The Postal Service has announced it reached a tentative agreement with the American Postal Workers Union on a new collective bargaining agreement, nearly four months after its last contract was set to expire.
Union members still must ratify the 4.5-year contract but its "rank and file" bargaining advisory committee has approved it unanimously.
According to USPS, the contract will enable "a more flexible and cost-effective workforce to accommodate America’s changing mailing trends."
It said provisions to control labor costs and enhance workforce flexibility to respond to changes in workload were among its priorities in the face of having to compete with the private sector while operating under federal regulation and congressional oversight.
APWU noted that the contract provides a 3.5 percent wage increase over its duration while retaining cost of living allowances and safeguards against layoffs. It said the contract includes "innovative approaches to safeguarding jobs, returns outsourced work to members, and limits excessing" – or when management re-tools schedules and work locations.
APWU represents about 200,000 postal workers.
Negotiations with another union, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association which represents about 115,000, remain ongoing and could wind up in arbitration if a negotiated resolution is not reached.
Negotiations with two more unions representing another 250,000 postal employees are set to begin November 20.
