This episode of From A to Arbitration continues the discussion of the Weir Report, focusing on the “heroes” and “zeros” (or “studs” and “duds”) within the union during the period covered by the report. Corey dissects the actions and reputations of various individuals, including former President Rolando, Paul Barner, Eddie Davidson, and others.
Corey praises figures like Barner for stepping up during a period of crisis and criticizes others (like Rolando) for perceived failures to act or disseminate information properly, implicitly highlighting the lack of transparency within the union. Corey argues that those who knew of the president’s issues but didn’t inform members were in dereliction of their duties and should face accountability. He suggests that this lack of transparency and accountability significantly undermined the union’s position.
Corey links the discussion to Lord Acton’s quote on the corrupting nature of power, asserting that the union’s current leadership has become overly focused on maintaining their positions rather than representing the letter carriers’ interests. He criticizes the union for hiding information from members, and implies this action may have influenced the outcome of the recent election.
The episode concludes with a detailed discussion of specific charges within the Weir Report. This includes a significant segment examining a case of alleged misconduct against a union vice president (James Henry) where the union president allegedly did not meet with Henry to clear up rumors about him, despite Henry’s attempts to schedule a meeting. Corey strongly condemns this behavior and argues that such failures to address allegations against union members damage the union’s integrity.
Corey previews a forthcoming episode on Publication 552 (the Postal Service’s policy on workplace harassment) and a discussion of a past arbitration case loss. He also announces a Zoom meeting on building a “fighting NALC” and discusses the importance of unity among members to effectively address the ongoing issues within the union. The discussion ends by urging members to be ready for change and to mobilize in support of those representing the letter carriers effectively.