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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2002
Release No. 02-008
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association Award Announced
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The neutral arbitrator of a three-member interest arbitration panel announced today a new four-year agreement between the Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association.
"The Postal Service always prefers to reach a negotiated contract with its unions. It is unfortunate that the parties were unable to settle their differences short of resorting to the dispute resolution process. I am hopeful that the parties can once again resolve matters jointly in the future," said Anthony Vegliante, vice president, Labor Relations. "We're pleased that this process is behind us and I thank everyone who worked with me in these proceedings."
The arbitration decision, which affects over 118,000 rural carriers provides for a 5.6% general wage increase over four years effective as follows from:
- 11/18/00, a 1.2% increase of the salary schedule in effect on 9/9/00;
- 11/17/01, a 1.8% increase to the salary schedule in effect on 9/9/00;
- 11/16/02, a 1.4% increase to the salary schedule in effect on 9/9/00;
- 11/15/03, a 1.2% increase of the salary schedule in effect on 9/9/00; and
- the continuation of cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) formula and payments; a lump sum cash payment of $499 in lieu of COLA payments will be paid for the first year of the contract
- the equivalent of a one pay level upgrade; and a $300 wage increase to the rural carrier evaluated salary schedule; both pay adjustments could only be awarded due to the changes effected in the standards which are to be utilized in the 2002 national mail count
- The flat mail casing standard will be increased form 8 to 10 pieces per minute
- The letter mail casing standard will be increased from 16 to 18 pieces per minute
- Strapout of mail will be increased from 60 to 70 pieces per minute; and
- The definition of letter size mail will be increased from 5 to 6 1/8 inches in width
The Postal Service secured a 2002 national mail count for all rural routes beginning February 28 and ending March 13, 2002. Future national mail counts will be four weeks in length in 2003 and three weeks in 2004, starting on the Saturday preceding the Presidents' Day holiday in February in each of those two years.
Additionally, beginning with the 2002 national mail count, the coverage factor applied to the regular box allowance for L routes will be increased from 82% (1.64 minutes per box) to 91% (1.82 minutes per box).
After reaching impasse in negotiating a new contract on November 19, 1999, the Postal Service and the Rural Carriers continued discussions and, in February 2000, agreed to a one-year extension of the 1995-1999 National Agreement. The extension expired on November 20, 2000.
The new contract is a four-year contract and covers the period since the expiration of the extension to the 1995-1999 National Agreement. Provision was made for an additional fifth year, if the parties agree to certain economic provisions associated with the comparable time period in either the American Postal Workers Union (AFL-CIO) or the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) National Agreements.
The three-member arbitration panel was selected through a negotiated process by the Postal Service and the NRLCA, with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The interest arbitration decision is final and binding on the parties.
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