(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – About 2.5 years ago, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 3 President David Grosskopf, Jr. got involved with a country-wide group of concerned Letter Carriers who did not like the way their Union was being run - especially after its President ignored its Membership who overwhelmingly voted against a tentative contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) - but signed the agreement anyway.

Fast forward to today (Thursday, November 5th), Grosskopf is in Washington, D.C. to be installed in the new administration that will help chart the course of NALC after national elections carried more than half of his group’s 24-candidate slate - which ran under the title of Concerned Letter Carriers - to the winner’s circle in the election that took place in October.

“‘This is historic,’” Grosskopf, whose Branch 3 here in Buffalo and Western New York represents 2,000 Members, told WNYLaborToday.com before traveling to Washington. “‘This was the first time any NALC National President was challenged - and lost.’”

Asked why he - along with two dozen Concerned Letter Carriers Group candidates, including current NALC Vice President James Henry, who ran on the slate for President and has now become the first African-American President of the 137-year-old Union of Letter Carriers, made the decision to get involved and run to bring about change, Grosskopf said: “Our National President ‘wasn’t listening to local Leadership and Membership.’ ‘As time went by we were getting feedback from our Members and we knew we had to make a change.’”

Despite the fact 71% of the NALC Membership (a total of just under 300,000 Members) had voted down the tentative USPS agreement, NALC President Brian Renfroe “turned around and signed it,” Grosskopf, which was Renfroe’s prerogative under his NALC Presidency.

Asked why a vast number of the Membership voted it down, Grosskopf answered, bluntly: “‘Because it sucked.’ The wage increases ‘were very bad, but (Renfroe) didn’t care and signed it anyway.’”

Another flash point occurred when Renfroe was arrested on a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge that eventually went unpunished or sanctioned by the NALC Executive Council - which rubbed a great number of Letter Carriers the wrong way.

So Henry and others, including Grosskopf, decided it was time to do something about it.

They formed the non-profit Concerned Letter Carriers during a meeting in Jacksonville, Florida and overwhelmingly nominated Henry to head the slate.

Grosskopf was named to Co-Chair the group.

“Our platform ‘was to bring our Members to Industry Levels in wages, hours and working conditions,’” Grosskopf said. “‘That’s where we need to be - to bring up our Membership to the best-compensated professionals for what they do.’”

New NALC President Henry - who grew up in Compton, California, served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 22 years and has been a Letter Carrier since the late 1980s, told WNYLaborToday.com in a telephone interview: “‘For me this has never been about the position or ambition.’ ‘I got recruited to run and I prayed on it - and once I made my mind up, I wanted to see it through no matter what.’ ‘This is about change because our Membership wasn’t having it’ (what was transpiring under Renfroe). ‘I stood up.’ ‘I told them they were wrong.’ I was a ‘no’ on the tentative (USPS) contract. As a Marine, ‘duty means something to me.’ ‘We have to follow the Membership and do what is in their best interest.’”

“‘Now we have to make sure our Letter Carriers get the wages and benefits they haven’t gotten (in years past),’” he continued. “Some of our Members ‘are making less now that they did in 2012.’ ‘We should be Industry Leaders instead of’ (those who work for UPS). ‘Our Members work in extreme weather and harsh elements.’ ‘They get robbed and some have to work in hostile’ work environments. ‘I am honored and privileged (to be NALC’s first African-American President) and to achieve what most people might say was impossible.’ ‘Let’s not be naïve - the color of one’s skin’ (can hold an individual back). But ‘I’m straight out of Compton’ and most People of Color ‘need an opportunity to get a seat at the table.’ ‘It tells other People of Color that you must believe in what you can achieve.’”

Corey Walton - a long-time Letter Carrier from Nashville, Tennessee, who is being installed as NALC Executive Vice President, told WNYLaborToday.com: “‘I felt our Union had stopped fighting.’ ‘We were making too many concessions’ (with the USPS). ‘We didn’t want that so there was a revolt.’ We created the Concerned Letter Carriers ‘and the rest is history.’ ‘It was a nerve-wracking vote, but we got Henry across the finish line.’”

Both Henry and Walton ‘raved about the role’ Grosskopf played with the Concerned Letter Carriers, as well as his dedication and passion to NALC’s Letter Carrier Members.

Said Henry: “Dave is a ‘man’s man’ - ‘a Union Activist’s Activist.’ ‘He represents the best of what Letter Carriers inspire to be.’ ‘He has a big heart and he wasn’t afraid to speak out.’ ‘He’s exceeding smart politically and a Leader - a man of integrity.’ ‘He wouldn’t sell his soul.’ ‘He has principles.’ ‘He will make a huge difference (in the Leadership of the new NALC Administration) because he is willing to do what’s right, regardless.’”

Said Walton: “Dave Grosskopf, ‘if he chose to, could have run for President and won.’ He is a ‘political giant.’ ‘My first phone call was to Dave’ (when Walton was deciding to get involved with the Concerned Letter Carriers). Dave ‘was the only one in the country who fought against USPS consolidation of Processing Facilities and won.’ ‘That tells you everything about Dave Grosskopf because he got people in the streets to fight it.’ ‘I love the guy.’ ‘He’s the greatest fighter this Union has.’ ‘In fact, I’ll tell you crazy he is - he wears shorts in six-degree weather!’”

Grosskopf, whose present term as President of Branch 3 runs into 2027, is proud of what the Concerned Letter Carriers has accomplished: “Watching our Members' faces 'light up when they were talking about change.’ I went to James (whose Father was a Preacher) and told him ‘I wanted to hear him speak as Preacher’ James (when addressing Letter Carriers about a future that could be). ‘Now, I’m looking forward to the challenge of improving pay and the work environment because things have to change.’ ‘There are too many Carriers who have a hard time making ends meet.’ ‘We’ve got to figure out how to make this a Middle-Class job so people can afford to buy a new car and take vacations with their families.’ ‘I’m honored to be part of the Transition Team and help facilitate it - and believe me, we will have a smooth transition.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On NALC Branch 3 and its President, Go To: Looking At NALC Branch 3’s ‘Phenomenal’ 2024, So Far: Playing A Major Role In Saving Buffalo’s USPS Processing Facility To Its Involvement In Making Its National Union Better To Its Local Letter Carriers Being Recognized For Giving Back Locally - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York

Photos Via WNYLaborToday.com, NALC Branch 3 & NALC National.