This episode of From A to Arbitration, despite technical difficulties, focuses on the critical issue of intentional falsification of heat-related training records by the Postal Service. The host, Corey, expresses frustration at the pervasive nature of this issue, arguing it’s the most significant grievance facing carriers in their careers. He emphasizes the importance of holding the Postal Service accountable for this intentional misconduct, likening it to a battle that demands resolute action from the union.
Corey addresses a criticism leveled against him by a person within the union’s structure and commits to discussing it further. He lauds the efforts of two business agents, Mike Carriff and Eddie Davidson, for their proactive and aggressive approach to protecting letter carriers in these cases, highlighting their understanding of the importance of education and advocacy to ensure carrier safety. He argues that a well-educated workforce is a powerful workforce, essential to challenging management’s attempts to circumvent the contract.
Corey criticizes the union’s apparent lack of decisive action in many areas, highlighting how certain business agents and B-teams have seemingly chosen to avoid confrontation. He critiques the passivity displayed by some, urging them to become more proactive advocates. He advocates for transparency and accountability within the union structure, suggesting that every aspect of union activity be visible and explainable.
The episode dives into a specific B-Team decision, outlining the issues involved in a heat-related training case. The decision had been critiqued by some as not taking an assertive stance against the Postal Service’s clear falsification, although both parties had already identified the violations. This is a key point: Corey’s criticism was not that the decision wasn’t strong enough but that the union failed to appropriately pressure management to adhere to the contract.
Corey stresses the importance of holding management accountable, especially when they are intentionally violating the contract. He insists on thorough documentation of carriers’ lack of training to support claims to arbitrators, and advocates for challenging management’s assertions that this was not a recurring problem.
He highlights management’s attempts to present “smoke and mirrors” arguments, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the falsification of records rather than irrelevant details like safety talks or postings. He also discusses the importance of supervisors ensuring training compliance, pointing to the fact that some employees are still being put at risk without proper training due to intentional violations of the contractual obligation of heat-training. This issue directly relates to the health and safety of the carriers.
Corey concludes the episode by emphasizing the need for the union to be more assertive in defending the rights of letter carriers, especially in cases involving heat-related training violations. He emphasizes the need for stronger union leadership to actively support carriers and encourages transparency in union operations. He asserts that the union’s failure to act decisively is a serious flaw that threatens the safety and welfare of the workforce.
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