Episode 111: Some more muddled Bullsh*t and a refresher course on the past practice of doing union work, on the clock, at our union hall.

This episode discusses several hot topics, including Corey’s recent experience with online criticism and the passionate defense he received from listeners. Corey emphasizes that he’s committed to educating and advocating for letter carriers, regardless of listener reaction. He notes that some listeners criticized the podcast’s tone, shifting from informative to overly emotional, although he argues the podcast is ultimately about protecting letter carriers.

The episode pivots to the central issue of the falsification of heat-related training (HIPP) records, which Corey considers a serious and widespread violation of the contract. He applauds the efforts of two business agents, Mike Caref and Eddie Davidson, who have been actively fighting these issues. He underscores the critical role of education and union advocacy in combating these issues. Corey argues the falsification directly relates to management’s pressure to reduce office time, noting that the training, a twenty-minute video, is intentionally not completed, so carriers are not given the time or are being dishonest to make it look like they’ve done their training, instead of giving them adequate breaks, which are protected under the contract.

Corey delves into two arbitration case studies from previous episodes, focusing on past practice violations. In these cases, management attempted to unilaterally change established practices regarding union hall use. The cases demonstrate the importance of establishing a valid past practice to protect the union’s right to utilize the union hall for work on the clock. A core point is that management argues that such practices are inefficient or unsafe, but fails to provide evidence to back up these claims and fails to engage in good-faith negotiations. Corey repeatedly emphasizes the importance of demanding evidence and documentation from management to support their claims, highlighting the potential for these arguments to be used in any past practice case.

Corey provides clear instructions to determine if a carrier’s HIPP training was falsified. This includes navigating the carrier’s liteblue online portal to view training records and details. He stresses the importance of documenting any issues and using this information in grievance filings. He concludes with a call for unity and action among carriers and union members to address the issues presented, as well as a declaration of his continued commitment to fighting for their rights and safety.