2024-2027 Maintenance Craft Changes in the New Contract

(This article appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)

The APWU and USPS reached a Tentative Agreement that was approved by the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee and then ratified by the members on July 10. Highlights from the new contract that affect the Maintenance Craft, are as follows:

• Per Diem Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) remains in effect for the life of the contract.
• Annual In-service opportunities are now open for APWU non-career employees.
• Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) Pecking Order: Revised Step 6 to preference Maintenance Craft employees excessed out of closed installations, clarified Steps 7 through 9, added Step 13 for Postal Support Employees (PSEs) and replaced the word “consider” with “select” in the three steps of pecking order.
• Opportunity to include Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) Mechanics with automated equipment training for National Support Technicians (NST) eligibility.
• Area Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) now have the option to change their reporting station, subject to approval.
• Article 38 minor language cleanup and added references to JCIM’s pecking order.
• Article 38.3.K.4.b revised to protect AMT duties now encompass PS-7 for excessing purposes.
• Returning and reposting residual vacancies 120 days or older by local parties’ agreement.
• Pending qualification requirements revised to include In-service, Transfers, Entrance.
• Revised Article 32 MOU with additional exceptions.
• Continuing education training for skilled Maintenance Craft employees every three years.

Second Payment of $15 Million Dollar Part-time Regular Settlement

As previously reported, the second payment of the Parttime Regular (PTR) settlement is now being processed. We set aside $750,000 to cover anyone missed during the first payments. We are now starting the processing of the second and final payment. The payment was calculated using the same criteria as the first payment. The payment amounts will range from $965 maximum to $50 dollars minimum. Please note that some employees will not qualify for a second payment due to their individual situation.

Fifty Full-time Regular Promotions

The criteria established for PTRs to be converted to a fulltime position are as follows:

1. The current PTR who has been working 28 to 30 hours per week consistently.
2. The PTR will be converted in place (same office, same days off, expanded hours).
3. Employees can request to be converted to a Full-time Custodian or as a Building Maintenance Custodian PS 5, subject to successful completion of BMC test.

The USPS and APWU jointly selected 50 employees from across the country for promotion. Each employee at the selected location will receive a letter from the USPS offering them the option to become a full-time employee. While employees will have the right to decline to be converted to a Full-time Regular (FTR), the decline must be in writing. We will select from another location if we do not receive a total of 50 PTRs seeking conversion to FTR. ■

Tentative Locations for Full Time Conversions:

You can contact the Maintenance Division at maintwebinar@apwu.org