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