USPS, National Postal Mail Handlers reach tentative agreement

The U.S. Postal Service and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union have reached a tentative five-year contract agreement.

Upon ratification by union members, the agreement will run through Nov. 20, 2011, and it will affect approximately 55,000 career employees who are engaged in bulk transfer, loading and unloading of mail.

The USPS and NPMHU formally opened national contract negotiations on Aug. 21.

Last week, the USPS and the American Postal Workers Union and the National Rural Letters Carriers' Association agreed to tentative four-year contracts.

The APWU said a referendum mailing concerning the tentative 2006 to 2010 APWU-USPS contract will be sent to union members between Dec. 18 and 20. Returned ballots must be received by Jan. 9, and the vote count will begin immediately.

Negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers were not successful and the two parties are entering into the dispute resolution process, which may include binding interest arbitration.