"MEMBERSHIP FIRST"
CHRISTOPHER REED
I am from Hawaii but spent a large portion of my childhood in the greater Los Angeles area. I began my postal career as a CCA in Kailua-Kona, HI in March of 2021. I quickly become involved with my branch (Kona Branch 5516) due to my upbringing in a union family. Both of my parents, majority of my siblings, and extended family are Teamsters. My family preached to me from a young age to join a unionized workforce.
In November of 2021, I became a Shop Steward after I realized how our rights were being destroyed by management. In April of 2022, I became the Formal Step A designee for the branch. In August of 2023, I became president of Branch 5516. During my tenure as president and the primary grievance handler, identified below are some of my proud accomplishments for the membership:
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Increased branch membership from approximately 50% to 100% organized;
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Successfully curbed management's regular practice of forcing letter carriers to perform rural craft work due to establishing 250% and administrative leave for work performed as the remedy;
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Resolved grievances at the Formal Step A level with explicit precedent-setting language that all city letter carriers may refuse work beyond the hourly limits without being disciplined;
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All reported discipline issued to the membership has been rescinded and expunged via the Grievance-Arbitration Procedure.
In August of 2023, Region 1 NBA Keisha Lewis appointed myself as a National Assigned Assistant (NAA) to serve the region as an outside steward and have continued to be utilized in the role. During 2024, I presented my first case in arbitration and have presented numerous cases since. I have also been utilized throughout the region to provide training with branches and during state conventions.
Outside of work, I enjoy surfing (bodyboarding and bodysurfing), hiking (Haleakala's Sliding Sands Trail that connects to the Halemau'u Trail is my favorite), and spending time with family and loved ones.
As your National Business Agent, the regional office will be putting the membership first every day through an improved education plan, active communication, and strict contract enforcement to ensure the memberships' needs are met.
The education plan will include providing training to each area within the region every four months. For the purposes of training, the region will be divided into five areas: Hawaii (includes Guam), Nevada, Southern California, Central California, Southern California. The location of such trainings in areas will change so that all branches, big or small, have a chance to participate (e.g. Northern California - the first training is located in Stockton, the second training is located, Eureka, and the third training is hosted in the Bay Area.) In addition to the trainings every four months in each area of the region, if there are branches that want more specialized training, it will be provided. There will not be any branch nor member left behind. The regional office will seek to work with NAA's, state associations, Leadership Academy graduates in developing and implementing the education plan.
As for the plan to be an active communicator, the regional office will hold monthly meetings with the branch president to get a feel for the workroom floor and the issues our members face. In addition to monthly zoom meetings, the regional office will be proactive in communicating with the grievance handlers throughout the region to assist in addressing hot topics in the workplace and anything in general. As your NBA, I will be transparent with what is going on in the region and headquarters. The regional office will not just be a mysterious place that the members call but it will be an active presence that you can count on.
This region will be militant in the enforcement of our collective bargaining agreement and the members rights at every step of the way. This includes taking cases forward in arbitration that otherwise may have been withdrawn by the current administration to avoid a loss on their personal record. This also includes meeting with my counterpart, WestPac's Field Director of Labor Relations to address issues such as the DRT backlog, asinine games played by labor relations during hearings, and any hot topic issues.
At the end of the day, myself and the regional office will not just be a presence behind the phone or computer. We will be an active presence throughout the region that that prioritizes the needs of the members above all else, ensuring that our region remains a pillar of strength and integrity within the NALC. Together, we will create a future where education, communication, and enforcement leads to empowerment, and unity leads to victory for every member the region serves.
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We are dedicated to building a union culture centered on education, communication, enforcement, and unity. Your endorsement is the first step toward a stronger region.
Phone
(808) 756-1861
Email
reed4nba@gmail.com