A Time to Make a Stand: VOTE

The National Convention in Los Angeles ended recently. There was a lot of smoke and mirrors from the delegates and those running for office. As every member should already know, there will be elections for National Officers this fall. Ballots will be mailed out around September 28 th to all union members who are on the rolls as of July 1, 2026. This is a pivotal time in the history of the NALC. Current National President Brian Renfroe announced that he will not seek nor accept a nomination for President in the upcoming elections. Some are happy about that and others are upset. For all of the complaints about Brian, he has been the face of the NALC on Capitol Hill. Brian did a phenomenal job in navigating our issues through Congress. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his herculin efforts during the darkest times to keep us safe from tyranny.

Most of the current members do not understand the importance of having a leader who is respected and accepted by Congress. Almost everything about our job runs through Congress and the White House. Our health Benefits, retirement, OWCP and the fact we can even negotiate a contract is all tied to Congress. We complain about percentages and other work issues like they are absolutes, and they are not. Just look at the 1 million federal employees who had their collective bargaining rights ripped away overnight by President Trump and his DOGE department last year. They went to sleep and woke up as at will employes with no union rights. The only reason we did not fall into the same cesspool is due to our relationships with Congress. President Renfroe, along with our excellent Legislative department, were able to hold off every attack last year. No other union was able to do that. Our legislative department is second to none in Washington and the envy of most other unions. There is no doubt that we will be attacked again by the Trump administration. They will continue to attack our benefits and collective bargaining rights. The issue is who will we have to fend off the attacks? This election for a new NALC executive board will be the deciding factor. I am not allowed to use the union resources to say who I or the board thinks we should support. There are many new faces running for positions.

Here is my limited take on the leading members running for the top positions:

There are 4 candidates running for National President. Current NALC Secretary Treasurer Nicole Rhine, NE Br. 8, Former (Retired) NALC Vice President Lucien Drass – Huntsville AL Br. 462, Current NALC V.P. James Henry-Garden Grove CA Br 100 and current NALC NBA Michael Caref – Chicago Br. 11.

All the candidates running are either former or current members of the NALC Executive Board. You must decide who you want to lead us forward. This is not an easy task but one you must do. Before you vote you must wipe out all the white noise you hear and the personal attacks you see daily on social media for the past 4 years.

You need to understand the importance of this election as well as understand that most of the noise has come from those wishing to take down the current administration. So, your choices will come down to your understanding and beliefs in reality. You can vote for an original member of the CLC who walked away from them due to their actions early on. You can vote for a former Executive Council member who has retired and now has decided to come back. You can vote for a current sitting Executive Council member who has been involved in almost every aspect of the administration. You can vote for the current Executive Council member who has pretty much been missing in action for the past 3 years while running for office and campaigning on promises that they have now been backed off on.

For executive Vice president, there are 2 choices. You can vote for a current Executive Board member who has been involved with many aspects of our organization. Or you can vote for a Trump worshiping podcaster who has denigrated any person or group who disagrees with his positions.

These are all the men and woman looking to steer us in the future. Your votes will decide our future. Don’t pay any attention to the rhetoric, lies and false promises from any candidate. Just remember this: one side has spent the last couple of years denigrating the current administration. Almost every member in the current administration has been courted to join that side. Every one of them turned it down. Now that side has continued to talk about the new slate by saying it is the same old people and we need change. If that were so, why were almost every one of those people courted? And a quick fact check will show that the person running for office is also a current officer.

I guess that it’s ok to put down and group others while ignoring the fact they fit in the same alleged category.

If I am asked by anyone face to face, I will be happy to give my personal opinion on any of these issues.

Another very important position to us will be the election of our National Business Agent. Region 15 has two candidates running for our NBA. The NBA’s office is crucial to all carriers in the Region. They oversee the Dispute Resolution Teams, deal with Regional Management, schedule Arbitrations, appoint the men and women who do those arbitrations, Training of members, etc..

The candidates running is this region are former RRA for Region 15, Orlando Gonzalez - NYC Br. 36 and Director of City delivery Roy Jancio – NJ Merged NALC Br.38.

You can vote for a man who was terminated from his former position and was the third pick by the CLC to fill this position.

You can vote for a longstanding board member who has years of doing arbitrations, route inspection trainings and every other aspect of union leadership and was asked 2 times to join the CLC but refused to do so.

There are others running for positions, but these are the most important positions leading us forward. There is not enough room to write about all.

At the end of the day, you must decide on the future of the organization. Educate yourself on the facts of the case. The wrong decision may put us on a fast track to being torn apart. I do not say this lightly. I have represented letter carriers for 41 years. As most know, I say what I feel and do what I believe is in the best interest of my members.

If we lose congress, we lose everything we have worked for over the years. If you think that whether you get a 1.4% raise or a 2%+ raise is the most important issue, then vote your conscience. If you want to continue to have the benefits and salaries we enjoy, if you want to continue to have the right to union representation, then make sure you understand the issues.

Whatever you decide, make sure you VOTE when you get the ballots after September 28th. Do not wait to do so.

I love you all and wish nothing but the best for you and your families.

Remember: Your silence is your consent for whatever the fallout may be.