The Tallest Nail

The 2026 NALC election is a chance for letter carriers to shape the future of their union.

In this episode of The Tallest Nail, J-Ma makes her case for reform and the Concerned Letter Carriers slate, calling for leadership that puts members first through better training, transparency, communication, and accountability.

The episode also features a message urging carriers to reject personal attacks and discrimination, ask hard questions, and stand together—even when they disagree.

Whether you’re a brand-new carrier or a longtime member, this is a call to research the candidates, demand better from your union, and get your ballot in on time.

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For the NALC Voters Guide:

MailCarrierHub.org

On the Home Page, scroll down...

Who needs oppression from bosses when some of our union leadership throws up barriers like gatekeeping; sparse training; and playing footsies with Management.

But there's Hope!

Plus, check out variations on some theme songs.

First, serious apologies for the delay of getting this episode out to my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I lost my sound guy and had to find another. Thankfully, I found this wonderful, technical, musical genius. I'll give him a wildflower name on the next episode: I need to research a really good one - A well-deserved wildflower name.

We're playing around with AI on some of the music - super fun. Don't be shy about your comments. I know that the theme song sounds much more produced. I like the brass and the precise timing of the rhythms....so fun. But we will try not to lose the humanity of the singer/songwriter stuff. Feel free to share your opinions.

Also, please feel free to post your own dog stories here, just for fun or for personal therapy.

On this day, 4/19/2026, while working on this episode, the Universe gave me my next dog. This beautiful, sweet dog. A small community has been feeding, leaving water for, coaxing lovingly, trying to save this lovely dog - for months! He's been all over my mail route. We had a group chat that worked with our local non-profit dog-catcher pro. She caught him this morning. I raced over to pick him up. He's resting and contemplating his existence in the next room. This dog is an old soul. I'm so glad to have him here. :) See what I mean? Dog? Universe? LOL

Quotes from the book: "Never Split the Difference," by Chris Voss - Master Negotiator

Shout outs to Chris, John Murphy and the other Next Generation Podcasters

Saving Bald Eagles from Extinction - Negotiating with Mean Liars

Death threats are more common than we think. Mean people suck and the good people have to take over.

Margo O'Neill &Tyler Vasseur lay out the plan for a better Carrier future; Crossing Crafts Story; Smiling Real Pretty Story; Huffy Harold Story.

My wonderful Stewards: you've met Shark Bay. Now meet Tackstem, Mama Bear's Claws; and Arrowleaf Aster - EXCELLENT TEAM!

Hey CCA's: this is the time to learn about your Union so that you can vote in a way that will improve your lives and those around you. Learn everything you can and BUCKLE UP!

Love Y'all!

J-Ma

We need real leaders in our Union. Not speeches that say nothing.

Show Notes:

Building a Fighting NALC

https://www.fightingnalc.com/

Ranked Choice Voting Episode from Next Generation Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qU5iftqljgxQtSzdhEAGq?si=uqrR21uLQ2mHi5r-1__5aw

I am so sorry to have been absent for months! Inexcusable.

But here we are.

Here's the link to Breaking Points:

- the best independent news show on the internet: honest facts and viewpoints from the left and the right. I subscribe to these guys mostly for honest news but also because they model how people who disagree on very basic issues can have good faith debates, with strong, impassioned points, and still remain civil....and still be friends. Saager Enjeti is the conservative and Krystal Ball (her real name - shut up, she's my political spirit animal) is a progressive. I really respect both of them, although, sometimes I want to put a sock in Sauger's mouth, respectfully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIFlvOl5C0E

I'm sharing the above site because, as I said in this episode, we have to have honest, current information in order to make good decisions.

Reminder that all of the podcasts and other websites I talked about in this episode can be found at FromAtoArbitration.com. Don't forget to Buy a Cup of Coffee for Mallory - there's an easy link...and she does soooooo much work for Corey Walton's podcasts, for her own CCA Corner and for all of us. :)

Let's all support each other. This is a new time for the City Letter Carriers. :) !

Note: My Top 12 Podcasters are not in any order, except for FATA at #1 - but we all know that.

Mangement knows how to cheat us out of our time, reducing our pay and harrassing us.

Green Party Illinois paying attention and helping our cause

Union action to fix all of this.

Please excuse some technical glitches here. Still working on some tech improvements. Please bear with me.

Here are some links that I promoted in this Episode.

1. Green Party Illinois Episode - very interesting stuff. Cool Hosts!

https://www.youtube.com/live/Anco-XtOJ3U?si=74VcW0grC6P-ZqlV

2. Concerned Letter Carriers, CLC. Please do a monthly donation: $5.00 a month is so helpful. If you can do more, that's great!

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Feel free to comment! Love you, friends.

Nationawide Rally on Sunday, March 23rd, 2025

Contract update - Vote No Was Victorious

Trump and Elon's DOGE attempts to steal profit pieces of USPS

DeJoy's Financial Ties: before, during and soon-to-be after being the Postmaster General of the USPS

We are essential workers for a reason. We connect the whole country, no matter who you are; no matter where you live. We got you.

We are at WAR with greedy oligarchs.

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Links:

The Hatch Act: Political Activity and the Federal Employee:

https://youtu.be/Lvm4IRPyidE?si=X28NGHP_SaEZ5UuB

Education and Scripts to Contact Your Congress-person:

https://fromatoarbitration.com/call-to-action/

Do you feel discriminated against because you're older?

If you're managed only for time, and you're compared to younger Carriers' times, it's ageism.

Your time is valuable. You have awarded that time to the Post Office. You should be acknowledged for your dedication. Also, the Tentative Agreement is not worthy of our work. I will vote no. I hope you will too.

Tentative Agreement - CCA's - VOTE NO!

Meet my mother: this is how you fight - hint: DON'T QUIT, even when it's scary.

Union Branch Politics: just stick to your principles. Don't play politics.

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VOTE NO Meeting: Sunday, November 24th at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

https://www.reddit.com/r/fromatoarbitration/comments/1gssqgv/all/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

From A to Arbitration by Corey Walton https://open.spotify.com/show/6n4TGcKFrEGyKMD4ebpuWc?si=cwJEmvp4S7-E8kEJUDNGIg.

The Postal Standup by Alan Gegax https://open.spotify.com/show/1E33gOoEMZBnnrEBqjeE5y?si=gYwfAixGSdetxgNBNa6kkw

Concerned Letter Carriers - CLC

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Build a Fighting NALC https://www.youtube.com/@BuildaFightingNALC

Bad Management - Set you up to fail; Do they want you to cheat? Customers are a low priority; You deserve respect and dignity.

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From A to Arbitration by Corey Walton https://open.spotify.com/show/6n4TGcKFrEGyKMD4ebpuWc?si=cwJEmvp4S7-E8kEJUDNGIg.

The Postal Standup by Alan Gegax https://open.spotify.com/show/1E33gOoEMZBnnrEBqjeE5y?si=gYwfAixGSdetxgNBNa6kkw

Concerned Letter Carriers - CLC

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Build a Fighting NALC https://www.youtube.com/@BuildaFightingNALC

A new Mail Carrier's trials and tribulations.

Concerned Letter Carriers - CLC

https://concernedlettercarriers.com/

Build a Fighting NALC https://www.youtube.com/@BuildaFightingNALC