Postal Workers Secure Deal for Raises, Cooler Trucks

Approximately 200,000 mail carriers have secured a tentative contract agreement with the US Postal Service, to include wage hikes and future air-conditioned trucks. While the deal awaits union member ratification, it promises improved conditions stretching through November 2026 for workers who have operated without a contract since May 2023. Both parties commended the agreement, announced Friday, as a collaborative achievement despite not every demand being met.

National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian Renfroe highlighted that the deal rewards members and acknowledges their critical contributions to the delivery network. The agreement offers progressive pay advancements, reducing the time for new workers to reach top pay, and includes retroactive increases backdated to November 2023. Renfroe praised Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for his cooperation, with the Postal Service saying this contract aligns with its long-term mission to modernize operations.

Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino emphasized the contract as "a fair and responsible agreement," benefiting employees and customers. It outlines three 1.3% annual pay raises by 2025, alongside retroactive and future cost-of-living adjustments. Importantly, the deal presses for air-conditioned mail trucks, already integrated with new electric delivery vehicles aimed at enhancing safety and durability. The contract mandates discussions on any non-air-conditioned vehicle purchases. As discussions progress, rural carriers remain unaffected due to their separate union representation, while this marks the second contract negotiation under DeJoy's leadership since 2020. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)