US Postal Service and rural carriers agree contract extension

The U.S. Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) have extended their collective bargaining agreement by two years. Postmaster General Jack Potter and NRLCA President Dale Holton signed the agreement earlier this week. The existing collective bargaining agreement was originally set to expire on Nov. 20, 2004. It has now been extended to Nov. 20, 2006.

The agreement provides for a 1.3% wage increase effective Nov. 27, 2004, and a 1.3% increase effective Nov. 26, 2005. Terms of the agreement include continuing the cost-of-living allowance, establishing a standard time allowance for reloading and unloading vehicles, increasing the reimbursement rate for rural carriers who furnish their own vehicles and creating a joint task force to discuss issues related to future developments in mail delivery. All other provisions of the contract remain in effect.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service