Pay Information
This page includes information for APWU members about pay and benefits including pay scales, COLA information, promotion charts and leave allowances.
Pay Scales from the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement
Pay Scales in the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement
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COLA Information
Night Shift Differential
For time worked between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., employees shall be paid additional compensation at the applicable flat dollar amount at each pay grade and step.
For Employees Covered by the National Agreement
For Employees Covered by the IT/AS Agreement
For Employees Covered by the HRSSC Agreement
For Employees Covered by the National Nurses Agreement
Promotion Charts
(Updated 01/25/23) These charts answer the question: Upon promotion, what pay step in the promoted grade will I get?
One chart covers the portion of the pay schedule that applies to employees hired before May 23, 2011. The second chart covers the portion of the schedule that applies to employees hired after May 22, 2011.
These charts are current, correct, and agreed to with the Postal Service. The USPS payroll systems should be reprogramed to reflect this information.
Note: The charts in the ELM and some other places are outdated and not in use.
How to Use This Chart:
- In the shaded 'From Grade' sections, find the grade and step from which the employee is being promoted.
- In the shaded 'To Grade' section immediately below the section identified above, move down to the grade to which the employee is being promoted.
- Move across to the right from the grade to which promoted, and down from the step from which promoted, and assign the intersecting step. Example, an employee is promoted from a grade 4, step H in schedule-2 to a grade 6 in schedule-2. Go to the section marked "From Grade 4" and move across to step H. Next go down to grade 6 in the light shaded section, and move across to until to come to the intersection at step H. Assign step H as the step to which promoted.
Promotion Charts
Annual Leave
Leave Charts
Employees earn sick and annual leave in accordance with postal regulations found in Subchapter 510 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM). Article 10, Section 2, of the National Agreement provides that "The leave regulations in Subchapter 510 of the [ELM], insofar as such regulations establish wages, hours or working conditions of employees covered by this Agreement, shall remain in effect for the life of this Agreement."
Full-time career employees earn annual leave based on their number of creditable years of service in accordance with the following accrual chart:
| Leave Category | Creditable Service | Maximum Leave Per Year |
|---|---|---|
|
4 |
Less than 3 years |
4 hours for each full biweekly pay period; i.e., 104 hours (13 days) per 26-period leave year. |
|
6 |
3 years but less than 15 years |
6 hours for each full biweekly pay period plus 4 hours in last full pay period in calendar year; i.e., 160 hours (20 days) per 26-period leave year. |
|
8 |
15 years or more. |
8 hours for each full biweekly pay period; i.e., 208 hours (26 days) per 26-period leave year. |
Part-time employees earn annual leave based on their hours worked in accordance with the following chart:
| Leave Category | Years of Creditable Service | Maximum Leave per Year | Rate of Accrual | Hours in Pay Status | Hours of Leave Earned per Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
Less than |
104 hours, or 13 days per 26-period leave year or 4 hours for each biweekly pay period. |
1 hour for each unit of 20 hours pay in status. |
20 |
1 |
|
6 |
3 years |
160 hours, or 20 days per 26-period leave year or 6 hours for each full biweekly pay period.* |
1 hour for each unit of 13 hours in a pay status. |
13 |
1 |
|
8 |
15 years |
208 hours, or 26 days per 26-period leave year or 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period. |
1 hour for each unit of 10 hours in pay status. |
10 |
1 |
|
*Except that the accrual for the last pay period of the calendar year may be 10 hours, provided the employee has the 130 creditable hours or more in a pay status in the leave year for leave purposes. |
|||||
Sick Leave
Sick leave for all career employees is accrued as follows:
| Employee Category | Full-time employees |
|---|---|
|
Full-time employees |
4 hours for each full biweekly pay period - i.e., 13 days (104 hours) per 26-period leave year. |
|
Part-time employees |
1 hour for each unit of 20 hours in pay status up to 104 hours (13 days) per 26-period leave year.
|
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