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00:00 Introduction 00:16 President's message: Collective bargaining begins 06:27 News from Washington 12:00 Letter carriers call for fair contract as formal negotiations begin 31:42 Still time to register for the food drive 44:16 Emergency Response Team (ERT) 58:16 NALC introduces Informal Step A Training 01:15:34 How to request overtime or auxiliary assistance and complete a PS Form 3996 01:25:21 Mother Jones 01:30:28 Strike anniversary  01:36:53 Proud to Serve  01:46:54 Online News 01:54:40 Veterans Group 02:01:00 Officer and Staff columns  02:01:05 Executive Vice President Paul Barner. Several new cases pending at the interpretive step 02:09:18 Vice President James D. Henry: Good, better, best 02:14:38 Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Rhine: IRS, Labor Department reporting and other important reminders 02:21:34 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Mack I. Julion: Our fight 02:26:54 Director of City Delivery Christopher Jackson: Mercedes-Benz eSprinter pilot test 02:32:12 Director of Safety and Health Manuel L. Peralta Jr.: What happens when you report a hazard 02:38:27 Director of Retired Members Dan Toth: OPM’s Online Retirement Application 02:43:55 Director of Life Insurance James W. “Jim” Yates. Retirement Savings Plan settlement options 02:48:51 Director, Health Benefits Stephanie Stewart: 2026 prescription benefits. 02:54:34 Contract Talk: Route adjustments after a route inspection 03:07:52 Staff Reports: The Winter 2026 NALC Activist 03:14:12 MDA Report: Get your action plan ready

Listen to the February 2026 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here.   00:00 Introduction 00:15 President's message, by Pres. Brian L. Renfroe 05:34 News from Washington: Looking for bipartisan support for priority legislation 15:01 Second group of Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees convenes 22:48 CCA relative standing and conversion to career 32:39 Honoring heroic carriers 40:49 All fun and games at the Gator Bowl 46:08 Positive news items about letter carriers and the mail 52:03 The Veterans Group Column: Veteran Profile – Beverly Melching 55:16 NALC only succeeds when you're part of the fight

Listen to the January 2026 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here. 00:00 Introduction 00:14 Looking back and looking forward, by President Brian L. Renfroe 05:03 News from Washington 12:05 2025 JCAM is now available 18:58 Register now for the food drive 25:14 Informal Step A Training announced 30:25 After a year of standing strong NALC is ready to fight on. 2026: A look ahead 50:07 Leadership Academy founder asks grads to serve other letter carriers back home 58:26 Important benefits new letter carriers should expect to receive from USPS 01:11:22 Caretakers of the community 01:39:04 George Meany, first president of the AFL-CIO 01:44:30 NALC Branch Publication competition call for entries 01:50:07 Carriers and the mail make news online 01:56:31 From airwaves to the page: A creative journey and tribute to lifelong friends 02:04:00 Veterans’ legislative update 02:16:56 Executive Vice President Paul Barner: An update to cases pending at the Interpretive step 02:27:38 Vice President James Henry: NALC Needs you 02:32:57 Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Rhine: Reporting to the DOL: Forms LM-2, LM-3 and LM-4 02:38:57 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Mack Julion: Postal protection 02:44:33 Director of City Delivery Christopher Jackson: USPS pilot testing and additional revenue streams 02:49:48 Director of Safety and Health Manuel Peralta Jr.: Safety committees 02:56:45 Director of Retired Members Dan Toth: Roth TSP—Another tool to manage your taxes 03:02:49 Director of Life Insurance James Yates: MBA Retirement Savings Plan 2026 update 03:08:32 Director of Health Benefits Stephanie Stewart: New benefits and wellness programs 03:14:40 Contract Talk: Route inspections 03:36:41 Regional Workers’ Compensation Assistant Coby Jones: Preexisting conditions 03:43:18 Staff report - CLUW: "Women of the World Unite’

Happy Holidays from NALC! In this week's episode, learn more about New York, NY Branch 36's Better Angels of Our Human Nature toy drive. Hear from Branch 36 members Ernie Twomley and Tayry Vega about the program's history and where it is today.  Links: https://www.nalc.org/jcam https://betterangelsforkids.org/ 00:01:55 Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) 00:03:56 Leave year 00:05:46 Christmas holiday 00:07:27 New Year's holiday 00:08:08 Article 11 00:11:39 Holiday leave credit 00:15:01 LMOU cases 00:17:16 What's ahead in 2026 00:23:42 Better Angels of Our Human Nature

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Ron Osborne, Assistant to the President for Administrative Affairs, to continue our discussion on route adjustments. Tune in for a comprehensive overview of the process so you’ll know what to expect and how to prepare. Plus, don’t miss updates on the newly released December 2025 JCAM, Shut Down Hunger, Advocate Continuing Education (ACE) training, and more. Watch full episodes of the Fight Like Hell Podcast at nalc.org/podcast More info about route adjustments can be found here: https://www.nalc.org/workplace-issues/city-delivery/route-adjustments ICYMI - Highlights from the 2025 national rap session are now available at nalc.org/2025rap. Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected].

The latest episode of the Fight Like Hell podcast includes an important reminder to check out the NALC Health Benefit Plan before Open Season ends on Monday! Then, stick around for our discussion with Assistant to the President for Administrative Affairs Ron Osborne about route adjustments—what they are, how to prepare, and more. The 2024 Convention presentation on Route Adjustments is available in the Members Only portal under "2024 National Convention." Click here to log in. More info about route adjustments can be found here. ICYMI - Highlights from the 2025 national rap session are now available at nalc.org/2025rap. Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]. Go to nalc.org/podcasts to watch this episode and more from the Fight Like Hell podcast. 00:00:39 - Route inspection intro 00:02:16 - Executive Council and collective bargaining subcommittees prepare for post-rap session meeting 00:04:45 - Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) representation 00:09:50 - Open Season ends on Monday, 12/8! Go to nalchbp.org to check out the NALC Health Benefit Plan 00:12:30 - Introducing Ron Osborne 00:15:17 - Route adjustments discussion  

NALC's Emergency Response Team (ERT) deploys specially trained letter carriers to assist other members following traumatic events. In this episode, hear directly from four of our ERT members: Brooke Bollom, Bismarck, ND Branch 957; Rei Santiago, Elizabeth, NJ Branch 67; John Collins, Zanesville, OH Branch 63; Wayne Green, Winston-Salem, NC Branch 461 Links: https://fsafeds.gov/ https://nalchbp.org/  00:01:00 - Peak season 00:04:00 - National Rap Session recap 00:06:30 - Open Season 00:09:22 - Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 00:13:58 - Roundtable with ERT members

The 2025 National Rap Session provided a valuable opportunity for leaders from across the country to exchange ideas, discuss critical issues facing letter carriers, and take part in an important part of our union’s ongoing collective bargaining preparation. On this Special Edition National Rap Session episode, we hear from several more Branch Presidents about their experience and participation in this year’s Rap Session. Thank you to Amy Lee-Cole, East St. Louis, IL Branch 319; Kelli Robles, Centennial Branch 5996, Aurora, CO; Troy Vaughn, Oriole Branch 176; and Chuck Walls, Omaha, NE Branch 5 for joining us on the pod! ICYMI - Check out Saturday’s Special Edition episode from Day 1 in Cleveland, OH and other highlights from Cleveland, OH: nalc.org/2025rap Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]. Full video episodes of the Fight Like Hell podcast are available to watch at nalc.org/podcast. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!

This week’s Thanksgiving episode highlights how letter carriers give back to their communities. President of Flushing, NY Branch 294 Phil Kahn and letter carrier Andy Fontanetta join the pod to discuss the history and success of their branch’s blood drive and offer tips for any branch interested in holding a similar event. 00:01:55 - Peak season 00:06:08 - Overtime exclusion period 00:08:35 - Open Season and the NALC Health Benefit Plan 00:12:30 - Postal Service Fiscal Year 2025 financial results 00:20:29 - National Rap Session 00:25:03 - Phil Kahn and Andy Fontantetta on Branch 294's blood drives  

Tonight we're delivering a special episode of the Fight Like Hell podcast—direct from the 2025 National Rap Session in Cleveland, OH! Hear from Rich McLehose, Long Island Merged Branch 6000; Jenilee Jackson, Fort Collins, CO Branch 849; and Jose Romero, Albuquerque, NM Branch 504 as we review some highlights from today's workshops featuring collective-bargaining subcommittees. Watch the full episode at nalc.org/podcast. Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!

There’s a lot to consider when planning for retirement, and the best time to start preparing is right now! This week, we’re joined by Director of Retired Members Dan Toth to break down the ins and outs of navigating retirement preparation at any stage of your letter carrier career. Watch now or tune in wherever you get your podcasts: nalc.org/podcast 00:01:24 Region 2 Rap Session 00:02:54 Cincinnati Branch 43 Veterans Day & Retirees Breakfast 00:04:34 Executive Council and bargaining subcommittees prepare for the 2025 National Rap Session 00:05:50 Interpretive disputes update 00:07:16 Memorial for former Manchester, NH Branch 44 President Yankee 00:09:08 Open Season 00:11:28 Ask the Mailbag: Penalty overtime exclusion period 00:14:50 Retirement basics with Director of Retired Members Dan Toth

Listen to the November 2025 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here.

This week, we’re proud to feature NALC members who have served in our nation’s military or are currently on active duty in honor of Veterans Day! Tune in to hear overviews of essential topics and resources for our fellow veteran letter carriers. Our sincere thanks go out to our special guests and to all our veteran members for their service to our nation. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts! Info about NALC Veterans Group and the Veterans Group Guide are both available at nalc.org/veterans. 00:00:50 – Committee of Presidents 00:03:56 — NALC Health Benefit Plan Seminar and Open Season 00:09:17 — Bargaining Subcommittee Updates 00:10:50 — 2025 National Rap Session 00:13:50 — "Shut Down Hunger" Food Drive 00:20:20 — Introduction to Veterans Day Episode 00:25:01 — Nora Stamper | Seattle, WA Branch 79 | Marines | Veterans’ Preference—Discipline Process and the Merit Systems Protection Board 00:39:12 — Troy Saunders | Baltimore, MD Branch 176 | Marines | Buying Back Your Military Time, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Website, the Buy Back Estimator, and Annual Leave Accrual 00:47:27 — Artegus Felder | Montgomery, AL Branch 106 | Army | The Hoover Executive Order 5396, MOU 00165, and Wounded Warrior Leave 00:55:56 — Carman Montgomery | Mobile, AL Branch 469 | Active Duty Air Force | Military Leave and Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) 01:07:02 — Charles Bundy | Chicago, IL Branch 11 | Navy | ID.me Virtual ID, Veteran License, State and County Benefits, DMV Plates and Stickers, and the NALC Veterans Group 01:14:04 — Shane Davis | Jonesboro, AR Branch 1138 | Navy | On-the-Job Injuries—OWCP/DVA Dual Coverage, Veterans and Mental Health 01:27:53 — (In English and Spanish) Christopher Cotto-Sanchez | San Juan, PR Branch 869 | Army | DD 214 Requests and the Veterans Affairs App

NALC Health Benefit Plan Director Stephanie Stewart joins the podcast to discuss the Plan, Open Season, and what's new in 2026. Reminder: Open Season dates are Nov. 10 - Dec. 8. Questions about the Plan? Visit nalchbp.org, call 888-636-NALC (6252), or contact your branch's health benefit representative.  00:15:00 - Interview with NALC Health Benefit Plan Director Stephanie Stewart 00:17:19 - History of the Plan 00:20:00 - What is Open Season? 00:23:00 - Current structure of the Plan 00:27:07 - Decision to for the Plan to only serve postal employees 00:33:00 - Plan's provider network 00:36:50 - Plan's prescription drug coverage 00:39:18 - Plan's 2026 premiums 00:43:24 - What's new in 2026? 00:48:44 - Current health and wellness programs 00:55:00 - Plan's customer service and extended phone hours 01:00:00 - Branch health benefit representatives

Listen to the October 2025 edition of The Postal Record. Browse the digital issue here.