The U.S. Postal Service and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union yesterday announced a tentative agreement on a four-year contract.
The agreement, which requires ratification by union members, affects 60,584 mail handlers. The union's executive board and members of its negotiators unanimously endorsed the agreement.
“Despite the lengthy process, we are pleased that both parties reached this tentative agreement,” said Tony Vegliante, USPS vice president, labor relations. “We believe it is in the best interests of our customers and our employees and helps preserve the quality of service the American people enjoy.”
The agreement calls for a general wage increase over four years that approximates the increase for the American Postal Workers Union in an arbitration award announced last December. That decision called for a 1.2 percent general wage increase retroactive to Nov. 28, 2000, a 1.8 percent general wage increase effective Nov. 17, 2001, and a 1.4 percent general wage increase effective Nov. 16 of this year.
In addition, mail handlers will receive a fourth wage increase, effective Nov. 15, 2003, of 1.2 percent.
The contract covers the period since the expiration of the last contract in November 2000 and runs through Nov. 20, 2004.
