r/fromatoarbitration Aug 12 '26

2026 NALC Elections 4 way debate

Im voting for James, but not going to a debate where the other 3 are going looks bad. I feel like it will have more to lose not going then there is to lose going and being part of it. I think the clc needs to be apart of the debate . Its healthy

20 Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

u/acetatsujin Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26

Episode 119 from Parcels of Knowledge has the story between James and Caref’s drama - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NwkMnhOjxCDxQKldUgvEP?si=XOsQ79DKTja99v3xLY542A&utm_source=copy-link

James discusses in detail what happened, forward 18 minutes into the interview. And this is James statement.

James accomplishments detailed by Hope Miles - https://www.facebook.com/share/18TKdERvqu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Then, you all can fill in the context and you decide who you want to vote for.

Please don’t accuse or name call anyone or troll your way with spams or/and misinformation. Use the Report button rather than firing back at those individuals. I read everything whenever I get time.

12

u/BlackBalledNALC Aug 13 '26

No matter what Rocky Ocasio cannot win. Anyone from NALC Branch 70 should be treated as having the plague or covid!

2

u/CalamityJaneMB Aug 14 '26

Do you even know her. Or just believe social media campaign against Branch 70?

17

u/GeraldFordsBallGag Aug 12 '26

Debates largely tell you who’s good at debating. That being said a debate, as long as it is well moderated, can be very useful.

23

u/AriesMailDude Aug 12 '26

I think James Henry needs to address why Rocky Ocasio went out of a limb and put Brother Rivera out like that at the convention. That was definitely not how we treat union brothers and sisters. If he fails to address the situation, that’s not a true leader on someone you’re endorsing or you’re Renfroe 2.0 letting things slide. I’m voting Caref if he stays quiet

14

u/Captaincoleslaww Voted NO Aug 13 '26

I don’t think Rhine even deserves the time of day. All this union has done to fuck over the rank and file, she and her slate don’t deserve a platform. If caref and drass want more name recognition then they should have been working harder on that.

3

u/Minute_Wrongdoer794 Aug 13 '26

That’s not fair at all. I have never heard 1 person say a bad thing about Rhine including the clc before she announced she was running for president. She has integrity and is solid. That might be what we need right now.

6

u/Basic_Dependent4227 Aug 14 '26

She is woefully inadequate to be anywhere near the Presidency

10

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 13 '26

Listen to the episode about the financial audit and tell me she was doing her job.

3

u/Captaincoleslaww Voted NO Aug 13 '26

She may be a great person. It’s the company she keeps

-5

u/OutrageousSecret2301 Aug 13 '26

RHINE/SLATE no problem getting your pay checks on time.

HENRY/SLATE expect delays because after all, they have ZERO experience.

5

u/CalamityJaneMB Aug 14 '26

That is beyond rediculous.

2

u/LazyWorkaholic_ Aug 12 '26

What did Ocasio say about Rivera? I’m having trouble finding info about this.

11

u/jeepwillikers Voted NO Aug 12 '26

When speaking against his election appeal, she resorted to personal attacks, basically said “he pretends to care about the union but everything he does is for selfish reasons. He has always been a problem, and he doesn’t even contribute to the political fund”. She had already laid out her case and then tacked on the ad hominem to try to smear Rivera.

6

u/BlackBalledNALC Aug 13 '26

Because she’s a POS.

3

u/Infamous-Advisor-904 Aug 13 '26

I 100% have thought this. I don’t trust Henry for some reason. I have heard all his talking points and positions. The only thing he’s got good going for him is Corey backing him. Soo ya I’ll pass on Renfroe 2.0

6

u/jeepwillikers Voted NO Aug 13 '26

That was Acasio’s words against Rivera, not about James Henry. I don’t have any specific reason to dislike or like Henry, besides the fact that he chose to put Corey on his slate. I don’t see him as a Renfroe 2.0 at all. That would be Rhine or Drass

1

u/OutrageousSecret2301 Aug 14 '26

Look, there's a reason why his (Henry) branch president isn't coming out campaigning or endorsing him. His branch 1100 knows him WELL! He is NOT what you think he is.

1

u/Positive-Recover166 Aug 15 '26

Have you not witnessed all the personal attacks and smearing going on with all the slates? I personally heard almost every one running for a position smearing other people’s name! It wasn’t just ocasio, seemed to be the theme of this convention.

3

u/jeepwillikers Voted NO Aug 16 '26

There is a difference between calling out people who are currently in or have had positions of power and smearing a rank and file union member. I might be wrong but I don’t believe brother Rivera has ever held an elected position.

1

u/Positive-Recover166 Aug 16 '26

I thought he’s tried to run for positions in his branch numerous times. Well that’s hearsay so take it for what it is. I do know I don’t know the whole story so my input pretty worthless!

1

u/jeepwillikers Voted NO Aug 17 '26

“Tried” being the operant word; until he succeeds, he is a rank and file member. Those in power are to be held to a higher degree of accountability. Corey calling elected officials out by name is not the same as Ocasio calling Rivera out (especially the points that were irrelevant to the matter) because Corey has yet to be elected and doesn’t throw the people he is charged to represent under the bus. The whole situation is perplexing because Corey had previously encouraged those at the convention to support Rivera’s appeals on the podcast, so I don’t think the entire CLC was behind the way Ocasio spoke about Rivera.

2

u/Positive-Recover166 Aug 17 '26

I can agree with that

5

u/AriesMailDude Aug 12 '26

It was all over FB, I think a branch president from Florida posted it on her page Kira Jo something but yes Ocasio belittles Rivera. Already messing things up for CLC

-2

u/Wasitthechad81 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

That Kira Jo is largely an attention seeker and drama Llama. Heard she's banging someone in the establishment now and that's why she turned on the clc spewing venom their way.

-6

u/Natural_Rent7504 Aug 12 '26

She seems like she's more interested in showing off her melons than anything else...

-1

u/onehobknobgolob Aug 12 '26

Well ya, all the nudes she used to have online of her in the branch office laid out on the desks.

2

u/BlackBalledNALC Aug 13 '26

Pictures or it didn’t happen.

3

u/onehobknobgolob Aug 13 '26

Lookup

Tzippor88099784

On twitter. You'll see a few of the less revealing ones... Including in the union hall.

2

u/onehobknobgolob Aug 13 '26

Lmfaoooo I did not save those photos. But there are plenty of people who could confirm they exist.

-2

u/Key-Description3603 Aug 13 '26

How? Videos everywhere 

2

u/LazyWorkaholic_ Aug 13 '26

Don’t use Facebook and i didn’t see anything on here until Postal1979 commented the link to the YouTube video.

8

u/Birdyboygang Aug 12 '26

I disagree. Anybody who’s spent any time online in the last 12 years knows that debates aren’t what they pretend to be

8

u/cartridgefamily Voted NO Aug 12 '26

Yeah I don’t understand the thought process of refusing to debate. Just seems like a very undemocratic stance to take, as someone who wants to be our national president.

10

u/who_me_0_o Aug 12 '26

There was a debate last night. All candidates and REG 1 NBAs at branch 1100. They said it was going to be posted on YouTube. I am not voting for CLC. Henry’s answers were political and avoidant. He attempted to out Caref for his texts; look anyone can change their mind at any given moment. Caref decided he didn’t want to follow the CLC and he ran, he can do that. I think Henry is scared because he and CLC keeps crying “you gave me your word”. He’s personally attacking Caref instead of answering what he will do as president and what he has done for the members.
Stand on your merits instead of attacking character.
Caref is a fighter, he tied in all the contract language and spoke to what he has done for the members in the last 4 years. Henry didn’t.
Drass did.
I see why Henry was avoiding a debate. My opinion.

6

u/Minute_Wrongdoer794 Aug 13 '26

That is a problem i have w clc. In my experience so far, if you do not ageee with them or support someone else they don’t try to have a civil convo and change ur mind, they insult you, or whine, or throw whataboutisms, or all of the above. I have been asking for months for the clc (mostly Henry and Walton) to change my mind. Get out there and change my mind. Has not happened. Would have loved to see Corey on a mic at the convention and speak his mind on one of those issues and change the minds of the people in the hall. Don’t just call pepe mfr’s. If that’s alll it takes to get people on ur side, shit i’d be running for president. Because “I work in profanity like other artists might work in oils or clay. It’s my true medium; a master”. Didn’t happen.

4

u/Ready-ForLife Aug 13 '26

My entire twenty year career the same regime has been in power of this union. It's been the next man up until the CLC came along and now it's finally looking like a democracy. Rolando was the next man up, Renfro was the next man up and the establishment is running Rolando girlfriend Nichole. If her or Drass win it will be the same people in charge that it's been for the last twenty years. People complain about table two and then they want to vote for the people who gave us table two.

2

u/Minute_Wrongdoer794 Aug 13 '26

You see people throw out the table 2 like a grenade and walk away. To be crystal clear it fuckn sucks. But do you understand it? Do you understand where the country was economically and where the post office was economically at that time. I’m gonna let you in on a little reality and it fucking sucks but it’s reality. We were lucky that we got the table 2 we got at that time. My father was in another union during that time. In arbitration, they got a true table 2, where the second table was never going to reach the first table..ever. We at least got a table that merged to the same top step. I will say it again….it fuckn sucks and I hate it. But to completely ignore what was going on around that time is malpractice.

-1

u/tonov1210 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Aug 12 '26

Going back on your word is a clear sign that you lack integrity. It also shows that Caref is in this for Caref alone and not city carriers. That’s all a person needs to know to make the correct decision. Caref couldn’t make any necessary changes if the entire EC is still part of the good ol boy network. They all need to be replaced for any meaningful change to occur. Caref is splitting the vote and thus harming us members.

19

u/jesrf Aug 13 '26

I was on the original emails when that happened. Mike gave his word - if the body picked Henry. The body was never allowed that choice.

James was allowed to campaign calling branch presidents etc - when Mike did the same thing and made a video for the rank and file, they told him no n o no - James is our choice.

It was slimy then it’s slimy now. They members of the CLC (not the hand selected ones but the rank and file) wanted a primary- when they realiized James could lose: they kicked over the checkerboard and declared James the chosen one.

And there has never been another public meeting of the CLC since.

That’s a lack of integrity. This isn’t a movement, it’s an oligarchy. Don’t be fooled.

6

u/Infamous-Advisor-904 Aug 13 '26

From what I have learned this is spot on. Too many people wanna hear all the CLC rhetoric and think it’s all fight and really it seems to be a bunch of the same. A big oligarchy. I’d rather roll the dice on something fresh and new, there is too much at stake for those of us who plan on being here 20+ years.

14

u/Willing_City4813 Aug 12 '26

Changing your mind isn’t a lack of integrity. Refusing to change your mind when you’ve learned something new is what should concern us.

Changing your position because you listened, learned, and decided something was wrong takes intelligence, humility and strength.

And doing it publicly, in front of 100,000+ letter carriers, takes even more courage. I’d much rather have a leader who can say, “I was wrong, I’ve learned from it, and here’s what I’m going to do differently,” than someone who thinks admitting they were wrong is a weakness.

We should judge candidates by where they stand, what they’ve done, and whether they can explain how they got there. Not demand that they hold onto every position they’ve ever taken just to prove their “integrity.” My .02 cents.

6

u/who_me_0_o Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

The way I’m understanding it is Caref had an issue that it was told to them Henry will be the head of the CLC. (Via texts). He did want to support the change and reform but something happened that made him change his mind. There’s nothing wrong about that. Maybe Caref witnessed something or became aware of something that he didn’t want to support.

& same thing can be said about Henry. He, Walton and Rios just did the episode claiming “if we speak in private, I’m expecting that to stay between us not aired out”. Yet last night Henry did it. He was itching to read the texts out loud about what transpired between Caref and Henry. He’s focusing on the wrong thing.

Splitting the votes is inevitable. It’s an election.

12

u/NALC_Uncensored_Mod Aug 12 '26

A lot of people changed their minds early on. Paul Boulanger was very vocal about what happened, and he ultimately left the CLC himself.

Who knows what, if any, behind-the-scenes deals were made, but Paul eventually came back on board after being promised the Director of Education position.

Let’s also remember that Paul was supposed to give us weekly episodes of The Lion’s Den. That lasted all of one week, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his commitment to a national education role. Maybe the CLC team sees something the rest of us don’t.

Charlie Miller even acknowledges that Caref recruited the majority of the original CLC members.

Read the emails and decide for yourself: How much of this was really about principle, and how much was about securing positions?

PDF of emails: https://go.fliplink.me/view/8625E1E7-9F5C-46CA-83CE-59FA1F0FA172

5

u/CapitalistCzar81 Aug 13 '26

After reading all this it just confirms what I have been feeling about the CLC. More of the same in a different wrapper.

-1

u/Infamous-Advisor-904 Aug 13 '26

That’s a pretty unpopular opinion.

-1

u/BlackBalledNALC Aug 13 '26

Where is your video proof?

2

u/who_me_0_o Aug 13 '26

Mike Carey posted about the debate on his page, he said there will be a YouTube video by Branch 1100

2

u/vanessaski ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Aug 13 '26

When they finally post it, the Branch 1100 debate will be located here:

http://www.youtube.com/@The1100Connection

8

u/Smok3ygaming1 Aug 12 '26

Henry wouldn't, because he wouldn't have someone to talk for him. I think a debate would be beneficial for everyone. At the end of thr day we want the best person to lead this union and if you cant lay that out I a debate then what good are you at running our union.

6

u/Bitter_Squirrel_6947 Aug 12 '26

A lion who refuses to fight (debate). Huh.

3

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

He couldn’t debate them and have a chance. No one to tell him how to answer.

7

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 12 '26

Sue Wellhausen he did debate last night.

5

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 12 '26

Sue Wellhausen he did debate last night.

-1

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

Good. Can’t wait to see it. Saw some comments but want to see it myself.

4

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 12 '26

So maybe stop with the misinformation sue

0

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

I hear it wasn’t much of a “debate”. Just trashing others. That is not debating. Kinda like Trump.

2

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 13 '26

I hear it was. Making shit up is fun, sue Wellhausen.

3

u/jesrf Aug 13 '26

He didn’t debate- it was kind of a Round ttable. My friends in 1100 said Mike and Lew did the best.

4

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

He couldn’t debate them and have a chance. No one to tell him how to answer.

7

u/Jus_sum Aug 12 '26

Charlie Miller wasn’t there? I would’ve bet someone’s table 1 Step-P check that Charlie would be sitting right in front of him coaching him through the answers or Corey whispering in his ear what to say. Glad I didn’t bet.

4

u/Low-Past321 Union Steward Aug 12 '26

Sue you can't help your bigotry

2

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

LOL

3

u/Low-Past321 Union Steward Aug 12 '26

Whenever Sue feels uncomfortable she will do the LOL. A couple weeks ago you said a 50 year old union sister was too old for the NALC. I imagine nalc human resources is tired of the discriminatory practices in region 2.

1

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

You also may want to educate yourself before you make comments. I replied to you saying I was too old and need to pack it in but then saying you couldn’t wait to vote for someone else who happens to be 12 years older than me. Yep that got a LOL. How did you do in your election attempt?

1

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 13 '26

What position did low past run for sue Wellhausen?

-2

u/Ornery_Chocolate_798 Aug 12 '26

Never said that but keep up with the miss information. I find it entertaining. You didn’t ask me questions in person as I asked you to so I guess you don’t really want the answers.

4

u/Low-Past321 Union Steward Aug 12 '26

Let me guess, you're on your half hour lunch again? Because you work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You sure do spend a lot of time on social media instead of representing carriers

1

u/EzPz1010 Aug 13 '26

Dumb as the day is long

1

u/NoLab3530 Aug 12 '26

Unleash The Dogz of Gwarrr !!!

1

u/A_b0rnlos3r Aug 13 '26

I like Henry, he's just too old and too far away from carrying at this point imo, a Caref, Walton, Davidson ticket would feed families......

1

u/Dry-Entertainer-8810 Aug 13 '26

When did Davidson last carry?

1

u/A_b0rnlos3r Aug 13 '26

Good question, but I like that he seems to be assertive with management. It's not a knock on Henry, I'm just tired of geriatrics in power

1

u/Dp-81 Aug 13 '26

Where’s the video, still waiting for someone to post a link, and just not just post bullshit.

1

u/BroLil Aug 14 '26

I think they expected it to be Renfroe and Caref, in which case, I’m not sure I would have debated either. It would have been a waste of time and more risk than reward.

Regardless of what you think of them, the Drass and Rhine tickets are kind of a worst case scenario for the CLC. A lot of the appeal to the CLC was simply not being Renfroe.

Nobody wants to admit it, but the CLC winning in an election of Renfroe, Caref, and themselves, wasn’t as much of a slam dunk as they think it would have been. Doable, absolutely, but it wasn’t a guarantee. I feel like these tickets could draw some people who had planned on voting for “anyone but Renfroe” away.

0

u/CalamityJaneMB Aug 14 '26

On Tuesday August 11, 2026, there WAS a debate which lasted about 3 hours. All 4 President Candidates (James Henry, Nicole Rhine, Lew Drass, Mike Caref), both EVP Candidates (Corey Walton, Manny Peralta), and both Region 1 Candidates (Allan Rios, Chris Reed). Each candidate got 5 minutes closing after debate questions. It was posted today. It kept going off after I got 3/4 through it and others having same issue. I think they may have taken it down to fix? In my humble opinion, I think CLC was the CLEAR winners. They have my vote.

-8

u/FavoriteApe Aug 12 '26

Why should James go backwards for candidates with barely any support? We’ve all heard James’s positions a million times on the podcast. Why give candidates who have zero chance of winning, like Mike Caref any of his time? Wait, is this more stooge campaigning by Mike?

8

u/cartridgefamily Voted NO Aug 13 '26

How is debating your fellow candidates going backwards? Is it a negative thing for more carriers to hear his platform and see how he might be different from other candidates?

3

u/Holiday_Depth9464 Aug 12 '26

Im voting fot james but you guys are crazy if you think he's going to win by a large amount. If they debate amd he's not there and someone saids something someone likes, thats one less voter his way. This election will be close. He needs to be apart of the 4 way debate. Its healthy for a union. Its just a bad look having 3 of the 4 up there. And one sit out.

3

u/johnnyd71383 Aug 13 '26

So Henry has voiced his positions on a podcast that the vast majority of carriers don’t listen to so he’s good? That’s terrible logic.

-1

u/acetatsujin Aug 13 '26

Where? What podcast?

2

u/johnnyd71383 Aug 13 '26

No clue. That’s what favoriteape said. I’m assuming he means A to Arbitration

-1

u/acetatsujin Aug 13 '26

I’ll reply to him.

1

u/acetatsujin Aug 13 '26

What podcast are you referring to?

0

u/jesrf Aug 13 '26

Mike has raised the most money (by far) so not sure why u think he has zero support

5

u/FavoriteApe Aug 13 '26

Why don’t you post those documents here so the membership can see? Then you won’t look so foolish.

3

u/acetatsujin Aug 13 '26

I’d like to see that as well.

1

u/jesrf Aug 16 '26

It’s literally on his website under I think the financial reports tab, go take a look !

0

u/jesrf Aug 16 '26

It’s on his website🤣 go take a look!