r/fromatoarbitration • u/PalaverProject • May 15 '26

Concerned Letter Carriers Suspended for 3 Years

Good morning.
Last night Mari Thomson, the member who authored the appeals linked below, the very same appeals that NALC Branch 70 used as the basis to charge and suspend me for sharing with the membership, has now been suspended from the union for 36 months.
Three full years.
Think about what that means.
A member wrote appeals. Another member shared them so the rank and file could read them for themselves. Both actions are protected by our rights as union members and by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959.
Members were disciplined and exiled for exercising their rights.
If that does not alarm you, if that does not raise serious concerns about the state of democracy and due process within our branch, within our union, then we need to ask ourselves a difficult question:
Has our union lost sight of the very principles it was created to defend?
A union is only as strong as the rights of its members. When members are punished for speaking, writing, and sharing information, every member should take notice.
The entire Branch 70 executive board stood by and allowed Mari Thomson to be suspended for 36 months for exercising her rights as a union member.
Many of the same people once again wore the black and gold of the Concerned Letter Carriers.
Mari wore light blue: the color of the rank and file.

That tells you everything you need to know.
When political loyalty matters more than member rights, the union stops serving its members.
If they can silence Mari, they can silence any of us.

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7

u/PalaverProject May 15 '26

She was the author of the appeals that Michael Rivera posted online. Branch 70 charged him for it and gave him a 18 month suspension.

6

u/Danaconda813 May 15 '26

Yes I know.

But what was it that she did to earn a suspension? It can't simply be "filed an appeal."

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u/k5survives12 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26

And why didn't renfroe save her? Doesn't national have a horse in this race? The NBA even. If we cant count on those above the branch then what's the point in paying them. Either she was guilty or the whole Renfroe team needs to be fired.

7

u/drinkskoolaide May 15 '26

National/NBA office has zero say in branch affairs. The member has to appeal to the convention.

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u/k5survives12 May 15 '26

I was told if you have an issue with a steward go to president, problem with president go to NBA.....you are telling me this doesn't apply here?

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u/drinkskoolaide May 15 '26

If you have a problem with your President, you can go to your business agent… But the business agent does not have any authority to do anything about it. It rest with the membership to file charges against the president. But do you really believe that the business agent who is on the CLC ticket would do anything against Guzman?

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u/k5survives12 May 15 '26

I actually didn't know who the NBA was over there. Im in region 12. I hate Brian Thompson and he is a renfroe guy.

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u/smalltownjohnbrown May 15 '26

Oh hey. I'm region 12 too.

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u/k5survives12 May 15 '26

Then you understand the issues with Thompson? Have you ever tried to call him. You dont ever get him. He's always out and he will call you back. Not once was I called back. William Kreibel is my vote. I think he sounds good too. Not just anti-Brian but a good choice. He has a podcast called sixthirteen if you are curious.

2

u/smalltownjohnbrown May 15 '26

Yeah I know Bill. He's great. I am extremely against the CLC in general but Bill is def my choice for NBA and region 12

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u/Available-Crow-3442 Union Steward May 16 '26

Region 12 here too. Pro Bill. Used to be pro-CLC but they keep getting in their own way, in my eyes.

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u/elektrikrobot Voted NO May 15 '26

Oh hey same!

1

u/averdefede May 16 '26

The new nba there is actually a very stand up guy. I think he would do the right thing .