Back in November 2024, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) announced it had reached a tentative agreement (TA) with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Letter carriers at that point had been without a contract since May 20, 2023, which is now over 600 days. While some positive language was added such as prohibiting subcontracting and air conditioned vehicles, what workers were met with was an insulting offer of 1.3% raise a year over the three year contract with retro pay. Many were rightfully outraged at the TA and criticized NALC President Brian Renfroe and his business union style of negotiating.
Many areas of language in the contract are also being changed to introduce speedups. Letter carriers are allowed time in the morning to organize mail (“fixed office time”) which has been reduced from 33 to 20 minutes. Full cost of living adjustments (COLA) are still reserved for those at the top pay bracket, leaving everyone else with a “diet” version (a percentage of a penny for every .4% of inflation). The overtime rule also changed to carriers making 2.5 times after 12 hours a day or 60 hours in a week, however, the contract now allows for forced overtime. Health insurance premiums will be going up as well for letter carriers. Despite much of the smoke and mirrors, many workers are seeing this TA as a pay cut.
Now, workers are banding together and forming caucuses to work inside their NALC locals. Build a Fighting NALC (BFN), is one such caucus that has gained traction over the last six months and is attracting new members from around the country. BFN has stated that members should vote “No” on the TA stating, “This is what the contract looks like when the NALC doesn’t put up a fight”.
The measures the BFN are fighting for are:
- $30/hr starting wage
- End mandatory overtime
- Cutting down years of service to reach top pay from 13 to 6
- Right to strike
- Full COLA
Full tentative agreement can be viewed here.
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