Classes of Mail

Part 2 of the Office of Inspector General Report on Fraudulent Labels

We go over the rest of the recommendations, and management's response.

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The Office of Inspector General Report on Fraudulent Shipping Labels

On September 20, 2026, the OIG released a report of their investigation into the Post Office's acceptance of fraudulent shipping labels. It found that 97% of parcels with fraudulent labels are being... DELIVERED! And it cost the Post Office $1.6 BILLION in just one year! In this episode, I get through the first half of the report.

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Who We're Voting For

I didn't want to make this episode, but Michael was insistent. In the end, I'm glad he bullied me into it. We are both CLC endorsers, and we're broadly voting for the CLC, particularly at the top of the ticket. But it's not universal. You may disagree with our choices. In a few cases, we disagreed with each other! In the end, this is what union democracy looks like.

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Chris Reed Teaches Us about Article 16 - Just Cause for Discipline

Chris Reed was IN STUDIO to give a training on Article 16. He's very knowledgeable, give good information that's approachable for carriers at all levels, and his deep voice will melt like butter in your ears. Also, Chris is running for Business Agent in Region 1.

Bill Kriebel and I "Chop It Up"

Bill Kriebel joined me for one last interview before ballots come out. I really believe in him as a candidate for Business Agent in Region 12. On this episode, we talk about his experiences while running for office, and the emotional and physical toll it's taken.

David Grosskopf Talks about His AMAZING Resume for NALC Trustee

I talked with David about a phenomenal graphic he put out, detailing his qualifications and his accomplishments at Branch 3 in Buffalo. It's ludicrous, and I had to talk to him about it. Our conversation dives into his plans as trustee, and we highlight some of the parts of his resume I find most interesting.

Elliot Simmons Discusses What It's Like Being a Candidate for National Office

Elliot Simmons, Candidate for Region 7 National Business Agent, dropped in on Zoom to talk to Michael and me about what it's actually like to run for office. You can donate to Elliot's campaign via the usual payment apps at ElliotSimmonsBranch957@gmail.com

Sam Adams and Greg Donaldson Talk about Being Presidents of Small Branches

What's it like when a reformer becomes branch president? What are the new considerations? What sort of pushback do they get from inside and outside their branch? How do they get their members to buy in, and contribute to the cause? Sam and Greg give excellent answers to these questions and more.

Joanie Weber Unveils MailCarrierHub.org - Training for Carriers

Joanie and I have a spirited conversation about her new website, training in general, and a bunch of other stuff. I've wanted to have her on Classes of Mail for ages, and she was a fantastic guest.

Rich Vala Discusses Why Management Continues to Violate the Contract, and Why Branches Violate their Members

Rich Vala is a lifelong friend who also served as my campaign manager in my branch elections. He has good insights here, and provides an outside perspective on what we have to deal with inside the NALC.

Michael Brasaemle Weighs in on Corey's Politics, Politics in General, and the Table 2 Wage Gap

As described in the title. We also get an update on Michael's shoulder.

Chris Reed - Candidate for Business Agent in Region One

Chris Reed talks about why he's running for office, and what his plans are for Region One. This episode was recorded during the 2026 NALC National Convention.

Eric Ellis Talks Politics, Corey Walton, and Josh Hawley

Eric Ellis comes on to bring some much needed nuance to our political discussions. We discuss the recent muckraking of Corey Walton, bringing up political posts from 10 years ago. I get Eric's take on what it means for Corey's run for Executive Vice President. We also talk about letter carriers' political divides more broadly, and the union's need to reach politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle. We finish with a discussion about Josh Hawley, who has taken a significant interest in the Post Office lately. Is he a friend to the letter carrier?

John Murphy and Joshua Towne Discuss What's Next for the Stand-Up Slate

John and Joshua talk about how they put their campaign together, and the fruit it bore. They discuss the importance of participatory democracy in our union.

Elliot Simmons - Candidate for Business Agent Region 7 (and Host of "On the Workroom Floor")

Elliot is running for Business Agent in Region 7, which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We go over his platform, the current problems he sees in his region, and how he plans to address them.

Chris Strickland - Candidate for Business Agent in Region 8

Chris Strickland is running for NBA in Region 8. You may remember his as one of the Regional Administrative Assistants (RAA) who was fired when he announced he was running for office. In this interview, we go over Chris's platform, and discuss his values and his vision.

Final Recap of the Convention

Hear our final thoughts, as well as a recap of what went down on the last day. Plus, two SHOCKING bits of praise from Michael and me.

Corey Walton - CLC Candidate for NALC Vice President

Corey Walton joined Michael and me for a discussion about the convention, his candidacy, and (thanks to Michael Brasaemle's courage) Michael Rivera. You should listen to this episode, if for no other reason, to hear Corey's voice in full, high-quality audio.

Day Four of the NALC Convention with the Amazing Melissa Rakestraw

We recap another day of victories for the reform movement, but more importantly, we get to hear the insights and wisdom of Melissa Rakestraw, a branch president from Illinois who I believe is on the right side of every single issue.

Day Three of the Convention with Tom Cser and Michael Still

I LOVED having these guys in Hotel Room Studio. We go in depth into the controversy surrounding the wacky way we vote on resolutions at the convention, and how it interacts with Robert's Rules.