WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) have voted to reject the tentative agreement proposed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), signaling continued frustration over their working conditions and compensation. A total of 63,680 union members voted against the agreement, while 26,304 voted in favor, the NALC announced on Friday.

In response to the rejection, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said the union would reopen negotiations within five days. "In a democratic vote, the will of NALC’s membership has been made clear," Renfroe stated. "The tentative agreement that represented the best offer the Postal Service put on the table is not good enough for America’s city letter carriers. We have earned more and we deserve more."

The USPS has yet to provide a response to the union's decision as of Monday morning.

A Lengthy Negotiation Process

The NALC reached the tentative agreement with USPS regarding the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement on October 17, 2024. Ballots for voting were mailed starting on December 9, with a deadline for return set for January 13, 2025. Despite the offer being seen as a potential resolution, the membership's overwhelming rejection highlights ongoing concerns about wage increases, working conditions, and job security for postal workers.

Key Features of the Tentative Agreement

If approved, the tentative agreement would last until November 7, 2026, and would introduce several changes to the terms of employment for city letter carriers, including wage increases and new anti-discrimination clauses.

Key provisions of the agreement include:

• Wage Increases: All city letter carriers would receive general wage increases of 1.3% in each year of the contract, which represents a slight increase over the previous wage increase of 1.1% proposed. The wage hikes would be retroactive, starting on November 18, 2023, followed by additional increases on November 16, 2024, and November 15, 2025.

• Anti-Discrimination Clause: The agreement includes a provision protecting employees from pregnancy discrimination, as well as a change in language to replace the term "handicapped employees" with "individuals with disabilities."

• Juneteenth Holiday: In recognition of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday in 2021, the proposed agreement includes the observance of Juneteenth as an official holiday for all full-time and part-time, regularly-scheduled employees. This brings the total number of holidays for postal workers to 11.

• Safety Committees: The agreement calls for the establishment of a District Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee, which would meet quarterly to address workplace safety concerns at the district level.

• Uniform Allowances: The agreement proposes an increase in annual allowances for uniform costs, which would rise to $536 in May 2025, with an additional $125 for newly eligible carriers. The allowance would increase further to $549 in May 2026, with an additional $128 for new carriers. Additionally, the agreement would allow employees to carry over unused portions of their uniform allowance.

Union's Response to the Rejection

Despite these concessions, NALC President Renfroe made it clear that the union is prepared to continue fighting for better terms. "The NALC is well prepared to fight like hell for a better contract," he said in a statement following the vote. The union has expressed dissatisfaction with the wage increases, which many feel do not adequately compensate postal workers for the demanding and often hazardous nature of their jobs.

Renfroe and other union leaders have emphasized that while they recognize some progress in the proposed agreement, more significant improvements are necessary, especially in terms of wages, safety, and overall working conditions. As of now, it remains unclear whether a new round of negotiations will lead to a revised agreement or if the dispute will escalate into a labor action.

The Future of USPS Labor Negotiations

With over 300,000 letter carriers represented by the NALC across the U.S., the rejection of the tentative agreement underscores ongoing tensions between postal workers and the USPS. The result of this vote may not only impact the lives of USPS employees but could also have broader implications for the Postal Service, which faces mounting challenges related to mail delivery efficiency, cost-cutting measures, and competition from private carriers.

As negotiations resume, union leaders and postal employees alike will be looking for a contract that better reflects the value of their work and addresses longstanding issues in the postal service workforce.