Contract Ratification, Scholarships, and More: Looking Ahead

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

Every day, our members make important decisions for themselves and their families. As the recent Tentative Agreement went to a vote, our members were asked to make a decision that would specifically impact their wages, benefits, working conditions, and more importantly – job security. I am pleased that our membership has voted to accept the 2024-2027 Tentative Agreement. The ratification vote secures the negotiated general wage increases, cost-of- living adjustments, night differential increase, and the “no layoff” protections for all career employees with six years of service, as well as career employees with less than six years of career service that were on the rolls as of Sept. 20, 2024, for the life of the National Agreement. These, among other benefits and craft provisions, were secured in the Tentative Agreement and are now binding terms in our new collective bargaining agreement. APWU members should view this acceptance as a win for their jobs and their families, especially during these times of uncertainty.

APWU Scholarship Winners!

The 2025 Scholarship Committee met and reviewed all applications received by the May 31, 2025, deadline. The committee verified the criteria and documents outlined in the applications, with primary emphasis on the knowledge and understanding of unions displayed in the essay. The committee received 58 applications and awarded the E.C Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship to 10 recipients. Two recipients received the Vocational Scholarship, and one recipient received the scholarship for Best Essay. All applicants were required to submit a 350 to 500 word essay on one of three topics provided in the scholarship application. The 2025 scholarship recipients will be featured in the September-October 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.

Congratulations to all of the 2025 scholarship winners and best wishes as they pursue their career goals.

New Bond Coverage Period July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028.

Effective July 1, local affiliates have a new three-year term of bond coverage, which will expire June 30, 2028. The National APWU provides all affiliates with $5,000 of coverage at no cost to the local. While the Department of Labor requires all affiliates to have bond coverage for a minimum of 10 percent of the union’s liquid assets, National APWU strongly recommends all affiliates obtain bond coverage at 100 percent of all liquid assets.

Documenting all Expenditures!

To fulfill the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and IRS requirements, all authorized expenditures are required to be properly documented with an expense voucher, original receipts, approved PS Form 3917 for leave without pay (LWOP)/lost time, and mileage log, when applicable. It is important for local officers to establish what is reimbursable when properly documented and receipted, and what will be compensable at the General Services Administration (GSA) rate. Local and state treasurers should use GSA.gov to assist in determining the amount that is paid for per-diem by state and county. When authorized travel includes per-diem, it is issued in accordance with GSA guidelines. All expense vouchers should be submitted to the treasurer within 30 days of the expense. ■

Secretary-Treasurer’s Training October 3-5, 2025, Las Vegas, NV.

Be sure to register for the next Secretary-Treasurer’s Training, which will be held in Las Vegas, NV on Friday, October 3 – Sunday, October 5. Local officers will be able to register for QuickBooks Beginners, QuickBooks Refresher, and Officer’s Fiduciary Responsibilities Training. The Secretary-Treasurer Department strongly advises elected officials, specifically local presidents and treasurers, to attend at least one training session a year.