Corey opens “The Lion’s Den” by reiterating his commitment to providing strictly educational content, aiming for episodes to be around thirty minutes. He begins with shout-outs to Branch 3028 in Texas, acknowledging the devastating floods they experienced and offering prayers. He also promotes fundraising events for CLC candidates Richie Ray (Region 15) and Bill Kribel (Region 12).
Corey then issues a challenge to EVP Paul Barner, referencing past instances where labor reportedly influenced arbitrators to amend decisions or remove them from panels. He highlights a specific regional arbitrator’s statement of not abiding by a national arbitrator’s decision and challenges Barner to take action against this regional arbitrator, drawing a parallel to labor’s alleged ability to influence arbitrator removals. Corey stresses his own commitment to never complying with such requests if he were in a leadership position, emphasizing that it’s management’s responsibility to adhere to national decisions.
The core of the episode involves Corey reading several key M-documents and an arbitration decision related to PET, DOIS, and route time standards. He stresses the importance of these documents for carriers to understand their rights and for stewards to build cases, framing it as a choice between being “good” or “great” in their advocacy. He reads M-01664, M-01444, M-00385, M-00326, M-01769, M-00829, and M-00005, explaining how each document reinforces that DOIS/PET projections are not the sole determinant of a carrier’s workload or performance and cannot be the basis for discipline without proper, documented evidence like efficiency counts (e.g., 4584s or 1838Cs). He emphasizes that management’s reliance on these projections, especially when they fail to conduct proper observations or when mail volume is not accurately accounted for, is a violation of the National Agreement.
Corey then reads an arbitration decision (C-29806 by Arbitrator Jonathan Monette from 2012) concerning a “pivot board” in San Diego, which he connects to the current issue of “auto pivots” and management’s continued misuse of DOIS. He details how the arbitrator ruled against management’s use of the pivot board and DOIS as the primary tool for determining workload and leave times, emphasizing the arbitrator’s findings that such practices violated the M-39 and M-41 handbooks and national agreements. The arbitrator ordered management to cease and desist from using pivot boards, using DOIS as the primary tool, and instructing carriers on leave times without proper discussion.
Finally, Corey shares a brief story about a carrier who refused to use a vehicle with a broken air conditioner, was instructed to take lunch, and consequently faced a grievance. He uses this to underscore the paramount importance of carrier safety, stating that management’s disregard for it is a recurring theme and urging carriers to grieve such situations rather than take undue risks. He expresses his continued dedication to educating the membership and fighting for their rights, looking forward to the CLC’s takeover and the increased transparency and fight they aim to bring.