Law of The Compass | Why Some Union Leaders Should Step Down Right Now

Austin uses this solo episode to catch listeners up on what he has been doing, including Missouri state convention, upcoming branch training, and a packed stretch of interviews. He then pivots into a sharp political and union discussion about the current election cycle, grievances, the tentative agreement, and why he believes leadership needs more accountability and more follow through.The episode also turns reflective as Austin reads from John C. Maxwell’s The 17 Laws of Teamwork, focusing on the law of the compass and tying it to vision, strategy, and leadership in the union.

Key topics

• In this episode: Austin gives a personal update after a stretch of interviews with Cory, Henry Cordero, Larissa Pardee, and Camito Simpson Lewis, and says more conversations are lined up.
• He recaps attending Missouri state convention for the first time, including training on the J-Whip process, route adjustment issues, and grievance basics.
• Austin announces an upcoming retirement seminar his branch will host over Zoom and says he will share the registration details and materials needed for attendees.
• He celebrates crossing 50 followers and thanks returning listeners for showing up each week.
• He argues that too many union leaders and establishment supporters are comfortable with weak grievance enforcement, no cease and desist language, and no meaningful accountability.
• He says anyone not willing to do the work of stewarding and filing grievances should step down from union office.
• Austin takes aim at the handling of bonuses and financial transparency, questioning how leadership could claim not to know where funds came from if financial items are supposed to be itemized.
• He critiques the claim that information was withheld for political advantage, and contrasts that with the timeline he believes makes the story difficult to sustain.
• He reads from the NALC Constitution on ratification, ballot procedure, and what happens when members reject a proposed agreement, arguing that members were sidelined.
• He challenges the idea that the tentative agreement and ongoing grievance backlog were handled properly, especially given that mandatory overtime and other issues remain unresolved.
• Austin brings in the law of the compass from Maxwell’s book and uses it to argue that the union lacks clear direction, strategy, and a compelling vision.
• He breaks the compass concept into moral, intuitive, historical, directional, strategic, and visionary angles, tying each one back to leadership, discipline, and membership service.
• He says the union needs stronger enforcement, more education, and a return to militant grievance work instead of complacency.
• He gives a local grievance update, including overtime equitability work and a start time grievance that has been received at Step B.
• Austin urges listeners to check their ballots, request replacements if needed, and vote according to conscience rather than loyalty to stale leadership.
• He closes with a reading from Proverbs 5 on wisdom, discipline, and avoiding destructive temptation, then ends with a call to take care of each other and stay engaged.

• The Law of the Compass from The 17 Laws of Teamwork
• Moral compass - Integrity and motive
• Intuitive compass - Internal drive and conviction
• Historical compass - Respecting what came before
• Directional compass - Clear goals and purpose
• Strategic compass - A plan to reach the goal
• Visionary compass - Long-term growth and leadership development

Proverbs 5 | TLV Bible - Bible App

CREA | AI Grievance Research for Postal Workers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://crearesearch.com/ref/G3SF2DFQ

Letter Carrier Political Fund | National Association of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO