This episode is a midweek edition focusing on urgent safety concerns. Corey addresses a nationwide scanner message stating “When possible, take approved rest breaks to beat the heat.” He strongly urges listeners to grieve this message every time they see it, calling it “deadly” because it implies carriers are limited to scheduled breaks, which is dangerous in extreme heat, especially for new hires (CCAs) who may not know they can take breaks as needed for heat. He recommends grieving it as a class action under Article 14 and Article 19 via M-01860, demanding a cease and desist and a stand-up talk clarifying break policies. For repeated offenses, he suggests including Article 15 and seeking $50 per carrier per day until the message is retracted and clarified.
The episode then shifts to dissecting a redacted investigative interview and subsequent disciplinary action (letter of warning for improper conduct). The discipline stemmed from a carrier taking lunch late and bringing mail back to the office. Corey critiques the process, arguing the investigative interview was biased from the start, accusatory, and failed to specify what rule was violated regarding bringing mail back. He highlights issues like the unreasonable instruction to take all breaks before 3 pm, potential violations of Article 16, 14, and 19, and the lack of clarity on protocol when unable to reach management to report bringing mail back. He points out inconsistencies between the investigative interview’s focus on “failure to follow instructions” and the discipline’s charge of “improper conduct,” as well as the introduction of new ELM sections in the discipline that were not mentioned in the interview. He emphasizes the need to scrutinize every word and detail in such documents to build a strong defense.
Finally, Corey reiterates the importance of protecting CCAs in the heat and encourages union members to educate themselves and fight for their rights, despite potential management backlash. He clarifies his non-political stance and commitment to the union, emphasizing his role is strictly educational and supportive of union members, particularly in safety matters and fighting unjust management practices.