Fight Like Hell!

November 2025 Postal Record

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

Veterans Day 2025

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

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

October 2025 Postal Record

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

Emergency Response Team

NALC's Emergency Response Team (ERT) deploys specially-trained letter carriers to assist other members following traumatic events. Director of Safety and Health Manny Peralta joins the podcast to discuss the ERT. Then, we hear from four branch presidents who have used the ERT to help their members: Sandy Laemmel, President, Detroit, MI Branch 1; Monique Mate, President, Rochester, NY Branch 210; Corey Grotte, President, Eau Claire, WI Branch 728; Ted Lee, President, Pittsburgh, PA Branch 84. PLEASE NOTE: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including suicide. Please listen with care. If you're struggling, help is available by calling 988. 00:22:16 - Director of Safety and Health Manny Peralta 00:53:35 - Branch president roundtable discusses ERT

Interpretive Dispute–S&DCs, Protect Our Letter Carriers Act and a roundtable with Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee Newer Members

This week's episode discusses a national-level interpretive dispute recently filed by NALC regarding S&DCs (Sorting & Delivery Centers), followed by a look at the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act. Then, we hear from four members of the Branch Leaders group: Kelsey Crosbie, Columbus, OH Branch 78; Linda Johnson, Duluth, MN Branch 114; Veronica Ramirez, Arlington Heights, IL Branch 2810; and Vincent Smith, Worcester, MA Branch 12.
This episode is also available to watch on YouTube.
Hear more from Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee members here.
Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email social@nalc.org. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!
 
00:06:51 - What is an S&DC?
00:15:15 - Route adjustments and evaluations
00:16:38  - What is an MOU?
00:18:43 - TIAREAP expiration and M-02006/02007
00:21:27 - Route adjustment process
00:24:12 - The interpretive dispute
00:27:52 - Protect Our Letter Carriers Act
00:44:47 - Q&A
00:52:10 - Roundtable with Newer Member Rank-and-File committee members

Interpretive Step + a roundtable with Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee Contract Enforcers

This week dives into two national-level interpretive disputes recently filed by NALC. Then, we hear from four members of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee Contract Enforcers group: Yvette Kinard, New York, NY Branch 36; Juan Munoz, Corpus Christi, TX Branch 1259; Eric Porter, Sheboygan, WI Branch 102; Michael Ridgely, Silver Spring, MD Branch 2611
00:06:40 - Interpretive Step
00:15:40 - Article 15
00:19:31 - Two recent national-level interpretive disputes
00:53:26 - Roundtable with members of the Contract Enforcers Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee
01:31:14 - Ask the Mailbag

Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees + a roundtable with Branch Leader committee members

Special Assistant to the President Doug Lape joins the podcast to go in-depth on the structure and goals of the Rank-And-File Bargaining Committees. Then, we hear from four members of the Branch Leaders group: Valerie Castillo, Salem, OR Branch 347; James Collins, Knoxville, TN Branch 419; Elise Foster, Chicago, IL Branch 11; Leigh Smith, Decatur, GA Branch 2225
Watch the full episode here.
Hear more from Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee members here.
Have questions you'd like answered on the podcast? Email social@nalc.org. Keep up with NALC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads!
 
00:09:22 - Interview with Special Assistant to the President Doug Lape
00:13:21 - Developing the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees
00:18:18 - How were committee members selected?
00:23:30 - Goals
00:27:18 - Reports and meeting minutes
00:33:00 - What info and materials did the committees review?
00:35:30 - Structure and schedule / Economic proposals
00:45:00 - What's next?
00:47:10 - Feedback
00:49:40 - Roundtable with members of the Branch Leaders Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee

New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program

This episode breaks down the New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program (NEERMP)—from its origins to the positive changes it’s brought, to what new carriers can expect as they settle into the job. Watch here.
Check out M-02010, a jointly-developed document released by NALC and the Postal Service to answer commonly asked questions about NEERMP: nalc.org/m02010 Review the MOU on page 258 of the National Agreement: nalc.org/contract
00:09:36 – New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program 01:04:30 – Ask the Mailbag

A deep dive into Article 8

In this week's episode of Fight Like Hell, we deep dive into Article 8. Then, we review some scenarios and decide: Is it a gripe? Or is it a grievance? Watch the episode here. 
Click here for the special edition of The Activist. 
00:00:00 – Intro00:06:47 – Deep dive into Article 801:03:05 – LMOU impasse update01:06:23 – Gripe or Grievance