Union Decertification in progress. If we all do our part we will succeed!

[hillbilloinaire]

All good points.... you'd think USPS wouldn't have a big problem with it.... but, I do wonder how many rurals are forfeiting leave at year end now.... I know of one guy in my office who forfeits AL every year.... not me tho, I'm against that, in a BIG way....

The 48k cap screws me out of about $400. every week!

 

[Dominator]

It amazes me that our onion can’t easily get something like this in negotiation.

"Can't" or "won't?"

By law, the National Board is obligated to say "This is the best we can do!" whenever they accept a proposal. Why? Because they have a legal obligation of due diligence!

Saying anything less than, "This is the best we can do!" is a fatal admission of a failure to represent.

 

[hillbilloinaire]

The 48k cap screws me out of about $400. every week!

The old mail counts being moved to February was pathetic too. 10 year olds picking a team know all you have to do to make it fair is take turns eliminating pay periods until only 1 or 2 are left. That alone is proof arbitrators were bought.

 

[Dominator]

Bigger concern is people who keep voting the same names and expect change.

It's like substituting Charlie Brown for Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky series then sincerely expecting something promising from the station of a brutally pummeled and hopeless underdog.

 

[ATCBigE]

The 48k cap screws me out of about $400. every week!

Yep back in old mail count, my route was 49 technically but only got 48. I JUST LOVE WORKING FOR FREE!

 

[Dominator]

The old mail counts being moved to February was pathetic too.

I wouldn't be surprised if Valentines Day was a negotiated cornerstone of that sandwich.

 

[Denial22]

we will need another union in line for sure. My vote is teamsters as well. Also remember, getting the signatures does NOT decertify the union. It only gives us the RIGHT to hold a vote next year with the OPTION to remove them. So every carrier would get a chance to cast their vote: "Keep Nrlca, Remove NRLCA, Remove and NRLCA and accept new union"

We are just looking for the chance to vote on removing and replacing them. If no acceptable union can be found then people can simply vote to keep the NRLCA in place and we try again in the future. But if we can get Teamsters then I believe we will have a strong case. I have already talked to a Teamster rep but I will need to talk to them a bit more. Also the guy running the signature campaign also has a way to do the signatures online BUT there is too much NALC language on there and I need to clarify with him that we do not want NALC as we'd just be switching 1 powerless union for another and that solves nothing. We need a stronger union, we need to move forward and not backwards. A lady at my work who is also working with us has already contacted him but I will contact him again in the next couple of days and get the clarification on that, as well as speak with Teamsters again to see how we can seamlessly switch to them. I will post link for electronic signatures and all updates as soon as I get them this week.

 

[stingrayiii]

we will need another union in line for sure. My vote is teamsters as well. Also remember, getting the signatures does NOT decertify the union. It only gives us the RIGHT to hold a vote next year with the OPTION to remove them. So every carrier would get a chance to cast their vote: "Keep Nrlca, Remove NRLCA, Remove and NRLCA and accept new union"

We are just looking for the chance to vote on removing and replacing them. If no acceptable union can be found then people can simply vote to keep the NRLCA in place and we try again in the future. But if we can get Teamsters then I believe we will have a strong case. I have already talked to a Teamster rep but I will need to talk to them a bit more. Also the guy running the signature campaign also has a way to do the signatures online BUT there is too much NALC language on there and I need to clarify with him that we do not want NALC as we'd just be switching 1 powerless union for another and that solves nothing. We need a stronger union, we need to move forward and not backwards. A lady at my work who is also working with us has already contacted him but I will contact him again in the next couple of days and get the clarification on that, as well as speak with Teamsters again to see how we can seamlessly switch to them. I will post link for electronic signatures and all updates as soon as I get them this week.

At least you are trying and I give you great credit. Most here couldn't do what you are doing. I hope this goes forward as I believe we need a change and a better union. I'm hoping this gains traction. Our union really does suck.

 

[koolaid drinker]

get ready for the influx of pro NRLCA info in your mail box to be used against the craft in the next round of contract talks hope you can pull it off this time. We got crushed for the last 20 years for the last time it was tried only we got the one member one vote that 80% will not use.

 

[Carrierguy]

Here’s the problem, rural carriers couldn’t even be bothered to vote “No” on the last contract, how will they be convinced to cut ties to any representation between themselves and the Usps?
Sorry but this will not go far. We, as rural carriers just don’t care enough, or we would have been involved with stopping this last contract.

Maybe it’s that certain carriers are absolutely satisfied with the status quo. Those being the Table 1 carriers who joined the USPS long ago, bought homes while they were still somewhat affordable AND made more than the Table 2 carrier of today. Those carriers have absolutely no incentive to change the way things are.

Then there are all of the rural carriers that live in truly rural areas. Places where 2 bedroom apartments are still $800. Places where 2-3 bedroom homes are still sub 200k. These carriers don’t want to change anything because they are advantaged by the fact the USPS pays the same wage regardless of the cost of living.

To top it all off. These financial advantages put the Table 1 and “Uber Rural” carriers in a position to then have excess cash to be part of the union. Here we are blaming the financial burdened carriers for not spending their limited income on joining a Union that has not done a single thing to help them. The Union has actively kept these carriers poorer and consequently made it harder and less likely that they will then turn around and pay Union dues.

In addition. These carriers facing these financial challenges also have to endure with route evaluations that are forever changing. How can one sign a 12 month lease when they know that their income may change drastically within 6 months?

Sure when you have $800 rent a change in pay may be inconvenient but when you have $1500 rent for a one bedroom that bi-annual change in pay may be what makes you homeless.

When you charge people money to vote, you can’t be surprised when the poorer people don’t vote. All it does is perpetuate poverty, because it means certain people cannot afford to have their voice heard.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Maybe it’s that certain carriers are absolutely satisfied with the status quo. Those being the Table 1 carriers who joined the USPS long ago, bought homes while they were still somewhat affordable AND made more than the Table 2 carrier of today. Those carriers have absolutely no incentive to change the way things are.

Then there are all of the rural carriers that live in truly rural areas. Places where 2 bedroom apartments are still $800. Places where 2-3 bedroom homes are still sub 200k. These carriers don’t want to change anything because they are advantaged by the fact the USPS pays the same wage regardless of the cost of living.

To top it all off. These financial advantages put the Table 1 and “Uber Rural” carriers in a position to then have excess cash to be part of the union. Here we are blaming the financial burdened carriers for not spending their limited income on joining a Union that has not done a single thing to help them. The Union has actively kept these carriers poorer and consequently made it harder and less likely that they will then turn around and pay Union dues.

In addition. These carriers facing these financial challenges also have to endure with route evaluations that are forever changing. How can one sign a 12 month lease when they know that their income may change drastically within 6 months?

Sure when you have $800 rent a change in pay may be inconvenient but when you have $1500 rent for a one bedroom that bi-annual change in pay may be what makes you homeless.

When you charge people money to vote, you can’t be surprised when the poorer people don’t vote. All it does is perpetuate poverty, because it means certain people cannot afford to have their voice heard.

Right, and therefore this attempt will go nowhere

 

[Gotrope]

Maybe it’s that certain carriers are absolutely satisfied with the status quo. Those being the Table 1 carriers who joined the USPS long ago, bought homes while they were still somewhat affordable AND made more than the Table 2 carrier of today. Those carriers have absolutely no incentive to change the way things are.

Then there are all of the rural carriers that live in truly rural areas. Places where 2 bedroom apartments are still $800. Places where 2-3 bedroom homes are still sub 200k. These carriers don’t want to change anything because they are advantaged by the fact the USPS pays the same wage regardless of the cost of living.

To top it all off. These financial advantages put the Table 1 and “Uber Rural” carriers in a position to then have excess cash to be part of the union. Here we are blaming the financial burdened carriers for not spending their limited income on joining a Union that has not done a single thing to help them. The Union has actively kept these carriers poorer and consequently made it harder and less likely that they will then turn around and pay Union dues.

In addition. These carriers facing these financial challenges also have to endure with route evaluations that are forever changing. How can one sign a 12 month lease when they know that their income may change drastically within 6 months?

Sure when you have $800 rent a change in pay may be inconvenient but when you have $1500 rent for a one bedroom that bi-annual change in pay may be what makes you homeless.

When you charge people money to vote, you can’t be surprised when the poorer people don’t vote. All it does is perpetuate poverty, because it means certain people cannot afford to have their voice heard.

I'm table 1. Even table 1 can't cover the cost of living out here.
Most of my neighbors pay over 4k a month on mortgage. Rent is silly high. This articles says average nationwide mortgage is $1600. I doubt you could rent more than a room in a house for that here.

What is the Average Mortgage Payment?

Learn about the factors influencing the average mortgage payment and how it varies across different regions.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Unclewolverine]

Then there are all of the rural carriers that live in truly rural areas. Places where 2 bedroom apartments are still $800. Places where 2-3 bedroom homes are still sub 200k. These carriers don’t want to change anything because they are advantaged by the fact the USPS pays the same wage regardless of the cost of living.

I'm in the camp of this will probably go nowhere, and I'm also in the bumble puck nowhere group that pays less than 900 a month on my 2k square foot farmhouse on 3 acres; although I am on Table 2.

But also don't rule out how pissed a lot of people are over how the union has screwed us. Every other carrier in my office is Table one, one guy is topped out, lives with his mom and buys a new jeep every other year. Every single one of them is getting out of the union.

 

[Carrierguy]

I'm table 1. Even table 1 can't cover the cost of living out here.
Most of my neighbors pay over 4k a month on mortgage. Rent is silly high. This articles says average nationwide mortgage is $1600. I doubt you could rent more than a room in a house for that here.

What is the Average Mortgage Payment?

Learn about the factors influencing the average mortgage payment and how it varies across different regions.

www.businessinsider.com

Okay? I don’t understand the point of this? Yes there are places that even Table 1 can’t afford, that’s always been the case. The point is they had a large number of advantages during their formative years.

Objectively those carriers who were able to get into the USPS prior to 2010 had a better financial situation. I.e. they were able to spend a lesser percentage of their wage on housing. YES, it is still possible to screw up a financially advantageous position; but the objective fact is that they were better off.

Table 1 carriers(who by the nature of Table 1 will skew older) had the opportunity to purchase a home and build equity during a more affordable time period, this is one of the main factors causing younger carriers(who will skew towards Table 2) to have more trouble than Table 1.

 

[Carrierguy]

Right, and therefore this attempt will go nowhere

Did not dispute that argument.

Merely stated that charging a fee to vote will ensure those less able to pay that fee will not have their voices heard. That lack of representation will then translate into less action being taken to represent that disadvantaged group. This will perpetuate the problem.

 

[VTCarrier24]

It is amazing to me that anytime someone talks about or attempts to effect any change the carriers on this site always devolve into complaining or outright shoot it down. We all need to ask ourselves are we being fairly represented or not? I’m in the not camp. Cut the crap and let’s at least attempt to fix this problem!

 

[Rt2mailman]

It is amazing to me that anytime someone talks about or attempts to effect any change the carriers on this site always devolve into complaining or outright shoot it down. We all need to ask ourselves are we being fairly represented or not? I’m in the not camp. Cut the crap and let’s at least attempt to fix this problem!

And you are positive that “attempting to fix this problem “
means we sign a petition saying we no longer wish to be represented by this association? Doesn’t this give the Usps more latitude to do whatever they want?
There are avenues in our association to make it do what WE WANT. If most of the voting delegates were NOT RETIRED, I believe we could make big changes. Maybe resolutions across the country asking for that constitutional change in our association would allow for the current WORKING employees to vote in representation that were more in line with our values.
But this “Petition” only makes the undersigned not represented by ANYONE. No other union has accepted us, standing alone against the Usps would not be easy.

 

[VTCarrier24]

And you are positive that “attempting to fix this problem “
means we sign a petition saying we no longer wish to be represented by this association? Doesn’t this give the Usps more latitude to do whatever they want?
There are avenues in our association to make it do what WE WANT. If most of the voting delegates were NOT RETIRED, I believe we could make big changes. Maybe resolutions across the country asking for that constitutional change in our association would allow for the current WORKING employees to vote in representation that were more in line with our values.
But this “Petition” only makes the undersigned not represented by ANYONE. No other union has accepted us, standing alone against the Usps would not be easy.

The only thing I am positive about is that our current union isn’t getting the job done. We can’t get another union to represent us until we decertify the one we have. Fear is our enemy and the NRLCA knows it. You didn’t answer the question I posed, do you feel that we fairly represented?

 

[MildlyInfuriated]

The only thing I am positive about is that our current union isn’t getting the job done. We can’t get another union to represent us until we decertify the one we have. Fear is our enemy and the NRLCA knows it. You didn’t answer the question I posed, do you feel that we fairly represented?

The main reason that some of us don’t feel like we’re fairly represented in this, because the vast majority of the people representing us are already on their way out. We need the younger generation to step in step up and take control of the union. Not just throw the whole damn thing out. So many people on this forum want to cry and complain, but very few of us are actually willing to put in the work to change the current Union into something that we could be proud of. That change is going to take time and the best way to do it is to change the organization from within not just scrap the entire thing.

 

[Dominator]

The main reason that some of us don’t feel like we’re fairly represented in this, because the vast majority of the people representing us are already on their way out. We need the younger generation to step in step up and take control of the union. Not just throw the whole damn thing out. So many people on this forum want to cry and complain, but very few of us are actually willing to put in the work to change the current Union into something that we could be proud of. That change is going to take time and the best way to do it is to change the organization from within not just scrap the entire thing.

Yeah... Been there. Done that.

Excluding the firearm, I echo Walter's passion for constitutional order...

...however, in an elitist's world...