06/03/2026
🚨 CONTRACT UPDATE: WHAT MEMBERS ARE HEARING 🚨
The following information includes a mix of officially reported bargaining updates and reports from members who attended recent meeting. Some items remain UNCONFIRMED until official proposals or contract language are released.
According to notes shared from the recent Collective Bargaining Conference and member discussions:
📌 USPS and NALC have not reached a tentative agreement and negotiations have moved into mediation. The current contract remains in effect while bargaining continues.
📌 Reports from attendee(s) indicate USPS is targeting a package in the neighborhood of $4.5 billion, while some proposals sought by carriers would cost substantially more.
📌 One reported proposal included:
• 1.5% general wage increases for three years
• $750 payment to step P
• Shortened step progression to 40 weeks
📌 Discussion reportedly took place regarding an all-career workforce. Stated a package reaching approximately $30/hour starting pay and $50/hour top pay was estimated to cost around $12 billion. Postal service denied this proposal.
📌 4/10 schedules were reportedly discussed, claiming survey results showed significant member interest and that additional polling may occur.
📌 Reported discussion of AI or data-driven route adjustment systems that would rely heavily on workload and DOIS-type data. This raised concerns about management influence, route growth, and reduced carrier input in the adjustment process.
📌 Additional reports included:
• No Lead Carrier program
• Continued disagreements over overtime issues
• Discussions involving casing and route evaluation changes
What IS confirmed is that NALC entered formal negotiations in February, the contract expired May 22, and the parties are now in mediation after failing to reach a tentative agreement.
At this point, carriers should separate confirmed facts from meeting reports and rumors. However, if the reported discussions are accurate, many members will likely be focused on three major issues:
1️⃣ Pay and step progression
2️⃣ All-career workforce proposals
3️⃣ AI/DOIS-based route adjustments and inspections
As always, the details matter. Until official language is released, nothing should be considered final.
What concerns you most about what is being reported?
