This mid-week episode features an interview with James Brennan, a rural carrier candidate for Director of Steward Operations within the NRLCA. Brennan discusses the frustrations of rural carriers with their union’s current leadership, drawing parallels to the situation within the NALC and the CLC movement. He highlights issues such as inadequate steward protection, insufficient training on new systems (like RRECS), management’s abuse of overtime policies, and a reluctance to pursue arbitration.
Brennan details the “United We Scan” ticket he’s running on, outlining the candidates for president, vice president, and other positions. He explains the NRLCA’s grievance process, which he criticizes for its inefficiency and aversion to arbitration. Brennan emphasizes the need for stronger union representation that actively defends carriers against management harassment related to stationary events, scanner monitoring, and workload manipulation. He also points out the significant pay cuts many rural carriers experienced due to the flawed implementation of the RRECS system.
The conversation touches on the issue of CCAs performing rural carrier duties, and the need for better communication and collaboration between the NALC and NRLCA to address this issue. Brennan expresses hope for a more unified approach to combating management abuse across both crafts and emphasizes the importance of strong leadership that prioritizes the needs of carriers over internal politics or financial concerns. The interview concludes with a shared sentiment of frustration with current union leadership and a desire for positive change.