As you know, the Postal Service (USPS) and National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) ratified and signed a new collective bargaining agreement on March 23, 2022, approximately 6 months ago. The new ratified agreement covers the period May 21, 2021 through May 20, 2024, and provides much-deserved general wage increases and cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments for rural letter carriers, including retroactive general wage increases dating back to August 2021 and COLA adjustments for July 2021 and January 2022.
We were advised by USPS officials that due to antiquated USPS software issues, the retro payments due and owing to rural carriers would not be made until May of 2023.
Upon learning this new information, I called Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and he was able to move up the retro pay date to January 31, 2023. While I appreciate the efforts of the PMG, a 10-month delay demonstrates a total lack of respect for rural carriers and is outrageous and completely unacceptable! While we are glad to have a date to look forward to, we are continuing to demand an appropriate remedy for all affected rural carriers. We filed a national-level grievance in August and if a suitable remedy is not agreed to by the parties, we will immediately move the issue to National Arbitration. The reality is the USPS has known for years that its software is outdated and that it must make retro payments every contract cycle. Enough is enough. We will not be party to giving management interest-free loans on the backs of our carriers!