you know it.
21:13
When they're passed, they go into the wish list pile for
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negotiations which will be coming up here probably shortly
21:22
after National. February is when they will
21:27
officially start negotiating. February Yeah, I know city
21:31
carriers are currently in negotiations, but.
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Who knows what's going on with that, with everything going on
21:37
with their national president. I'm personally not going to get
21:42
into that. If you want information, if
21:45
you're curious, yeah, that is. If you're curious on what's
21:48
going on with that, I highly suggest going and listening to
21:51
From A to Arbitration podcast. And that will really open your
21:57
eyes To the grass is not always greener on the other side.
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That's all I am going to say about that.
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And I will say that everyone here on this podcast stands with
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our city carrier brothers and sisters on this.
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Absolutely. We're here with you guys.
22:14
We're we're boots on the ground with you and we stand behind
22:17
you. And we're here.
22:19
If you guys need somebody to talk to or need something, you
22:22
know, if you just need an ear to listen to what you rant about
22:25
what's going on. Just get a hold of us.
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We're here for you too, because we're all part of the same job,
22:31
basically. And I'm and a good most of our
22:35
offices we do have city carriers are working right alongside us.
22:38
So you know it's definitely like I said if you want to kind of
22:43
know what's. Bill, you got a lot of
22:48
background noise. It's just attractive trailers
22:52
going by on the PA Turnpike. No, we really, we really do.
22:58
We really feel for our city carrier brother and listening to
23:01
From Aid Arbitration talk about it, you can feel the passion in
23:04
his voice. Absolutely.
23:06
You can just feel it, and it almost feels of venom seething
23:12
out of his teeth as he's talking about it.
23:14
Oh, he sounds like me, huh? It's yeah, it's not bad.
23:20
It's not bad and. To have somebody who usually is
23:25
so well thought out and direct in his speaking, to turn around
23:33
and talk like that is an eye opener.
23:37
It really is in many regards. It's sad, but you know, we're
23:43
part of that. We're in the early.
23:45
Part of that is the same thing here with us, you know, it's a
23:48
lack of information going down the chain being passed on.
23:52
And unfortunately not a lot of people being involved and that's
23:57
the whole goal is of this podcast is to get people
24:00
involved. I had people who were at our
24:04
state convention. If you come up to me, non
24:07
delegates at the state convention tell me, oh you
24:10
changed from the podcast. Awesome.
24:12
I listen to you guys and that's why I'm here getting involved
24:15
even though they're not a delegate at the state convention
24:19
and that's why we do this. Because we want everybody to be
24:23
involved so we don't have problems in the rural craft as
24:29
we've seen on our city brethren and sister side.
24:32
I mean, we want our voices heard.
24:35
It shows with with voting, even for national delegates.
24:40
I'm not going to list the direct numbers, I don't have them in
24:42
front of me, but I know Justin James Estate and I.
24:48
When ballots went out for national delegates, there was
24:51
just over 4300 sent out and only 500 and something were returned.
24:57
And there was like some of those ballots were spoiled, like 30 of
25:01
them, roughly. I don't have the exact numbers,
25:05
so don't quote me on those numbers, but I mean come.
25:08
On both percent. Yeah, I mean it.
25:12
Unfortunately, I was not present when they.
25:17
Posted when they did the report, the election report.
25:21
So I don't have the our statistics.
25:25
I've heard from a few sources that the highest state
25:28
percentage was rate near 20%. Yeah, that seems to be about the
25:33
national average is about 20%. Yeah, Could you imagine?
25:38
Could you imagine the difference things could make if that 12 to
25:43
20% was 50 to 75%? Yeah, I'm not bringing national
25:50
politics into this, or not trying to at least.
25:53
But think about how on non gubernatorial elections, there's
26:00
only a 2530% turnout in the United States.
26:05
But on the gubernatorial elections, whether it be state
26:08
governor or president, there's 40 to 50% turnout.
26:13
Think about that when you're talking about voting in the
26:16
union. Every single election that you
26:20
do for National Convention is basically a gubernatorial
26:25
election. You're voting for people to vote
26:29
on the leaders of the board. Getting the vote in is the most
26:33
important thing a rural carrier can do.
26:35
It's even more important than running for office.
26:39
It's more important than being a delegate.
26:42
Voting for your delegates is the most important thing a rural
26:46
carrier can do. Well, I want to say regardless
26:50
of what your thoughts were of the last two contracts and on
26:55
Facebook, when it was came time for ratification, there was a
26:59
lot of opinions being voiced towards the tentative
27:04
agreements. Both of those agreements were
27:07
voted in to ratify with over 80% of the votes.
27:14
However, only 20 percent, 20 to 23, or 4% of the ballots mailed
27:23
out were returned. Just under 1/4 of the carriers
27:27
are making decisions for every real carrier in the country.
27:30
You. Can even.
27:31
Say and it's. One in five, Yeah.
27:35
Roughly. Well, 20% would be one in five,
27:37
and 25 would be 1/4 less than 1/4.
27:39
Yeah, and you think about that. It's the same thing with your
27:43
national conventions when you're voting delegates less than 1/4
27:47
of the of the people in each state, and even down to 10% of
27:53
the state is voting for your entire state's voice at the
27:57
National Convention. And yes.
28:01
In Michigan, we had more than enough delegates to fill every
28:05
single slot in the delegate pool for Michigan.
28:09
But that's still there's 5400 voting rural carriers in
28:14
Michigan and we get 4343 votes. So that is 1% of your voting
28:24
population in the state of Michigan.
28:26
There's 4300, just over 4300. In Michigan, 4300, OK, my
28:31
mistake, I got that wrong, I'll admit that.
28:34
But that's still 1%. One percent is vote for 100%.
28:41
So voting on your delegates is the most important thing you can
28:44
do because you want to vote for the people who you believe are
28:48
going to vote the way you want them to.
28:50
It's like an Electoral College. Yeah, pretty much.
28:53
And it's one of those things that if you're not voting,
28:56
you're using your. Right.
28:58
To not vote, you're tossing your vote out.
29:01
You could have put somebody who was in 44th place and 43rd
29:04
place. You could have moved somebody
29:06
from 26th place to 25th place. That doesn't really matter when
29:10
you have 43 spots, but it it can in some aspects.
29:14
So you got to think about that when, when these ballots come to
29:17
your mailbox. I know it's already passed for
29:19
this year, but we have next year.
29:21
We also have the ability to still put resolutions forward
29:24
next year. Even though we're going to be in
29:25
contract negotiations, this isn't the end all be all.
29:30
This isn't the end all. Be all here every year.
29:33
It's the same same routine for the union to go through.
29:38
Go to your state conventions, your National Convention every
29:43
year, resolution. Skip a forward every year.
29:46
And it's up to each state to pass them up to national
29:50
Although you can present them on the national floor.
29:52
It's. A lot harder to pass them on the
29:54
national floor than it is a state floor or even a county
29:57
floor. Well, it often equates to the
29:59
same way with national politics, where you know, people get
30:02
elected and then, you know, oh God, I hate this guy, but did
30:06
you vote for him? No.
30:08
Are you a registered voter? No.
30:11
Then shut the hell up, folks. If you're not part of the
30:14
solution, you're part of the problem.
30:18
And you need to be. Part of the solution if you're
30:20
if you're not involved. So Bill, have you had anybody
30:24
come up and talk with you about the podcast?
30:28
Oh my God, I got groupies. I I'm telling you it it it's to
30:38
me, my my voice carries, you know, a bit.
30:43
Yes it does. And when you have people coming,
30:47
you know, 30 feet away from you going, oh, you're Bill and I go,
30:50
yes, I am. No, you're Bill from the
30:52
podcast. Yes I am.
30:54
And they go, I love you guys. I was like you do well spread
30:59
the word and it's oh God. I tell everybody to listen.
31:01
And I, you know I had to show about eight or nine people how
31:05
to get on the United we scan and you know I, I text Kristen what
31:11
platforms we're at she was good enough to respond so that
31:14
everybody had you know different formats that they could connect
31:17
to. It's amazing that, you know, so
31:20
many people out there is like, you know, Oh my God, you guys
31:23
are great. You're doing great.
31:25
You know, we didn't know this. We didn't know that.
31:27
And I'm like, we're just saying, you know, Encyclopedia of
31:31
information and we're here to help you help all of you.
31:37
And it's it's just, it's great that I'll tell you what they
31:41
say, if you can go through life, you can change one person's life
31:44
for the better. You've had a good life.
31:46
Well. Folks, we're having a grand life
31:49
cuz we're helping more than one. Well I I had that too at at mid
31:55
state conference to be out socializing at break time or
31:59
afterwards And I I had quite a few people pull out their phones
32:03
and is this you showing me the United you know united we scan
32:08
podcast page and I'm like yeah they're like I thought I
32:11
recognized your voice and then we just you know start chitchat
32:15
and I had quite a few of those I had another one who.
32:18
You know he I talked to him and I met him at national last year
32:22
and talked to him a little bit at mid states this year and he
32:25
he brought somebody else by to introduce to me because she
32:28
she's like I absolutely love you guys you know it that's you know
32:33
it's it's humbling it's I I am not used to it so it kind of you
32:38
know at first was a little overwhelming but it it's it's
32:43
nice to know that people. Are listening and people are
32:47
getting involved from listening. And I've heard from this is this
32:52
is kind of bad, but not I've had postmasters tell me they're
32:58
listening to our podcast and learning how to handle real
33:01
carriers better. And that's that's an honor to
33:05
have postmasters who are saying wow, Management definitely
33:09
doesn't describe the stuff this way, and it's helping me to
33:12
better manage the real carriers in the proper way.
33:15
Hey, sweet management. Actually listening to something
33:19
and taking it to heart. We'll take that.
33:22
Absolutely. You know, I wish more management
33:27
would, you know, if they would listen to us and understand that
33:31
the world craft does the things they're supposed to do, the way
33:35
they're supposed to do it. I think a lot more managers
33:38
would have an easier time in their office.
33:41
Instead of trying to micromanage everybody, they could sit back,
33:44
drink their coffee and go about their day if they just turned
33:47
around and gave the carriers the tools they needed to do their
33:50
job and just hands off it. And the rule Craft used to be
33:54
like that. Ages ago, Rule Craft was pretty
33:57
much left to their own devices, and now we are not.
34:04
This is you know, I, and I've had several say, you know, this
34:07
job is not the same job that we hired into 567810 years ago.
34:12
I know it's not the same from what I hired in 8 1/2 years ago.
34:17
It, you know, it's not the same for when I transferred offices
34:20
nearly five years ago. It's not the.
34:22
Same it was a year ago and it's up to us to make it the best we
34:28
can with what we have and. Doing this podcast was our way
34:35
of saying, yeah, we know it's changed, but here's how you can
34:39
help yourself, make it easier on yourself.
34:42
Because nobody else is reaching out and saying here's how you do
34:45
this, here's how you do that. There's no training, there's
34:48
there, there's handouts and there's printouts and there's
34:52
reports and Q&A's and on both sides from the union and
34:57
management. You got information flowing from
35:00
the left side, the right side, up and down.
35:04
Just having one place where it's all located has benefited so
35:08
many people and we are so humbled to know that we have
35:12
done that. It makes us so proud to know
35:15
that there are carriers out there who feel this has
35:19
benefited them because we can sit here and talk oral diarrhea
35:23
all day long. And talk about carrier
35:25
discretion and talk to your local union Rep and supposedly,
35:30
but the whole thing about this is just strengthening the rural
35:33
craft, trying to make a concerted effort to benefit the
35:38
rural craft as a whole. And that's why we're here.
35:41
And you know, I always say that we do this of our own volition.
35:46
We get no pay for this. We often get backlash for it.
35:52
But kudos to the people who also listen to because they're
35:55
putting in the time to educate themselves as we try to help
35:58
them and help others. But they're also putting in the
36:02
effort to better their position in the post office, in their
36:05
craft and in their offices. And I'm not saying that
36:08
listening to us isn't without risk either, because there are
36:12
managers out there that it doesn't matter what the union
36:15
says. It doesn't matter how many
36:17
grievances you file, they're still going to be upset at how
36:20
you do things. To those carriers, I'm sorry you
36:22
have to deal with that. I am because unfortunately, just
36:27
like training us for wrecks, management doesn't do a good job
36:31
of training their own management on how to deal with rural
36:34
carriers. And especially now with our 2O4B
36:38
ruling in our contract that forces rural carriers to go back
36:42
to their routes after six months.
36:44
That makes it even harder for rural carriers to become
36:47
supervisors. And become frontline supervisors
36:50
in the Postal Service compared to city carriers and clerks and
36:55
janitors. Janitors can be a 2O4B, no
37:00
problem. They can sit there and be a 2O4B
37:03
for 2-3 years. No problem for their craft.
37:06
We had a. Real carrier.
37:09
We had a guy in maintenance that was a 2O4B in my old office.
37:13
Briefly, when needed, he stepped up and did that.
37:16
But yeah, it's. You know, and hearing you know,
37:20
James saying you know they there's postmasters out there.
37:23
Yeah, I know there's management out there listening and if
37:27
you're taking away something beneficial for your office, I
37:30
applaud you. I I really do.
37:32
And that really, really means a lot to the craft in general
37:37
because you guys got to think about it.
37:39
The management's guide for managing rural carriers is what,
37:45
40 plus years old, the M38. And hasn't been updated.
37:51
Yeah. Has not been updated.
37:54
I I would have to pull it up and look at the date, but I think it
37:57
was like in the early 80s. I mean a lot has a lot has
38:04
changed since then. And she means 1880.
38:10
Back when the royal carrier craft was first formed, Rural
38:13
Free Delivery. Yes.
38:16
M38 Managing rural free delivery.
38:19
Don't let your horse poop in the parking lot.
38:24
But let's be fair, when's the last time they updated the 603?
38:28
2011. OK.
38:30
So it has been updated prior. To that.
38:34
Prior to that it was I believe the late 70s.
38:38
It was updated before that. OK.
38:40
July 1st, 1980. July 1st 1980 for the M38, so it
38:46
was updated just after the PO6O3.
38:49
Oh wait, first time. I'll find something else.
38:52
And then PO6O3 was updated and I've got one right here.
38:56
Let me look. Oh, it does say effective July
38:59
28th, 2013, will revise the Handbook M38 to reflect the name
39:05
change of the product known as Express Mail to Priority Mail
39:09
Express. So that was a change. 10 years
39:12
ago was just to change Express Mail to Priority Mail Express.
39:17
And I was mistaken. The PO6O3 is latest update is
39:22
September of 2013 and that update was rural carrier duties
39:27
and responsibilities and revisions to part 535 mail count
39:32
forms. Probably to update for that
39:34
express and update for priority mail and stuff like that.
39:38
But when you're but, but if, that's the only update in. 43
39:43
years was to change the name of express.
39:47
To. Priority Mail Express Wow.
39:53
I think it's the time to update that bad boy.
39:57
Yep, there's a lot of things that need updating.
40:00
But yes, Sir, is there are mo use, there are joint statements
40:08
and things like that that have. Basically updated the six O 3
40:13
and the M38. They just haven't put them into
40:17
the paperwork yet. There are things out there that
40:21
have updated them, they just haven't been put in there.
40:23
Like our contract updated the PO6O3 to remove everything of
40:26
mail counts, but it's still in the PO6O3 until they finally
40:30
decide they want to print a new copy.
40:33
But if they print a new copy, they have to provide one for
40:36
every single route in the United States, so.
40:40
Considering how long it's taking them to print out our contract
40:42
alone, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.
40:46
But yeah, if if there's anything you can take away from this and
40:48
help your office, whether you are carrier or management or
40:52
even a city carrier helping your rural carrier brothers and
40:55
sisters, we're we're humbled that you're doing that.
40:59
Absolutely. Those that are wanting to
41:02
decertify or prior to join the city Carrier Union I, I.
41:11
I urge them to listen to from aid Arbitration first.
41:14
Yes, thank you. Thank you.
41:16
Finding the words. I, I yeah, yeah, I had a long
41:20
day on the road, so yeah. But yeah, I definitely urge you
41:24
to hear that because wow. Unfortunately, I won't be able
41:30
to listen. Why?
41:30
I'm training tomorrow, so it may be something my daughter has to
41:35
listen to on the way to Ohio Thursday.
41:40
I'll be catching up on all my podcasts on the road Thursday
41:43
morning. Such torture.
41:46
Oh, I know, cuz I'll have that up in the car fully loud to
41:50
listen to, yeah. Yep, if your stereo system in
41:54
car are set up like mine, you can just plug your phone in and
41:58
you'll run it through the speakers.
42:00
Yes, I can. Automatically.
42:03
Yes, yes, I do. Yes, I can.
42:05
I had to go out and buy a new phone cord for my Android
42:07
because I knew I could do it on my girls as iPhones.
42:09
But my Android, my cord that I had, I bought a new cord and it
42:12
popped up. I'm like, nice.
42:14
Yay. But yeah, it's we don't want to
42:19
be part of that union. We don't.
42:22
And honestly, decertifying your current union is not the answer.
42:27
The last thing you're going to want is to be left at the mercy
42:30
of the post office. Because if they had their way,
42:34
we'd all be making a minimum wage.
42:37
And I'm going to say this, I was part of a union that started up
42:44
in a right to work state, Michigan, when it was a right to
42:48
work state until they just removed that provision.
42:52
And I can tell you that every provision that the people of the
42:58
union wanted in their contract was denied.
43:02
Because the management side of it turned around and basically
43:08
used the right to work system as a bludgeon against the union to
43:14
cut everything out of the contract except for wage
43:17
provisions, leave and seniority. Basically, that was the only
43:23
thing they allowed and that's the only things that are
43:25
protected. When you're starting up a new
43:28
union. So if you want to decertify our
43:30
union, not only do you lose everything that's in your
43:34
contract under this union, but there's 100% possibility you
43:39
will not get any of it back. And that's the danger you have
43:42
when you decertify a union. If you had good management, they
43:47
might let some things in, but think about how management
43:51
treats you now. And how they would treat you if
43:54
you didn't have a union backing you.
43:56
Sure, you can argue, yeah, they don't listen to grievances.
43:59
Yeah, they don't do this. Yeah, they don't do that.
44:01
But at least when you do the grievance, there is a
44:06
retribution to the carrier that does the grievance.
44:09
There is a way to get compensation for that grievance,
44:14
but without the union there or decertifying the union and
44:18
finding another one to take you on.
44:21
Most won't touch it because we don't have a strike clause,
44:23
because federal employees cannot strike.
44:25
Because we're quasi governmental, we can't strike.
44:28
No union is going to pick us up like that.
44:30
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news on that.
44:33
No, no. Most and most don't realize that
44:37
they know we have a no strike clause, but they don't realize
44:40
that it's actually illegal for federal employees to strike.
44:44
It is. Actually a jailable offense to
44:48
strike. They can actually arrest you,
44:51
put you in jail on top of that. Part of that provision is you
44:54
will never work a federal government job again anywhere in
44:59
the system. It doesn't matter if you were a
45:01
post employee, you can't go apply, be an air traffic
45:04
controller. You can't go and apply to work
45:06
at the Department of Justice, the any of the federal
45:12
government agencies out there, you can't work for them if you
45:16
strike and you get fired for it. But I mean there is, there is a
45:21
way we're already striking without striking and that is all
45:25
the people that are quitting and all the people that don't hire
45:29
in the people that decide the post office is not where they
45:32
want to work. That's a strike without being a
45:34
strike. I want to poison.
45:37
Go ahead, Bill. I want to poise a controversial
45:41
question for our listeners and and our our host.
45:47
What if we negotiated the no strike clause out and give them
45:52
the layoff clause? You can't.
45:55
It's a it's a federal law. It's actually in the Cfr's Code
46:03
of Federal Regulations. So it's a federal law.
46:06
So you would have to get the House and the Senate to remove
46:11
those clauses before we could actually be able to put a strike
46:14
clause in our contract. But it could be done.
46:18
It can be done. Just have to petition our
46:21
legislature. I mean, you know.
46:24
It could be special. I mean, we could, we could get
46:27
like special legislation just applying to the post office or
46:30
to the local carriers, just the postal carriers.
46:36
Because you, I guarantee you are our city carrier brothers and
46:39
sisters, our clerk, craft brothers and sisters, our
46:42
janitors. Everybody would want to be able
46:45
to strike too, so it would have to be the entire Postal Service.
46:47
I mean, do you ever feel like an armless man's swinging a bat for
46:52
a home run? I mean, you know, we, we have no
46:57
real leverage except for a contractual negotiation.
47:02
The only real leverage we have is how long are you wanting to
47:04
hemorrhage people? That's the only real leverage we
47:07
have. Well, look, I would leverage
47:10
Josh out for forever. I mean, oh, I'm, I'm sorry,
47:17
you're listening. There are some carriers.
47:19
There are some carriers that no matter what happens, they'll be
47:22
working until the day they walk into their grave.
47:25
But there are a lot of carriers, especially our younger
47:28
generations, especially the ones that follow social media, don't
47:32
want to get into a political position in the union.
47:36
They're going to just walk off the job.
47:38
Because instead of making $19.00 an hour as a sub, no offense,
47:42
Kristen, They're going to want to turn around and go work at
47:46
McDonald's for 19 bucks an hour where they don't have to deal
47:49
with an overbearing manager. Because the manager at
47:51
McDonald's is more happy that somebody actually decided they
47:54
wanted to work at McDonald's because they're so shorthanded.
47:58
And then they don't have to deal with the micromanaging of
48:02
supervisors. They don't have to deal with a
48:03
revolving door of supervisors either, and they don't have to
48:07
deal with. No strike clause either.
48:10
And with a lot of these fast food places turning up and
48:14
unionizing, it's making it even better for them.
48:17
And eventually they're going to be making more money than we
48:19
are. So what benefit do they have to
48:21
stay with the post office if they can make more at
48:24
McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy's, or even Costco
48:28
and Walmart? And get benefits too.
48:31
And get nearly the same benefits.
48:34
I mean, I've had offers to go to.
48:37
The other companies for just a little bit less than what I have
48:41
here for the almost the same benefits, the same healthcare
48:45
plans, same dental plans, same vision plan, everything.
48:49
And the reason I'm here is because I love this job.
48:53
I love doing what I do. I love dealing with my
48:55
customers. Plus I love being outside.
48:58
And the other job would have been an office job sitting at a
49:00
desk from 8:00 to 5:00. Yeah.
49:02
I can't do that. Yeah.
49:05
So I I did that for you know I got 15 years in hotels and
49:09
resorts and you know working predominantly the front desk
49:12
night audit, did some management I you know, I like being.
49:17
Out it. It did.
49:20
It burnt me out. It really did.
49:22
You know, I like, you know, I'm a team player in the office and
49:26
you get out of that office and you're on your own.
49:29
And you can. If it's a gorgeous day out, you
49:31
enjoy it. If it's not a gorgeous day,
49:34
well, you still enjoy it. At times.
49:36
It's. I like that, being able to work
49:40
on my own aspect. Also a team player in the office
49:43
as well. Yeah, it doesn't matter to me.
49:45
It could be 90 degrees out, it could be 10 below 0.
49:50
It could be snowing, it could be raining, it could be
49:52
thunderstorms, it could be a tornado that was called the Gust
49:55
NATO. It doesn't matter.
49:57
The beauty is in. The route itself, the beauty is
50:00
in the customers. You have, the way they treat
50:02
you. You know how you go about your
50:05
day and how you help other people.
50:09
I have people in my office now constantly coming up with
50:12
questions about the rec system, about this, that and the other
50:15
stuff when it comes to things that they want to talk about.
50:19
And that to me is the greatest gift of all.
50:24
It's just that imagination of people.
50:27
Coming together and working together for a common goal.
50:30
And that's the toughest part of that job, too, getting them to
50:33
come together. Yeah.
50:35
But we have we have to find a way.
50:38
Absolutely. Yeah, it doesn't matter if
50:41
you're 20 years old or 80 years old and working this job.
50:45
We're all together in on this. I feel like you named that.
50:49
One thing on one of the face one of the Facebook groups for all
50:54
the crafts. Someone posted the clerk
50:57
seniority list and the most senior person on that list had a
51:02
1965 seniority date. Then 68.
51:06
Like there were five or six people that have been in the
51:09
Postal Service longer than I've been alive.
51:13
But yeah, talking about with past jobs and everything, never
51:16
say keep in mind the math on this one.
51:19
At 25 years old I got out of, I needed a break from food
51:24
service. With 15 years of experience,
51:27
those those are some long hours. Yes, they are.
51:31
I've been there. I've, I've done that as well,
51:35
you know. I've worked, you know, I've
51:37
worked all sides of the house. Me too.
51:39
Me too. So I used to be a truck driver.
51:42
I used to drive truck for a living.
51:44
That was awesome. But it didn't leave room for
51:48
anything. You know, I'd work.
51:50
Yeah, I started. I started out over the road,
51:53
home four days out of the month. And then I got a got a trucking
51:57
job where I was home every other weekend.
51:59
That was two days every weekend. So it was still four days a
52:02
month that I was home. And then I got a job where I was
52:06
home every weekend that was 8 days out of the month.
52:09
And then I got a local job where I was home every day because I
52:13
worked the night shift. I worked overnights and I'd come
52:16
home, go to sleep, wake up and have to go back to work again
52:19
and just it. Was a pain in the butt and I
52:23
took, I took a $20,000 pay reduction to join the post
52:28
office just to get more time home.
52:31
And a lot of people are like, why did you do that?
52:33
Why did you do that? Because my home time is more
52:38
valuable than that $20,000. I'm surprised you didn't try and
52:42
go for a trucking job within the Postal Service.
52:47
But that would that was still that would negate the holidays.
52:50
Because the truckers are still working on the holidays.
52:53
Yep. They're still moving mail on the
52:54
holidays. The plants are still working on
52:56
the holidays. Yeah.
52:58
So I wanted, I wanted to work in, in an actual office, whether
53:02
it whether it was a clerk, a clerk, a city carrier or a rural
53:06
carrier. I mean, I could have done the
53:07
city carrier route. I could have been a clerk
53:09
working the front counter. But I chose rural specifically
53:13
because. Number one, you would have
53:15
started off at the plant anyway, probably third shift and that's
53:18
365. Yeah, And I came.
53:22
I came part of the rural craft because I researched it.
53:27
I like the contract that they had when I signed on.
53:30
I like the benefits. Even though Table two was on on
53:33
the board there, I knew that from General Motors.
53:36
When General Motors went to Table 2 after the 2008 downturn,
53:39
the home time and the ability to get time off was the biggest
53:43
things that the post office had going for it for me and now.
53:49
Being part of this craft and participating in this craft and
53:53
now part of this podcast, I feel like I'm somewhere I actually
53:58
belong with a bunch of people who are mostly like minded, like
54:02
me. Some of them a little darker,
54:04
some of them a little lighter. In terms of personality, we're
54:08
all here for one common goal, and that is to better the rural
54:13
craft as a whole. Are you poking at my all my
54:17
characters being chaotic people? I'm sorry, you're not Chaotic
54:20
Evil, You're Chaotic good. You gotta get that straight, No?
54:23
No. Are you sure you're not?
54:24
You're chaotic good. What about Chaotic Neutral?
54:28
What's? He dances that line.
54:30
He dances that line. But no, I mean just just being
54:37
here with all these guys. And I joined these guys late,
54:41
you know, I joined in what episode?
54:43
20, maybe 18 or something like that.
54:46
I can't remember exactly when. Talking with you guys and then I
54:50
did my research, I listened to you guys and I felt that you
54:54
guys were doing the best you could to help the world craft.
54:59
And that's why I joined with you guys.
55:02
And it's because of you guys that I am here talking with the
55:05
audience here. So you guys should really give
55:07
yourselves a round of applause for everything you've done,
55:10
because your motivation to do this gave me motivation to join
55:15
up with you guys. So it's all you guys involved
55:18
that brought me in. Oh, the credit goes to Kristen
55:22
for, you know, deciding to do it on, you know, start a new
55:25
podcast in a new direction, You know, basically started with
55:31
positivity, information, education, and in trying to
55:35
bring people into the fold. Previously, it wasn't such a.
55:42
Quality. And now it is.
55:46
That that's one way to put it. Yeah, that's definitely one way
55:49
to put it. That's a lot guys.
55:52
Crystal tell you it's it's all of us.
55:55
But she, she was the driving force in regards to getting us
56:01
back on the air. Oh no, guys, don't make her
56:03
blush. Don't make her blush.
56:05
Nobody can see me. I'm sitting alone in my
56:08
basement. It's all good.
56:10
No, it it it was me that said hey guys, I I because we we all
56:15
stayed in contact. We all talked still and it was
56:19
just me saying hey I have an idea what do you guys think
56:23
about this? What if we do this?
56:24
Then it was like all right let's come up with a name and you know
56:27
we have a a a few people behind the scenes that help contribute
56:32
and you know that's where we were tossing out name ideas and
56:35
then. And then going from there and
56:38
then it just kind of, you know, we started it and it just kind
56:41
of gradually built up. And then that one episode just
56:46
flipped us right on to where we're at now.
56:50
Yep. Yeah, just.
56:52
For that Bill guy, you don't have to do that much editing.
56:56
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You.
56:59
Still have to do editing, even if it's if it wasn't just the
57:01
Bill guy. That was, that was the, you
57:04
know, and in the earlier episodes, I really didn't edit.
57:06
I just took what were recorded and threw on the the intro and
57:11
disclaimer and loaded it up. And now I'm thinking, huh, maybe
57:15
I should have went back and edit those a little bit better.
57:17
But, you know, those first dozen episodes are all raw.
57:22
They're exactly what it is. And you edit out all the
57:27
sniffles and truck noises on the freeway and things like that.
57:31
And the arms and the ands and the ahhs and the dead air.
57:36
Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
57:37
There's a little bit, there's a little bit more work put into
57:40
that. Luckily, I do have a helper when
57:42
they're available, so yeah. Don't forget not to, not to edit
57:46
out carrier discretion, supposedly.
57:49
Oral diarrhea. Oral diarrhea.
57:53
You just want our friends from Tipsy for work in the morning,
57:57
don't you? Well, we're not saying it a lot
57:59
this episode because we're more talking about how people have
58:03
approached us about this podcast and talked with us about this
58:07
podcast. So we're not talking about
58:11
issues where they have to actually contact the local
58:14
steward and the local designated union representative.
58:18
So we've got to input them somewhere so that way they have
58:21
something for their drinking game.
58:24
Oh, this is true. And and I'm just going to put it
58:26
out there folks, when you see us at conventions and conferences,
58:30
I am really big. I'm not talking about the
58:33
podcast on the conference or convention floor.
58:36
We're out on smoke break. We're out having drinks were you
58:40
know at the banquet or you know not on the business floor
58:45
whatsoever. I am just kind of putting that
58:47
out. I did.
58:49
We're asking, we're asking everybody to be professional.
58:53
Exactly. You know what?
58:55
I. Because this is this is not
58:56
sponsored by the union whatsoever.
58:59
The union has absolutely no hand in this podcast whatsoever.
59:03
They don't even approve of this podcast.
59:06
They have no say over this podcast.
59:08
This is 100% just us on our time off and when we're at the
59:13
convention we're there because we're either delegates or non
59:19
delegates and we need to pay attention to what's going on.
59:22
And we're working even if it's you know dismissed for break.
59:26
I still I take it outside I not even at break time as we're
59:30
clearing the convention floor conference room floor whatever I
59:33
I I you know it's like somebody will say something I'd be like
59:36
thank you I appreciate that but I'll be outside if you want to
59:39
talk more. I don't know that the conference
59:43
convention floors that that's business that's 100% business
59:48
and. Yeah, but if we're outside.
59:51
Having people don't. We're outside having a smoke or
59:55
it's after hours and we're out having a drink and you want to
59:58
chitchat and talk and say Oh my gosh, thank you or or we don't
1:00:03
like you. I don't care.
1:00:05
I'll take you know I I take criticism quite well.
1:00:07
I well if you don't like me you don't like me I don't care.
1:00:10
You know I'm, I'm, I'm. Content with you.
1:00:13
Why? What can we do to get your good
1:00:16
graces? There you go.
1:00:18
There you go. You know it's.
1:00:21
If you have a problem with our podcast, come with us with
1:00:25
examples. Show us what we're doing wrong
1:00:27
and we'll most likely work on a solution with you.
1:00:32
Don't just tell us you hate it and you want it gone, or you
1:00:35
want it shut down or you know, or threaten us with something
1:00:40
because to. Threatening is not the way to go
1:00:43
about things. Having a mutual discussion is
1:00:46
the way you get actual work done.
1:00:50
Instead of just going one side or the other, you have to find
1:00:53
that mutual ground. You can't just turn around and
1:00:56
close your ears off to it because you don't like it.
1:00:59
Yeah. And if I can, it's right here.
1:01:01
It's Stefan. Well, I don't think they can
1:01:07
always just listen to from A to arbitration instead of us.
1:01:12
Or attempted delivery. Hey, so if anybody still listens
1:01:16
to attempted delivery, I don't know how Sean's round one went,
1:01:20
but I do know that Damian is moving on to round two.
1:01:24
I did see that notice. So a shout out to you guys, I
1:01:27
will have to go back and catch up unfortunately.
1:01:30
Sean, I'm sorry I didn't catch how well you did on Friday.
1:01:34
But I know Damian last night is moving on to the next round, so
1:01:38
applause to them. Good job guys.
1:01:42
And I'm going to put a shout out on a happy belated birthday to
1:01:46
Sean. His birthday was the fifth yes
1:01:50
four days ago, so happy belated The Dirty 30.
1:01:54
Congrats dude. How appropriate.
1:01:58
Exactly, it is. Yes, it is.
1:02:02
Yeah, I I didn't see it. Well, Storm really doesn't have
1:02:05
much of A social media presence. No.
1:02:07
No. Yes, he's gonna need one if he
1:02:10
gets famous. He is hosting now, though, too.
1:02:13
He's done a couple of. Yeah, he's hosting.
1:02:16
Yeah, he's been hosting. I've heard.
1:02:18
He's had really good feedback. With that, I like I said, I wish
1:02:21
these guys the best of luck. We'll eventually try and get him
1:02:24
on here again someday, scheduling wise and all that
1:02:29
other stuff we're also in the works of.
1:02:31
Eventually doing something with Corey Walton for me to
1:02:34
arbitration again. Scheduling is a big thing with
1:02:39
being able to sit down with other people.
1:02:40
We all have to be able to have an open schedule with that, so.
1:02:45
And on top of that, he's. Dealing with so much, right,
1:02:47
isn't it? I don't.
1:02:49
I could get it done if I had both my recorder available and
1:02:55
Corey not running errands after work.
1:02:59
Yeah. So yeah, it might be, you know,
1:03:03
after National or whatever, we'll eventually we'll get
1:03:06
there, but. We'll play it by year like we do
1:03:09
almost everything else. Really.
1:03:11
We supposedly. Really.
1:03:15
We do. We do.
1:03:17
Phil, you're awful quiet. Well, I was just waiting for
1:03:21
Josh to stop bumming and put out the kudos as.
1:03:27
It was said that non delegates who go to the convention say
1:03:31
here are people putting out their own time and money, using
1:03:35
their own leave to participate in something they're not getting
1:03:38
compensated for. It's it's commendable.
1:03:42
It it it's applaudable. It really is that you're you're
1:03:46
going out on your own dime to participate without any
1:03:51
compensation whatsoever. And I applaud those people
1:03:55
because the delegates are getting paid.
1:03:58
State to state depending on what the, you know, compensation rate
1:04:01
is and these people are putting their own effort, time, money on
1:04:07
the line to be part of this union and you know, kudos to
1:04:11
them. And I'm going to say thank you
1:04:14
as I'm one of those RCA's that has put out their own time and
1:04:19
money to go to functions as a nondelegate, including national.
1:04:25
I've only been a delegate to National once.
1:04:27
That was Grapevine. I did not make delegate last
1:04:31
year. As of right now, I'm not a
1:04:32
delegate this year. I was not a delegate in 2018 at
1:04:36
my first national. I've gone to a couple midstates
1:04:40
on my own dime. I've, you know, I I do what I
1:04:45
got to do to make it. Work.
1:04:47
I'm going to say this. I'm going to say this.
1:04:49
Anybody that goes as a non delegate is spending a minimum.
1:04:55
Of $500 to go minimum next. I test for that.
1:05:03
And then you also have, whether it's airfare or gas money, to go
1:05:09
to these events, that adds on to it too, because, like for
1:05:14
national conventions here in Michigan, somebody who comes
1:05:17
with a nondelegate from California is paying airfare to
1:05:20
go to Michigan and then the taxi to the hotel.
1:05:24
If the hotel doesn't have a shuttle, which most of them,
1:05:27
apparently they don't have one this year.
1:05:29
And then they also have to pay for the hotel room and all the
1:05:33
nights that they're there. And I guarantee you they're not
1:05:35
going to be leaving the night of the last part of the convention,
1:05:38
because that runs until it's done.
1:05:42
I remember 2018. We didn't get out of there till
1:05:45
nearly 9:30 at night. Yeah.
1:05:48
And so a lot of flights. Don't take off.
1:05:50
Until the morning. I think that was the first one,
1:05:54
that it ran super late like that and there were people, there
1:05:59
were delegates leaving to catch the planes at six, seven, 8:00,
1:06:05
o'clock. Yeah, it was.
1:06:07
It was just after I I know it was after 9:00 o'clock when we
1:06:11
we wrapped up because I still had a three hour drive home and
1:06:14
had to go to work the next morning and you know as a.
1:06:19
I I think I still have to put in for Saturday the 19th.
1:06:22
I only put in through Friday. I think I'm going to put in for
1:06:24
Saturday even though I won't stay at the hotel.
1:06:26
I'll go to my parents house Friday night because it's only
1:06:29
45 minute drive away. But yeah it's you know it is
1:06:33
possible to do. I even as an RCAI can contest to
1:06:37
that. I have done it.
1:06:39
It was not easy. I mean it helps now that we have
1:06:42
annual leave so I'm not missing out fully on a you know a week's
1:06:47
pay. But you know, it's not, you
1:06:53
know, I I will admit I have taken out loans to go.
1:06:57
I have penny pinched. I have paid bills late to make
1:07:01
it work. I mean it's not easy.
1:07:04
You know, I have roomed with three other people.
1:07:06
So Mike wasn't going to cost me that much, you know, as much.
1:07:10
But I'm going to put it out there for anybody that's
1:07:12
listening that is going to National, that's going to be
1:07:14
flying in. On Sunday or even Monday and you
1:07:21
don't have a ride lined up or a rental car from the airport to
1:07:25
the hotel, please reach out. I will be in the area as of
1:07:30
Saturday night. I'll be at my parents house.
1:07:32
I'm checking in on Sunday and if you need a ride 1/2 I could
1:07:37
probably do up to three depending on how much luggage.
1:07:40
But if you need a ride, please reach out to me.
1:07:42
I'll be more than happy to pick people up at the airport and get
1:07:45
them back to the hotel. I don't have a problem with
1:07:48
that. Yeah, these events.
1:07:51
I know there's a couple people and a couple of the Facebook
1:07:53
groups who have offered the same.
1:07:55
Yep. So.
1:07:57
And I used to live in Grand. I lived in Grand Rapids back in.
1:08:02
2001 through 2003, I have a cousin that lives outside Grand
1:08:08
Rapids. I am very familiar with the area
1:08:10
so it's to me it's not a big deal.
1:08:13
And they said if you need a ride from the airport, let me know
1:08:17
more than happy. Even if you if you're taking a
1:08:20
train or a bus, let me know. Yeah, and if you have a room and
1:08:25
you have an extra bed and and no and you want somebody to split
1:08:28
the cost with you. Let us know.
1:08:31
Put it on our Facebook group. Well, we can get people to team
1:08:35
up with each other for the National Convention because
1:08:38
rooms are running short. Even with all the delegates
1:08:41
finally chosen, there's still a shortage of rooms for the
1:08:44
National Convention. I will put it out there.
1:08:48
My daughter is actually not going to be attending now just
1:08:53
because of work scheduling wise and whatnot, so.
1:08:57
The other person that I'm rooming with that already asked
1:09:00
me if it was alright if another person wanted to join.
1:09:03
So we have one to two spots if you don't mind sharing a bed
1:09:06
with somebody in a room available.
1:09:09
So I'm putting that out there, You know if somebody wants to go
1:09:12
and they weren't sure how they could afford it, but they still
1:09:14
want to go or they need a ride, even if you're flying into the
1:09:19
Kalamazoo airport for some reason instead of Grand Rapids
1:09:23
I. Can pick you up.
1:09:25
I've flown out of there before. I know where it's at.
1:09:28
It's not too far from my parents house, so you know.
1:09:32
Kalamazoo Lansing. Yeah, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand
1:09:36
Rapids. Well, it's not clever.
1:09:38
Pretty put. Everybody on notice I'm having
1:09:42
three sets of bunk beds put in my room.
1:09:51
But no, we're, you know we're all willing to work with
1:09:53
everybody and help you out if you need it.
1:09:55
If you want to go, if you plan on going and weren't quite sure
1:09:58
if you could cut the whole thing or you weren't too sure on a
1:10:02
rental car or nobody's, you know, made those final plans
1:10:06
quite yet. We're just going to put it out
1:10:08
there. You know I I'm available for
1:10:10
rides and whatnot as well so. And we're not going to mention
1:10:14
last year's National Convention on the.
1:10:17
Rooming accommodations. So.
1:10:23
That's that's that's how that one thing spread through the
1:10:27
National Convention that disease that shall not be named.
1:10:34
It's what, less than $300.00 for the week for the room?
1:10:38
Yeah. No, it's one.
1:10:40
It's 130 a night. 1:30. 9 for rooms.
1:10:42
Now I'm saying. For the, that's for the room,
1:10:46
but if you have four people in the room, each person share is
1:10:51
300 or less for the whole week. Yeah.
1:10:55
So just just think of that if you can find somebody to share
1:10:57
with, if you're on the convention, going to the
1:11:00
convention, then you can actually save a lot of money.
1:11:03
You don't have to share a room with somebody from your own
1:11:05
state either as we had three states represented in our room
1:11:09
last year, so. And of course that also gives
1:11:14
you, that gives you a chance, if you, if they're not from your
1:11:16
state, to to understand how another state's getting on with
1:11:20
things going on in their area compared to your state.
1:11:24
Oh yeah. Yeah, but every time I mentioned
1:11:26
rooming some with somebody that they say, are you bringing the
1:11:29
thong? You got to have the pink thong,
1:11:33
Bill. You got to have the pink thong
1:11:34
for everybody. You know and and they say no
1:11:37
thanks. I'll find it down.
1:11:45
I can't wait to. Wear that to the pool.
1:11:49
I'm gonna get one printed up specifically for you, but yeah,
1:11:57
we can wind it down. Cut this one a little short
1:11:59
tonight since we're just kind of lighthearted and and just to put
1:12:04
something out. I won't be on next week.
1:12:07
I will be gone. I do believe the guys are
1:12:10
talking about. Getting on here themselves.
1:12:13
So I'll definitely have to listen to that after the fact.
1:12:17
Oh boy, if they talk about me, it's OK.
1:12:21
I'm not going to hold it against them for too long.
1:12:24
We'll ask you to turn around first before we talk behind your
1:12:27
back. OK.
1:12:28
I appreciate that. Mike, any final thoughts
1:12:32
tonight? Just just the usual, you know,
1:12:35
be safe out there. Temperatures are heating up.
1:12:38
Make sure you're hydrating. And just, you know, just be safe
1:12:42
in general and you have a. Good.
1:12:48
Week Josh. Like Mike said, you know be
1:12:50
safe. Try and stay cool.
1:12:53
Hydrate. My supervisor say you need to
1:12:56
start drinking water tonight for it to be in your system for
1:13:00
tomorrow. Don't get overwhelmed.
1:13:02
If you do, take a step back, take a deep breath and step back
1:13:06
in. Try and have a good week.
1:13:09
We'll see you next time. James.
1:13:12
Yeah, it's hard to talk about all the different aspects of
1:13:18
things and not get passionate about it.
1:13:22
It's hard to try and keep things in line to protect not only
1:13:30
ourselves but you guys as well. But we do this from the bottom
1:13:36
of our hearts to help you guys out.
1:13:38
And if you can take away just one thing from this each time
1:13:42
you listen to our podcast, we've done our job.
1:13:46
And just remember, be safe out there.
1:13:49
And with the week of storms coming up that we have, if you
1:13:53
come across a flooded Rd. turn around.
1:13:55
Don't drown, because these LLV's do not float.
1:14:00
They will not float to protect you.
1:14:03
And if you get them too wet, they might actually catch on
1:14:06
fire. So be careful out there, keep
1:14:10
your wits about you, don't let management get under your skin,
1:14:14
and we'll talk to you next week. Bell.
1:14:17
Yes, my turn. It is.
1:14:20
Oh, you. Oh, you.
1:14:22
Oh God, you. They like me.
1:14:24
They really like me. And.
1:14:28
The Oscar goes to That's a. Very strong word.
1:14:32
No, like I said earlier and and I'll reiterate this, this is
1:14:37
important that people don't wait until they get to that point,
1:14:41
that critical point where they make a decision of leaving the
1:14:45
union and not being involved and all you know, just step back,
1:14:50
you know, to assess your situation.
1:14:53
Can you do more? Are you able to do more?
1:14:55
Will you do more? If you don't step up, it's not
1:14:59
going to get any better. Okay and I hate to see people
1:15:02
who are more timid than ourselves and and others that we
1:15:06
are familiar with that to actually stand up for
1:15:10
yourselves. Well, then find somebody to
1:15:12
champion. You know your issues for you in
1:15:15
the office. What, whether it's the, you
1:15:17
know, local steward, the ADR area steward, whoever.
1:15:22
Or even like a local officer for your chapter.
1:15:25
I mean folks, there's plenty of people out there, good hearted
1:15:28
people that will step up for you.
1:15:31
There are many instances throughout the country,
1:15:34
throughout the world, where people go above and beyond for
1:15:37
people they don't know that they're not personally involved
1:15:40
with and help them out. You know, through these
1:15:43
difficult types of situations, yours is not the end of the
1:15:46
world, but it it does get overwhelming to a certain.
1:15:52
Extent. And that's when you need to, you
1:15:55
know, to define yourself as far as what you're going to do, how
1:15:59
you going to do it, how you going to handle it.
1:16:01
And the no judgment. If if it's too much for you,
1:16:04
then you know, God bless you. Go find something that is more
1:16:07
agreeable to you and better for you and your family.
1:16:10
First of all, try. If you don't try, that's
1:16:15
failure. And I don't want people to fail
1:16:19
because they didn't put the effort into it.
1:16:22
You know, it's just like getting married.
1:16:24
It's like having children, signing a mortgage.
1:16:28
There's there's stress to all those situations, but there are
1:16:32
different factors that contribute to you making that
1:16:35
decision. Same thing at the job.
1:16:37
Try and with that, you know, go out, be safe, make sure that you
1:16:43
make the most important delivery day, get home safe to your loved
1:16:46
ones, and God bless you all. Thank you guys.
1:16:50
Yeah, on that note, it is July and the heat is out there.
1:16:54
Please stay hydrated, Take those bottles of water out with you.
1:16:59
Some Gatorade. You know, I take a couple frozen
1:17:02
ones out in my cooler on top of my non frozen ones.
1:17:05
Stay hydrated, stay cool, stay safe with storms that come
1:17:10
through. Like I said, driving through
1:17:12
Wednesday with rain going sideways was an interesting
1:17:15
thing, but it was not the safest at times either, so.
1:17:19
Please stay safe out there. We appreciate every single one
1:17:23
of you and I will not be around next week, but the guy should
1:17:28
be. If something changes, we'll let
1:17:30
you know. But on that note, we'll see you
1:17:32
next time.