Rural Deviation

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Tullahoma, TN
Rural Deviation

Bringing an honest conversation to the future of the Rural Craft.

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Tullahoma, TN
37388

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Videos

I use to fail on this thought… I don’t anymore.. I’m thankful I made that change.

There’s a saying…

A bit of the good moments we enjoy on the Lives! from #119. ‘Hey Dom!’

Burnout is a real thing… Whether it’s continuing to fight for what you believe in through being involved Or even as simple yet complex as going to work each day. Some times we need to be reminded why we do what we do.. Why we do what we love even through the adversity placed in front of us. Video is from Inky Johnson.

‘Not because they are easy… But because they are hard.’ JFK I may not have many talents in this world.. But making noise to the point you can’t avoid… Because of the ones around me I’ve developed a skill for that. Let’s keep making noise… Stirring the pot til they have no other choice then to listen to the struggles you deal with on a daily basis.. Not only listen but take immediate action on it, or face the consequence of being removed from office.

‘They can’t hear the music you hear..’

For those out there working within this union, the NRLCA, that are dissatisfy with the current direction of this union, and look to create better days for this craft… Or simply you as an individual may be striving to achieve something others around you believe is never possible… Remember this ‘Keep Moving Forward’ ‘They can’t hear the music you hear..’

Shortcuts

Deviating from the Line of Travel

My story to this point is a lot like you reading this. I found this job because nothing had worked out to that point in Jan. 2010. I never thought I would have been a rural carrier at 19. I was hired as a TRC, temporary relief carrier. After a year I learned RCAs, rural carrier associates were making $18 an hour while I was making $13 doing the same job. I spoke to my postmaster, and informed him if he didn’t post for an RCA, I would be looking for an RCA position in another office. I found an RCA spot in Tullahoma, TN in May 2011. In 2014, I held down a route for a full year while a regular was out. Soon after I moved to the Aux Route for 6 months in 2015 before a route went up for bid, and went full time in Jan. 2016. I currently serve as a regular carrier on a 43k/44 miles/610ish boxes. Its a mix between suburban and rural territory.

I’ve never been one to follow the cleared path ahead of me. I’ve never wanted to be a part of the status quo when people say that is just how it is. I spent 7 years being apathetic to the cause of being involved on the local level. Until 2017, we received a new postmaster who started to disturb the quiet nature we had as rural carriers for as long as I can remember. With the encouragement of two seasoned carriers, I stepped up to become the local steward. We held our first county meeting in as long as anyone could remember. By that first county meeting we had turned an office of half union to full union in May 2017. I was elected as the local steward, county president, and Coffee County state delegate for the Tennessee State Convention in June 2017. I have represented my county at the State Convention since then.

My journey on the national level started back early 2019. A co worker asked if I wanted to be nominated to be a national delegate. I accepted her nomination. At the Tennessee State Convention we could only send 42ish delegates. I came in 43ish. As I was walking out that day, a retired member, I have come to respect very much, stopped me and told me to make my plans to be in Grapevine. He had been in the 42, but had decided he wasn’t going to go. I can’t thank him enough for giving me the opportunity to experience the national convention as a first time delegate.

As I drove home from the state convention, I started to ponder this idea that had been kicking in my head for the past few months. My office had went from being uninformed to now if management starts to ask regular carriers to do something extra. Their first question is, “How do I get paid?” While some may not understand the weight of that statement. Its not about grinding every penny out of management. Its about standing up and demanding they compensate us appropriately for the work we do on a daily basis.