Director of Retirees
P.O. Box 6112
NALCREST, FL 33856-6112
ulbin86@aol.com
Labor Day is for you and Elections are too
Well hello brothers and sisters, Labor Day is here and it’s time to celebrate ourselves. You have worked hard so take some time off. Labor Day started on September 5th, 1882, in New York City when about 10,000 workers took unpaid leave and marched from City Hall to Union Square for the first ever Labor Day parade. It was organized by the Central Labor Union to show the strength of the trade unions. Oregon was the first state to pass a law on February 21, 1887, to make it a holiday. By 1894 over 30 states had celebrations. During 1894 a very violent Pullmen strike occurred. President Grover Cleveland wanted to fix ties with the unions and on June 28,1894 he signed a bill making the first Monday of September a national holiday.
Our union is about to have a very important election coming in October. The ballots will be mailed about September 28, 2026. If you get the Postal Record, you will receive a ballot. If don’t get the Postal Record call our NALC HEADQUARTERS at 202 393 4695. If you don’t receive a ballot by October 5, 2026, please call headquarters. Ballots must be received by Noon October 19, 2026, to be counted. This has been an unnecessary nasty election by some. Please do your research and try pay social media no mind it has become a cesspool for this election. If you let insults and lies become your NorthStar you shouldn’t vote. Don’t be lazy, this is too important to do your research on the candidates and remember that they mean well but their promises are just that nothing more. I try to judge character and work ethics of each one. And please we are a strong union so whomever wins we must all support.
Now in November is just an important election for us as our unions. You must understand that congress is as important to us as our contract. Congress can take away our collective bargaining with a single vote, so we need to keep our friends and make more in congress to be safe. That takes winning in the midterms. That takes giving to the Letter Carriers Political Fund. That takes a release from staff to work on campaigns which a lot of our retirees step up to do. That takes you brothers and sisters showing up to rallies making phone calls and volunteering. I see all of what many said in the social media cesspool are you ready to get more for yourselves. Do more for yourselves. Take care of yourselves. Then it’s time to shut up and just do it! It’s now or be sorry for a long time. I will write more about our national elections next month. Please brothers and sisters be safe, be professional ,stay hydrated and make it home safe I love you all .
Shane Ulbin, FSALC Director of Retirees, Br1A President Nalcrest, Br 1091 Legislative Representative and Trustee, LCCL for Congressman Darren Soto and Maxwell Frost.
Questions or Complaints, ulbin86@aol.com 407-808-3626
____________________________________________________________
Elections Have Consequences So VOTE!
Hello Brothers and Sisters, I have spent much time talking to you about Washington and how Congress and our President can take away our jobs and how we always stop them with help from bipartisan friends in congress. But in this article, I am going to talk to you about a different enemy and a different election that also affects our jobs and retirement.
First, I must do a disclaimer. The facts are the facts but the opinions in this article are mine and not those of the NALC, FSALC or Branch 1091 or any of its officers, The opinions are just little old me. So, the enemy is that of social media all social media. So many carriers have been meaning well have taken to social media on various groups, podcasts and comments on carrier’s pages. Sometimes they get it right, mostly they don’t. Many of the issues are better served at our union meetings and training courses than on social media. Across our country are Local Memorandum of Understanding or president setting grievances that change what might be legal in one region and not in another. Most of the podcasts I find self-serving.
We have our meetings on the second Tuesday and our training on the fourth Tuesday of every month here in Orlando. Our State Convention and State /Region 9 Trainings are incredible. Please attend to get the right story. This is important because at our national convention this August they will be nominating our new national officers for our upcoming NALC elections. We need to be educated for this very important union election. Just saying no to Renfro isn’t good enough. Just saying well that person was with Renfroe isn’t enough nor is it intelligent. Who says you have to vote for a whole slate you can or you can vote for part of a slate.
As of now we have the CLC headed by James (not Jim I was corrected) Henry and Corey (he corrected me) Walton. And in the other corner is the CAREF 2026 campaign led by Mike Caref and in the other corner is Eddie Davidson. Now remember when I said come to meetings? Well at our last meeting on July 14th we had 3 speakers James Henry and Corey Walton also Eddie Davidson spoke as Region 9 NBA he had not yet announced he was running for NALC President.
So, at the meeting Corey Walton spoke first. He spoke loud and direct and didn’t take questions from the podium. They would take questions after the meeting privately. But Corey did say that Region 9 was the best and that the CLC would model all the other Regions to what Eddie Davidson is doing here. Then James Henry spoke also very loudly and some of what he said was less than truthful. He said the Postal Service wasn’t hurt financially. The service has lost 118 billion dollars since 2007and first class mail is down 57%. Sorry James but that does hurt if you can’t see that brother how can you run our union? He also compared us to UPS and their contract. The Teamsters are a big union covering many companies and they still had to strike to get that wage. James didn’t say how he could get us there other than it was unacceptable. As you know, as federal employees we can’t strike, and UPS isn’t losing money like the USPS, that’s just the truth. Being the loudest in the room doesn’t make you the most qualified. As for Mike Caref, he is qualified in my opinion as compared to the CLC.
But with news that Eddie Davidson has announced he is running for President has changed the dynamic of the election. Both Eddie Davidson and Mike Caref are NBAs which means they are more in the trenches with the carriers and the issues affecting them. I have seen the amazing changes Eddie Davidson has made here in region 9, even the clc praises him. So please, brothers and sisters educate yourselves. If you have a comment or disagree with me or if I miss something let me know I always leave my contact information. For me the right choice without a doubt is Eddie Davidson for President and our own Anthony Ali for Region 9 National Business Agent (NBA).
So please, to our convention delegates, be safe and enjoy the convention, and to all our letter carriers out in this heat be careful and stay hydrated. Be Careful, Be Professional, Be Union and make home at night. I love you all
In Solidarity, Shane Ulbin, Branch1091 Legislative Liaison and Trustee, Fl Dist. 9LCCL, FSALC Director of Retirees, BR1A President at NALCREST. ulbin86@aol.com 407-808-3626
More in the trenches _____________________________________
Americas 250th, Extreme Heat, World Cup!
Wow, Brothers and Sisters July literally came in with a BOOM! I stayed up to watch the fireworks in Washington DC. The President promised a world record display, and it sure looked like it to me. I hope you got to see it I can only imagine what it must have been like to be there. This country of ours is an experiment in democracy that has lasted through every challenge. From wars to two depressions to at times a corrupt government. From the corruption of Democrats of Tammany Hall to the Republicans of Trump. Our Capital has been attacked three times in 1812 ,2001and 2020. But we still stand as hope in our fallen world. Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America.
Our Postal Service is 251 years old and now again faces many serious challenges of its own. Our President is trying to force the postal service to not deliver mail in ballots. Our Postmaster General is a puppet grabbed from FedEx and is trying to play along. I expect they will lose in court because it is unconstitutional. Voting is a state rights issue. Our letter carriers are being assaulted and killed for the arrow keys. Call your representative and ask them to support HR 1065 Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (POLCA). Gordy Ford, Jackie Daly, Daisy Ulbin and I met with Congressman Maxwell Frost to discuss our issues. We are waiting for his answer on the POLCA. He did sign on to HR1522 and HR 3011. The President still wants the postal service to be under the commerce department this would lead to trying to sell off the service. And with this extreme heat our carriers need to be very careful, stay hydrated and look for someplace cool if you feel ill.
And how about the World Cup Ive truly enjoyed so many games. And our US team was a nice surprise to me. I enjoyed Alexis Lawless commentary, whom I met back when he played. I guess my favorites have been France, Norway, Brazil, and the USA. But I have to say they do more flopping than the NBA. Well brothers and sisters please give to the political fund it is so necessary in our fight against those that will do us harm. Please take care out there. Be careful, Be Professional Be Union and always make it home at the end of the day. I love you all.
Shane Ulbin, FSALC Director of Retirees, Br. 1091 Legislative Representative, Trustee, LCCL for FL District 9. Br.1A President, Nalcrest
Contact, ulbin86@aol.com, 407-808-3626
______________________________________________________________
You Can’t BEATEM, CHEATEM
Yes, if you can’t beat them then cheat them according to Project 2025. It is happening in many ways. The most obvious is State Redistricting. Look right here in Florida we stand to lose four blue seats or four of our friends that always vote to protect the postal service including honorary member Congressman Darren Soto. This nonsense started when President Trump ordered Governor Abbott of Texas to make 4 more Red seats in his state. Blue states have responded by doing the same but by allowing the voters to decide instead of the red states that did so by state legislation not by the people. Remember redistricting is supposed to be done every ten years after the census. This is year five since the last census. Makes no census right? And why is President Trump waying in on a state’s rights issue? Well to Cheatem.
Then there is vote by mail (VBM). Here in Florida, I have voted this way since 1994 when it was then absentee ballot. Never had an issue my vote always counted I know because I was able to track my vote. And it was a team of Letter Carriers led by State Legislative Leader Kevin Byrne that made a bill that changed absentee ballot to vote by mail. Now VBM is under attack here and in other states although there has been no fraud. Remember you must request a VBM ballot every year, not every election cycle so request it now TODAY! You can always surrender your ballot at your polling place should you decide to vote in person. Why is the GOP messing with votes by mail? Too Cheatem!
Now of course is early voting. This year’s Primary Date is August 18, and the registration deadline is July 20. Election Day is November 3, with Registration by October 5 and Eary Voting is October 24 to the 31st. It was in 2010 you had fifteen days now; it’s just eight. Why? CHEATEM!
Let’s now touch on Polling places and shorter hours at many. Check with your local supervisor of elections for your polling place and hours. Remember if you’re in line by the closing time, they must let you vote. And if plan on dropping your ballot off check with your elections office for box locations because there are fewer. Why? CHEATEM!
Then there will be our President Trump and his DOJ, FBI and his lawyers that will yell its rigged and fraud why? CHEATEM! And who are they cheating? Why you and I of course. The good news is they always do this. So, if you all vote they can CHEATEM, but we will BEATEM.
So please help us get ready for the midterms and give to the Letter Carriers Political Fund (LCPF). Contact me or Gordy Ford, Nate Shivers or Jakie Daly. Please Be Well, Be Careful Be Professional, Be Union! Stay Hydrated Stay Safe and Always make it home. I love all my Brothers and Sisters we are strong because of you. VOTE!
In Solidarity Shane Ulbin, FSALC Director of Retirees.Branch1091 Legislative Liaison, Trustee. FL9.Congressional Liaison. NALC Br 1A President at Nalcrest
__________________________________________________________
MAY DAY MAY DAY WE NEED HELP!
May Day is a day of celebration for Labor, but not now. Labor is being attacked by President Trump, the Republican Party and Big Gop doners. ICE has been pulling apart families of hard-working, law-abiding immigrants. It’s hurting our workforce and our economy. You may say they are illegal, but you tell me what is the legal path? Trump has changed it so many times making it impossible unless of course you can afford his 5-million-dollar gold card to get citizenship. Then there is of course the watering down of OSHA, Merit Systems Protection Board and the US Department of Labor mostly done by DOGE and Political Appointments. Just look at our Postmaster appointment right from our competition. The GOP would love to privatize the Postal Service this is nothing new.
But what is new is the unconstitutional way they are going about redistricting. You may say well they have done it in blue states too. The big difference is the red states are doing it by order of the president, and the blue states are responding. First voting and redistricting are by our constitution a matter of state. And should be done every 10 years after the census. This is in the fifth year. Second, the blue states did it by amendment, meaning the people of the states voted on it not the state legislature. And the amendments expire in 5 years at the next census.
Here in Florida, we stand to lose 4 seats and 4 friends in congress that have protected the postal service. They are also trying to make voting harder with the save America act. We all agree that having picture ID for voting is good. What is wrong is all you must do to get that ID; it isn’t fair and is voter suppression. Please google the save act and read it for yourselves.
I attended our state and Region 9 training at the Hilton Bueno Vista Palace. I haven’t walked so much since I carried mail. God bless you all for the job you all do. I mainly attended the general session, political training and retirement training. Great information provided by Eddie Davidson and his Region 9 team, which includes our own Anthony Ali. And John Beaumomt, special assistant to the president for legislative and political affairs, got us ready for the upcoming mid-term elections.
So please give the Letter Carriers Political Fund to help keep and make more friends at congress. Without this the postal service is toast. Contact your Steward, Nate Shivers or myself to give. Speaking of giving May 9th is our food drive please get the word out. I received my card here at Nalcrest and my daughter has received her bag in Deland. Keep up the great work our community needs us.
Brothers and Sisters be careful out there know your surroundings. Stay hydrated drink before your thirsty. Be Safe Be Professional Be Union always make it home.
In Solidarity Shane Ulbin, FSALC Director of Retirees, LCCL Fl District 9, Br 1091 Legislative Liaison ,Trustee, Br 1A Nalcrest President.
