The National Association of Letter Carriers members have voted against a tentative agreement with the U.S. Postal Service. In a recent news release, the NALC reported that 63,680 members voted to reject the agreement while 26,304 voted in favor. NALC President Brian L. Renfroe stated that the union intends to reopen negotiations within five days.
Renfroe emphasized that the NALC members have clearly expressed their dissatisfaction with the tentative agreement, stating, “The offer presented by the Postal Service is insufficient for our city letter carriers. We believe we have earned and deserve more.”
The USPS has not yet responded to inquiries from USA TODAY regarding the rejection. The tentative agreement, reached by the NALC on October 17, pertained to the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement. Ballots were circulated starting December 9 and were required to be returned by January 13.
If approved, the tentative agreement would be valid until November 7, 2026. The proposed changes include adjustments to wage increases and the inclusion of an anti-discrimination clause. Notable alterations in the agreement involve an increase in general wage raises for city letter carriers, protection against discrimination based on pregnancy, and the addition of Juneteenth as a recognized holiday.
Furthermore, the agreement proposes the establishment of a District Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee to enhance safety measures. Members have also advocated for higher annual allowances for uniform costs and suggested the carryover of unused uniform allowances.
Renfroe reaffirmed the NALC’s commitment to negotiating a more favorable contract, stating, “We are fully prepared to vigorously pursue a better agreement.”
