January February Contract Update

When the main union contract between the APWU and USPS expired on Sept. 20, 2024, the APWU negotiating team “stopped the clock,” meaning that we felt we were making some positive progress and could still come to an agreement with the Postal Service by continuing to negotiate without going into mediation and interest arbitration. By stopping the clock, we could ensure that all the bene ts guaranteed in the expired contract would stay in effect. The negotiating team continues to make slow but steady progress. So far, the process is taking a similar path to the last round of bargaining. In 2021, the APWU and USPS also agreed to stop the clock. Three months after that decision, both sides were able to reach a tentative agreement (TA), which the Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee approved, and sent to the membership for a rati cation vote. But this round of negotiations has a new ingredient. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) recently reached a TA, and their ratification vote is currently underway. The APWU Negotiating Committee has done a deep analysis of its terms, as it potentially has an impact on our negotiations. Regardless of whether the NALC membership decides to ratify their January 2025 TA, the APWU will continue to meet weekly with the Postal Service, exchange ideas, and push forward for a strong, new contract. Our goal remains to achieve a good TA that the Rank-and-File Committee would approve and send out for the membership's vote. If we don’t achieve a TA that both sides agree to, negotiations will move forward to interest arbitration. In the meantime, we encourage members to wear union gear on Gear Day Thursdays in solidarity with the negotiating team. When members wear APWU gear on the workroom floor, we are telling management that we are all united for a strong, new contract. Union Proud – Say it Loud!