05/22/2026
NALC, USPS head to mediation on new collective-bargaining agreement
Greetings:
After three months of intense negotiations, NALC and the Postal Service have made progress, but have not reached tentative agreement on the terms of a new collective-bargaining agreement. The current agreement, which expires at midnight tonight, Friday, May 22, 2026, will remain in full force and effect until a new negotiated or arbitrated agreement takes effect.
Beginning May 17, the entire NALC Executive Council, along with Headquarters letter carrier staff, legal counsel and professional staff, came together with the Postal Service’s bargaining team at a Washington, DC, hotel for the entire final week of the contract in an attempt to reach a deal with USPS. A mandatory 60-day mediation period will follow, as required by statute. During that period, NALC will continue to work toward reaching a negotiated agreement with the Postal Service. After the mediation period, unresolved issues would be addressed through an interest arbitration process, which would result in a final and binding decision on the contents of a new National Agreement. The parties will select a neutral arbitrator to chair an arbitration board that would also include one management and one union arbitrator.
Please visit the link below for more information and don’t forget to tune in the Member’s Only Portal at 9PM Eastern Time tonight for the livestream of the collective bargaining update.
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-usps-head-to-mediation-on-new-collective-bargaining-agreement
In unity,
John Robles
National Business Agent
NALC Region 4
