Claim OwnershipFedUp with Ron Speakman
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© Ron Speakman
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A podcast for federal employees who are FedUp with non compliance and an unjust system, and who are FedUp with being constantly mistreated, misinformed, and or misrepresented. Hosted by a retired federal employee himself, who has been through it all, and who has helped many federal employees across this country, this podcast will talk about a wide range of common issues all federal employees continually face, in addition to giving federal employees a platform for their voices to be heard, and to share their stories and issues. Knowledge is power, and FedUp believes that all our stories need to be heard by all.
31 Episodes
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1In today’s episode, we have a conversation regarding OPM Federal Disability Retirement with Erik Blowers (owner and managing attorney) and Rachel Klink (associate attorney) of IFW Law Group, a national law firm committed to providing the highest quality legal services for injured federal employees across the United States. With offices in both Charlotte, NC and Boston, MA, IFW Law Group is a solid, proven practice with the experience, talent, professionalism, and confidence needed to provide quality representation that us federal employees deserve. Whether it be an OWCP compensation issue or assistance with a schedule award, third party liability claims, or OPM federal disability retirement, this law firm has you covered.
* To learn more about IFW Law Group, please visit their website or give them a call at:
Website: https://ifwlawgroup.com/ Phone: 704-607-8870
In today’s episode, City Letter Carrier and NALC activist, Tyler Vasseur, gives us an update regarding the “Build a Fighting NALC” movement (which revolves around open bargaining resolutions) including how much it has grown, and how many branches across the country are getting involved since our interview last month. We also have a thought-provoking conversation about a topic that is bound to make people fired up, but is one that needs to be talked about nonetheless. Hear this and more in this constructive discussion, tying in with the movement focusing around open communication and transparency, as well as better and safer working conditions and better wages.
* To join the fight, obtain more info, or attend future Zoom meetings, please send an email to Tyler Vasseur at:
tylervasseur@gmail.com
Our guest today is a City Letter Carrier and active member of the NALC who is starting a movement revolving around open bargaining resolutions, open communication, transparency, and accountability with regards to our leadership within the NALC. Their main objective is to organize the membership and build a much stronger NALC, and one that will fight for better working conditions, better wages, and better representation. Hear my guest and I talk about this and more, including their monthly Zoom meetings that address these open bargaining resolutions being presented, discussed, and passed from different local branches all over this country.
* To join the fight, obtain more info, or attend future Zoom meetings, please send an email to Tyler Vasseur at:
tylervasseur@gmail.com
My guest today, Dr. Robert Kustin, is the CEO of Fed-Hurt, which treats the injuries of all Federal Employees, and whose sole mission is to create the largest provider network to help and treat all federal employees, from hurt to help. In this important and informational episode, Dr. Kustin discusses his journey to helping injured federal employees, why he created Fed-Hurt, and what makes his company different from others out there, including how their strict compliance measures and training ensure that all offices are receiving the same up-to-date and accurate information. He shares how his offices work with the federal employee and help guide them through the claims process as well as how to vet other OWCP providers and the importance of doing so. Don’t miss this exclusive interview with a doctor who truly cares about getting us the help we need and deserve!
* To learn more about Fed-Hurt, please visit their website or give them a call at:
Website: https://4fedhurt.com/ (Toll Free) Phone: (833) 433-3487 (Direct) Phone: (954) 430-8000
In this short, but necessary episode, I talk about what I consider to be an obstacle for all of us, that being the federal employee (ourselves), and I give a simple three-step process we can use to overcome that obstacle. We are all in this fight together, and we need to continue to not only support one another, but also light a fire under each other’s asses from time to time. So consider this your obstacle course to prepare you for future engagement with the opposition. And I want to be clear that I mean no disrespect with this episode, and I feel for those out there who may be scared to speak up. But tough love with active listening and discipline creates accountability and a more unified front line. Knowledge is power, so let’s start educating ourselves more today to better prepare for future encounters with anyone who is mistreating us in the toxic and hostile environments we all face.
In this informational episode, we talk about our rights under OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) from code of federal regulations and the OSHA 300 log, to the OSHA fact sheet regarding whistleblower complaints under section 11(c) and even some of the ELM, (Employee & Labor Relations Manual), which applies to all postal employees, and how all this can be used to fight back against management when they retaliate against us for reporting our on the job work injuries and/or any safety issues or hazards. Remember, knowledge is power. And this episode will definitely give you the knowledge to stand up and advocate for yourself, and more importantly, give you an opportunity to gain accountability for management's willful misconduct and unethical, and even at times, illegal behavior.
Our guest today is a 19-year-veteran City Letter Carrier and an NALC union dues paying member, and has held many positions within the NALC, from both a local branch and state level, and is currently an arbitration advocate. Hear our guest and I talk about the collusion and cronyism that takes place within our local branches, including the lack of transparency and communication, what to do when there is alleged election issues, how to deal with burnout in whatever positions one holds within the union, what effective branch leadership should detail, including my twelve key elements that all leadership should have, how important OWCP Arbitration is, and the importance of advocating for yourself. We also discuss a few arbitration cases that set precedent for all city letter carriers regarding management and 2499's (light duty) when you get injured on the job.
This City Letter Carrier has always been advocating and fighting for their brothers and sisters, and because management was intimidated by how strong and knowledgeable of a steward they were, management messed with their pay, tried to put them on emergency placement, and even tried to casually assist during an election for stewards by having a stand up talk to try and urge others to run for the position. We will also delve into how they were told by their local union president that they filed too many grievances, discuss their work injuries (which includes a rare diagnosis), address OWCP stress claims, and talk about how they were mistreated much more from management, and even coworkers when they got injured on the job (something that occurs far too often), and how all this mistreatment affected them, both inside and outside of work.
Our guest today, who's a Rural Carrier from the state of Tennessee, talks about the many issues that revolve around the Rural Route Evaluation Compensation System (RRECS for short) such as route coverage percentage, CBU (cluster box units) issues, mapping issues, unscannable parcels versus door miscellaneous issues, and even the unrealistic and unattainable standards, along with the inconsistencies from office to office in regards to RRECS. We will even be talking about the lack of transparency and communication from the USPS and management and the union in regards to RRECS, including the response from the NRLCA's president addressing its members being upset about RRECS and their routes dropping.
Our guest today will share their story which details how management harassed and continuously mistreated them, and even retaliated / targeted them at some point, including facing pending termination. We will also be having a conversation regarding the Rural Route Evaluation Compensation System (RRECS for short) and how that is effecting rural carriers, and even discussing the high turnover rate within the USPS, as well as weighing the pros and cons to working in the Post Office.
In this episode we talk about mental illness and mental disorders stemming from having to work in a toxic and hostile work environment. We also address how we can file an OWCP stress claim regarding our mental illness and/or disorders, what's needed to do that, and other useful resources to combat the mistreatment from management and the toxic and hostile working conditions we deal with at any moment on any given day. It's time we realize that mental illness is real and can affect anyone at any time during our careers, and it's time we take a stand and hold those who knowingly and willfully created our mental illness and/or disorders accountable for their actions.
* Please call the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Line at 988. They will be there with you in the moment, in your time of need, and could be that shinning light in your darkest moment. And it's free. Again, please call 988 if you need someone to talk with. You are not alone, never forget that.
Our special guest today is Corey Walton, a City Letter Carrier who is well-known for his podcast and for helping the NALC members. We will be getting both personal and educational in this interview, and not only will you learn something you didn’t know about Corey, but you will hear him talk about some issues that a lot of us go through, including how to combat these issues. Plus I close out the show with an important message that any union leader, union organization, and our fellow brothers and sisters need to hear and be reminded of.
Picking back up where we left off with our guest from last week, Kenny and I talk passive aggressiveness and other issues regarding the USPS and management. We also get into some union talk as well, and talk about the consolidation of offices and the making of hubs across this country. If you enjoyed part one of this interview with Kenny, come finish it off and hear what Mr. Hodge has to say in this interview, as there is always something we can learn from this man.
Our guest today, who was in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army, has a very in-depth perspective regarding the USPS, as he started his career as a TE with the USPS, worked his way through to other crafts and unions (including management) and was involved with and/or learned the contracts of the NALC, APWU, NPMHU, NAPS, and NAPAS, before retiring after 38 years of service within the federal government. The knowledge and experiences this guest has is very unique. Our guest and I really get into a lot of hot topics and issues regarding the USPS, and our unions, and even share knowledge and information that can be used by us all within the USPS. This is by far, one of the most unscripted, uncensored, and off the cuff interviews to date here on FedUp, so turn up the volume, hit the play button, and enjoy this first of a two-part series interview with the man himself, Mr. Kenny Hodge.
Once again, USPS Employees are being censored and told what NOT to do. You are being threatened with termination, and being retaliated against for speaking on the poor working conditions and mistreatment on social media, and even for speaking on my podcast. This special episode goes over the 2023 USPS social media policy.
Picking back up where we left off last week with our guest, part 2 of their interview will talk more of the good, the bad, and the ugly with her union representation from the NRLCA and with management. We also touch more on taboo topics (addiction and management's role in that), veterans running the show, and social media do's and dont's, including the USPS social media policy / rules to be mindful of.
In this episode, we talk to a veteran rural carrier about RRECS, LLV's, her on-the-job work injuries, mistreatment by management (including targeting, retaliation, and even wrongful termination), and privacy act violations, all of which revolve around a toxic work culture that most, if not all, USPS employees deal with. We even talk about the negative slogan that accompanies the USPS ("Going Postal") which while often a taboo topic, is still something we all should recognize as a problem.
My guest today was in management, and was one of those rare legendary unicorns that we hear about within management in the USPS. Hear them talk about the mistreatment they endured (bullying, harassment, and constant targeting and retaliation) by their own peers (other management) which ultimately led to anxiety, depression, PTSD, and even OPM federal disability retirement. We will also discuss the language and what is needed, and how our guest got their claim and accepted conditions approved with the DOL/OWCP with regards to those mental illnesses/diagnoses. Hear how they overcame the same mistreatment that we all deal with on a regular basis. There truly isn’t any line that USPS management will not cross.
In this episode, we continue where we left off last week with part 2 of this interview with Adric Montano, a rural carrier from Tennessee, where he continues with his story, and talks more on the mistreatment from management, and the USPS, especially HR, and the lack of representation from his union, the NRLCA, and even discusses the resources he reached out to, which included the USPS Board of Governors, Congress, the Senate, and even the White House throughout this constant roller coaster of willful misconduct from just about everyone involved.
This Rural Carrier has been through it all, yet refuses to give up! Hear them talk about the mistreatment from management, including them putting him into an unsafe working condition that ultimately led to their traumatic work injury, the lack of management's education regarding paper work when an injury is reported, the deliberate misconduct of the USPS, including from HR, threats of termination, in addition to having no representation from their union. We also talk about third party injuries, the Rural Injury Handbook, and the Employee Labor Relations Manual.
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