This episode of From A to Arbitration features a question-and-answer session with Mike Caref, a presidential candidate for the NALC. The interview, conducted in person, covers a wide range of topics. Caref begins by outlining his top five priorities as president: securing a strong national contract, addressing postal service mismanagement, improving internal union organization and communication, and implementing a standardized training program.
He then discusses the NALC’s food drive, criticizing the lack of national support and suggesting improvements to future campaigns. He explains his methods for maintaining connection with the workroom floor, highlighting accessibility and regular communication with branch leadership. The interview addresses Caref’s decision to leave the CLC, explaining his reasons and emphasizing his commitment to democratic decision-making within the union.
Caref details his differing approaches to contract negotiations and grievance handling compared to the current administration, advocating for increased use of arbitration and a more aggressive stance against management. He outlines plans to improve the grievance process, address issues like mandatory overtime, and combat management’s use of electronic monitoring and unrealistic performance metrics. He discusses the importance of open bargaining and his willingness to explore constitutional amendments to increase accountability. Finally, Caref offers his opinions on his fellow candidates and reiterates his commitment to representing the interests of letter carriers and bringing about meaningful change within the NALC. The interview concludes with plans to continue the Q&A in a future episode.