David was elected to the position of Trustee in 2022. David began as a City Carrier Assistant in 2016 and became a proud Union member that same year. In 2018, David was elected Shop Steward by the Carriers in West Farm Station. David worked hard and was recommended by President Charlie Heege to become the LBA for region 15 consolidated casing in that same year. David attended multiple trainings offered by Branch 36 which gave him the knowledge and skill needed to push him further in his Union career. In 2022, David became a Formal A Representative and was elected to the Trustee position where he will continue to keep the carriers well informed.

Flavor of the Month

Welcome to my first Outlook article, Flavor of the Month. We all know, the postal service constantly goes through the motion of trying out new things. We repeatedly ask ourselves the same question, “Is this really going to work?” We also wonder, “Will this make sense and will it make the business thrive better?” What I know for certain is that it always puts pressure on carriers, who take on countless jobs which come with being a letter carrier. The latest flavor of the month that some stations may not have dealt with yet is the new arrow key system that was designed to eliminate the traditional arrow key.
With this new system, it does come with its own set of flaws. Therefore, I am going to explain what those flaws are as my station is currently going through this trial arrow key transition. First, before I get into the details, let’s see first why this system was implemented in the first place. We are all aware that arrow key theft and carrier attacks were at an all-time high last year. One highlight of these new arrow keys is that they can be deactivated with simply a push of a button, if stolen or lost. Please keep that in mind, if you are approached for the arrow keys. Do not fight or give any pushback. Your life is worth more than the keys and we want you to make it back home to your family in one piece. Things of importance regarding the new system are as follows:

1. You must have a valid ID, so carriers make sure you have an updated postal Identification Card, because if it is expired, it will not allow you to retain or sign out keys.
2. Once you retrieve the keys, you do have to arm the keys by sticking them in the key slot, which will then turn green, letting you know the key is ready for use.
3. There have been a lot of complaints that the key battery dies extremely fast, especially in the cold, and it is after all wintertime. So don’t get frustrated, just contact management via Rims and wait for a response. Remember, we get paid by the hour, if you are able to take your 30-minute lunch while you wait, then do so. Don’t get frustrated and try your best to be patient.
4. If the keys don’t work when you get to the relay box in the street (the system still has a lot of flaws) contact management and let them know that the keys are not responding to the electronic key slot.
5. Last but not least, when you get back to the station make sure a supervisor is present to help arm the key back into the slot, so that it’s fully charged and ready to go for the next day.

Remember, there is always a new flavor of the month, but you have each other and your station stewards to help guide you and offer valuable insight. Until next time, keep safe, stay diligent and forever prosper!

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