In recent news, the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for clerks and employees in the maintenance and motor vehicle services. This update comes after months of negotiations and will impact over 200,000 postal workers across the country.
One of the key changes in the contract is an increase in wages for employees. The agreement includes a 3.5% increase in pay over the course of the three-year contract, with retroactive pay dating back to November 2018. In addition, there will be a general wage increase of 1.3% in November 2019 and a second increase of 1.1% in November 2020.
Another significant change in the contract is a reduction of the employer share of health care premiums. Currently, USPS employees pay a higher percentage of their health care premiums compared to other federal employees. The new contract would gradually reduce this percentage until it is in line with the rest of the federal workforce.
The contract also includes new provisions for career development, such as a new training program for maintenance employees and increased opportunities for employees to move up the career ladder. Additionally, there will be improvements to the process for filling open positions and the introduction of new technology to improve efficiency and safety in the workplace.
This news is a relief to many USPS employees who have been working without a contract since November 2018. The agreement still needs to be ratified by APWU members, but if approved, it will provide stability and security for postal workers across the country.
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