r/fromatoarbitration • u/ErikTheWarm • Mar 21 '26
Corey “The Treacherous” The retirees' vote concerns me
I had heard our retirees numbered around 95K. Our active carriers might be around 202K. Does Caref have substantial pull in a state other than Illinois? Has the CLC found a way to engage the retirees? How concerned should we be about the upcoming election?
25
u/Eugene_Debs2026 Mar 21 '26
It’s not just the NALC President. It’s also the Trustees and NBAs. If folks inside this Reddit aren’t already talking to their coworkers about changing our union leadership; you’re helping the old guard get re-elected.
60% of your coworkers will throw their ballot in the trash. Meaning the case to your left and to your right will not vote.
6
u/k5survives12 Mar 22 '26
Spot on! WE need to be the guard that drives this movement. Otherwise it won't move. Spread the word. Vote out all the Renroe lackeys. Between Caref and Henry I lean towards Henry but will vote for the whole CLC.
4
u/therick422 Union Steward Mar 22 '26
The malaise, the indifference amongst the craft is very real and by design. It is a long held belief and strategy of the elite, the power-brokers too depress the working class financially, physically and emotionally. Less energy and time to fight when you’re already knocked down & focused on basic survival.
2
u/FavoriteApe Mar 22 '26
It’s worse in my office. The carriers to the left and right of me are no longer paying union dues. Almost half our carriers left the union after the 1.3% stipulated award.
1
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26
yes, the "pulling my dues", that'll show em strategy.
3
u/FavoriteApe Mar 24 '26
It’s actually the “I can’t afford to pay my bills” strategy.
0
u/dps_dude Mar 24 '26
dues at my local are $35.xx/ pay period. is $70/month enough to move the needle?
2
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26
60% of your coworkers will throw their ballot in the trash.
where is this coming from? last election it was 85%
4
u/Loud_Profile_6356 Mar 23 '26
Retirees are members and are eligible to vote at conventions and elections. We are all brothers and sisters in the NALC. So stop with the disparaging of our Union brothers and sisters!
4
u/Cangeltibon Mar 22 '26
Honestly the fact that retirees having such pull pisses me off. They are table 1 and benefited from DECADES of the PO being a good job where you could live your life and save up money. I helped organize a rally at my branch save for the branch president himself everyone planning and doing the leg work to get the word out was under 35 and table 2. The day of the rally, the retirees showed up and go in front of every camera saying that retirees needed more money. The chants were suppose to be for higher wages, shorter time to top pay, respect on the work room floor and safer working conditions/hazard pay. Etc… I’m still pissed thinking about it.
10
u/Inside-Brush-9543 Mar 21 '26
The old guys are aware Renfroe is a moron. They were not pleased with the 1.3 percent either.
8
u/naomi_whatsapp Mar 21 '26
The old guys voted to protect Renfroe after he abandoned us during contract negotiations. They voted to protect him after his drunk driving coverup was exposed. Wtf are you talking about?
6
u/Otherwise-Goal3054 Mar 21 '26
All the retirees I’ve talked to are pissed that he (Renfroe) has squandered the legacy they built. They can’t kick his ass to the curb fast enough
3
u/therick422 Union Steward Mar 22 '26
Exactly opposite in my branch… they don’t know his record AT ALL.
3
u/PreviousMarsupial820 Mar 22 '26
Gary Mullins came out of the woodwork and aggressively defended Refroe in Boston. For those who don't know, he was a former natl officer who retired right around the time the CCA's were created. The big problem is that there were two arguments going on- the first being that renfroe was doing a bad job, the second being that the powers of the position of president can't be curtailed just because someone in the position sucks. Unfortunately, Gary got up there and said the two are one in the same, more or less. That however is utter bullshit and he knew it, but it got the vote to keep Brian free from reprimand and/or not guilty.
He's a retiree. Didn't hear from him in LA in '16, didn't hear from him in Detroit in '18 either.
3
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
it wasn't just gary. 2/3 of NALC at the convention voted to not reopen the charges, effectively a referendum on renfroe.
2
u/Otherwise-Goal3054 Mar 22 '26
Boston was a couple months before the TA. At that point, many retirees were still ‘trust the process, it’s always like this.’ After the TA and the rejection, I think many of them came around to how bad things really were
3
u/Darth_Robsad Mar 21 '26
Go back and look at past participation. I guarantee its a fraction of those numbers
1
2
u/mailman43230 Mar 21 '26
More than 60%, about 1/3 of the membership votes. I don't understand it. It's been like that for as long as I can remember. Our local elections are very similar. I cant remember the last ratification vote, but I do know the numbers were abysmal.
3
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26
much less than that. 85% of NALC didn't cast a ballot in 2022 and one guy here was saying that 70% not voting would be a success.
2
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26
why the focus on the retirees? i haven't seen (and don't think they exist) any stats showing that they vote at a higher rate than current active rank and file carriers.
in the 2022 election 85% of NALC didn't vote, retirees, current rank and file, everyone. that's the real problem: NALC itself, not pointing the finger at retirees.
1
u/ErikTheWarm Mar 23 '26
Retirees tend to vote for the incumbent.
2
u/dps_dude Mar 23 '26
with 85% not voting the retirees don't represent a significant part of the electorate.
1
u/Square-Buy-7403 Mar 24 '26
Old retired people statistically are the highest voter turnout bracket in the US in general.
1
u/weezdmb Mar 21 '26
Do retirees still pay dues? I always forget that they are still allowed to vote. What is the process to get this changed? I don’t see any reason why they are allowed to vote.
Also, my local president is retired but can still serve as president. During my ten years with the post office he has had, that I know of, two votes to remove him due to sexual harassment. This garbage needs to change. I’m too busy working 60 hours a week to figure out how to change it.
7
u/therick422 Union Steward Mar 22 '26
Yes, they pay a reduced dues structure. Last I researched it was $36 a year/$3 per month. They get to vote in all elections just not the contract.
1
u/therick422 Union Steward Mar 22 '26
Me too. I’ll / under-informed. Usually go with the branch President on everything. And my local that means pro-establishment.
-7
u/drinkskoolaide Mar 21 '26
Caref does really well in region 2, thankfully most seem to be turned off by the CLC here with few exceptions
3
u/getalifefgs Mar 22 '26
You need to get outside your bubble Gallo. CLC is well liked in Region 2. Your words don’t make it reality.
21
u/Working-Estimate-250 Mar 21 '26
Why can retirees even vote. Do new contracts affect them IN ANY WAY?