Remove the 20/10 day window problem.

Dominator · Feb 11, 2025

I've witnessed the frustration from many carriers displeased with the 10/20 day window to sever dues withholding. They've expressed feeling duped like a sucker at a time-share meeting; easy to get sucked in, yet frustrating to get out.

To each their own regarding dues withholding, but since postal manuals already provide a solution, perhaps it just needs surfaced.

USPS ELM §925.22

Withholding of dues is discontinued at any time upon written request from the organization for which the withholding is authorized.

To remove the "20/10 day requirement" puzzle, submit and pass the following resolution at your state conventions.

RESOLVED: The NRLCA will provide the USPS a written request to discontinue dues withholding no later than 48 hours of the NRLCA's receipt of a member's request to sever their dues withholding agreement with the NRLCA.

Intent/Reason for Change: Stopping dues withholding does not need to be more difficult the starting dues withholding. Members do not need to be financially bound if/when they may be financially struggling, and they are welcome to come back any time.

Worve · Feb 11, 2025

Oh I know what I am bringing up next meeting. Thank you for this.
Side note should I bring popcorn or laffy taffy for best results to keep my mouth shut and not say anything else

.

jaymacgthree · Feb 11, 2025

It is basically designed to scam new hires because the push for joining the union is the first day of orientation when people are gullible and being fed propaganda by smiling union reps. If they were going to work in good faith and keep people happy their members wouldn't leave. Making it insanely difficult to leave the union is essentially an admission that they suck and know it. I'm surprised its even legal for a union to play those games.

LEFTINGUTTER · Feb 11, 2025

jaymacgthree said:
It is basically designed to scam new hires because the push for joining the union is the first day of orientation when people are gullible and being fed propaganda by smiling union reps. If they were going to work in good faith and keep people happy their members wouldn't leave. Making it insanely difficult to leave the union is essentially an admission that they suck and know it. I'm surprised its even legal for a union to play those games.

They do play alot of games. Before I baecame an RCA I was a union construction worker so naturally the first thing I asked when we were in orientation was when can I join the union.

Well a few years ago when I could not take what they did to us by demanding RRECS be put in to play I wrote a letter stating I wanted to drop the union and why along with what it would take to win me back. I also contacted HR and asked to stop the dues from being deducted from my pay, HR said that only the union couls do that and that I could only do that on my date of hire. so on that day I made the request and they then said that was not the right day it was the day I joined so when I did the same on that day they both came up with a new day, it took almost three years to finally get out.

I do not feel right not being in a union but I can not see paying them for what they have been and are doing. it does not take 3 years to negotiate a contract unless you are a coward or in bed with the other party, which I say looks like both here why else would have HR worked with them to try to keep me from getting out. Also the union rep in our office is only doing what benefits her trys to get other peoples routes cut to make hers bigger. knows so little she does not understand that only the carrier on that route can have it cut when it is listed as over burden and the post office cannot cut it until it is I think above 50 I am sure some one will correct me on this. the point is it is not a union it is a club now.

Rt2mailman · Feb 11, 2025

jaymacgthree said:
It is basically designed to scam new hires because the push for joining the union is the first day of orientation when people are gullible and being fed propaganda by smiling union reps. If they were going to work in good faith and keep people happy their members wouldn't leave. Making it insanely difficult to leave the union is essentially an admission that they suck and know it. I'm surprised its even legal for a union to play those games.

This not a union rule, it’s a Usps rule. It is required for all employees paying union dues by direct deposit, by the Usps not the union. If paying by cash you can quit at anytime. You also can switch to paying your dues by cash/check, probably just as hard as canceling.

Dominator · Feb 11, 2025

Worve said:
Oh I know what I am bringing up next meeting. Thank you for this.
Side note should I bring popcorn or laffy taffy for best results to keep my mouth shut and not say anything else .

You could ask if "immediately severing a dues withholding agreement in order to pay rent" falls under the umbrella of a citizen's "highest aspirations" the NRLCA promises to "protect from all threats".

Threats such as... an eviction notice?

jaymacgthree · Feb 11, 2025

LEFTINGUTTER said:
They do play alot of games. Before I baecame an RCA I was a union construction worker so naturally the first thing I asked when we were in orientation was when can I join the union.

Well a few years ago when I could not take what they did to us by demanding RRECS be put in to play I wrote a letter stating I wanted to drop the union and why along with what it would take to win me back. I also contacted HR and asked to stop the dues from being deducted from my pay, HR said that only the union couls do that and that I could only do that on my date of hire. so on that day I made the request and they then said that was not the right day it was the day I joined so when I did the same on that day they both came up with a new day, it took almost three years to finally get out.

I do not feel right not being in a union but I can not see paying them for what they have been and are doing. it does not take 3 years to negotiate a contract unless you are a coward or in bed with the other party, which I say looks like both here why else would have HR worked with them to try to keep me from getting out. Also the union rep in our office is only doing what benefits her trys to get other peoples routes cut to make hers bigger. knows so little she does not understand that only the carrier on that route can have it cut when it is listed as over burden and the post office cannot cut it until it is I think above 50 I am sure some one will correct me on this. the point is it is not a union it is a club now.

I couldn't agree more. Having participated in and observed other unions I was literally shocked that the NRLCA can call themselves a union compared to all the others. Typical unions support and engage their members, always visiting workplaces on a monthly basis making contact with every single member and seeing how they are and asking if they need anything. Those Reps were WONDERFUL and the jobs were good, you felt good about paying dues because you always got something for them.

The rural union is the exact opposite. You never see them, you get a cheap magazine with pictures of them smiling playing golf at 'conferences' and telling you they are working so hard for their members while nothing of substance gets done. You're lucky if you can even get them to answer the phone and if they do they complain you're interrupting your vacation. Half the time they didn't even know what they were talking about and they were in bed with the slime-ball Postmasters breaking the contract lol

Dominator · Feb 11, 2025

jaymacgthree said:
Making it insanely difficult to leave the union is essentially an admission that they suck and know it. I'm surprised its even legal for a union to play those games.

Passing this resolution at a National Convention would remove the opportunity for these actual or perceived games.

neciat · Feb 11, 2025

Model it after / from this ;

Dominator · Feb 11, 2025

neciat said:
Model it after / from this ;

Undoubtedly, the current NRLCA Secretary/Treasurer (in addition to the previously serving carrer politician who once held the same title) will likely cry to the National Delegates that "the rule will increase administrative burdens in processing dues-assignment revocations."

That position is weak though:

1) The union is financed through dues collected to process dues paperwork.
2) Processing dues cancellation forms is (and has been) part of the NRLCA's job for many, many decades.
3) If the association sincerely cannot process the amount of dues cancellation forms forecasted, the NRLCA constitution (Art.5.2.C.13) permits the Board to hire office help to process the cancellations.

(Note that if the NRLCA forecasts that carriers would cancel in waves, it reveals a suspected hidden desire to capture the membership into dues withholding using the 20/10 window mechanism. If there were no problem in that the general membership were pleased with the NRLCA, passing the resolution above is no actual threat to the union's membership numbers or their bottom line.)

4) Similar to opinion excerpts from @neciat 's reference, this resolution certainly does not incentivize or require any employees to cancel dues assignments; it merely provides an easier explained and easier understood option for those no longer willing or able to continue dues withholding.