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July 10, 2025“Today, APWU members overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratifying the 2024-2027 National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the APWU and the USPS,” announced APWU President Mark Dimondstein. ratificationContractPresidentVice PresidentSecretary-TreasurerClerk Division MVS DivisionSupport Services Division “Today, APWU members overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratifying the 2024-2027 National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the APWU and the USPS,” announced APWU President Mark Dimondstein. 95% of the members who voted, voted “Yes!” in favor of ratification. The vote tally was 34,867 votes for ratification and 1,863 against.  “Congratulations APWU family! I am pleased that our membership recognized the protections that this National Agreement provides to nearly 200,000 postal workers from all divisions,” stated APWU President and lead negotiator Mark Dimondstein. “With absolutely no givebacks, the contract protects the great gains achieved over many years of struggle with the no-layoff protections, full COLA as a true buffer against inflation, regular step increases, the 50-mile limit on excessing, and the two-year automatic conversion from non-career to career. There are general wage increases for the next three years, significant advances in bridging the divisive two-tier wage structure, the first increase in night differential in 30 years, and many positive work-rule changes.  "Every member should be very proud of this huge accomplishment," he continued. "Our power at the bargaining table was driven by the strength of your solidarity and unity, the foundation of our union.”    Local and state organizations send many resolutions to APWU national conventions that help guide the national negotiators. The kickoff day of action, union gear days, and our “Union Proud, Say it Loud!” contract campaign built the message of unity and solidarity of workroom floor activism, helping secure a solid contract. The Tentative Agreement was agreed upon and finalized by the negotiating parties on June 2, with the unanimous approval of the National Negotiations Committee and full support of the National Executive Board. It was then unanimously approved by the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee and sent to the members for a ratification vote. The ratification vote was administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). A subcommittee of the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee was on site monitoring the entire vote count, which took place on July 10. “I want to thank all those members who took the time to vote on this Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is an agreement that I am proud to have helped negotiate. The National Negotiations Committee, other officers, and the support staff all worked extremely hard to bring this contract to fruition,” said Industrial Relations Director and Chief Spokesperson Charlie Cash. “But there is more work to be done to get it implemented,” he continued. Now that the APWU has ratified the new National Agreement, one of the first items to address in its implementation are the retroactive pay increases due to employees. These include the first general wage increase (GWI) of 1.3% for career employees, effective Nov.16, 2024 and the $395 per year cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) due to career employees, effective March 8, 2025.  PSEs, who do not receive COLAs, will receive an extra 1% towards their GWI, for a total of 2.3%, effective Nov. 16, 2024. APWU-represented bargaining unit employees in the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) sector will soon begin programming the payroll system that is required to make these pay changes. Once programming has been completed, retroactive payments will be made to the affected employees, with the dates of these payments to be announced. Please check apwu.org for updated information on your retroactive payments. Additionally, the APWU and the USPS are in the process of finalizing a print version of the CBA and updating the Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM). Once available, those publications will be posted on apwu.org. In the meantime, the summary terms of the Tentative Agreement can be found visiting apwu.org/tasummary. “This contract, with no givebacks or concessions, provides a strong foundation for us to build on in the years to come,” concluded APWU President Mark Dimondstein.  “At a time when government workers are facing layoffs and attacks on their union rights, this contract will protect postal workers through the turbulent years ahead.” APWU Members Ratify 2024-2027 National Agreement! 95% of Voters Say ‘YES!’ to New Union Contract0Continue reading→

July 3, 2025On July 3, Trump's tax-and-spending reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) passed by narrow margins in the House and Senate, giving $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy paid for by the working class. While we successfully fought off the threats most affecting postal workers, we can't lose sight of the fact that this bill is no doubt a crushing blow to millions of working families across the nation. LegislationLegislative and Political Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives narrowly passed President Trump’s tax-and-spending reconciliation bill after its passage in the Senate just two days ago. H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” gives $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, paid for by the working class. The bill slashes Medicaid, food assistance, and green-energy programs while it expands tax breaks and increases defense spending. But thanks to an all-hands on deck campaign by postal and federal union members, every direct attack on our retirement security was stripped from the bill before its final passage. In the House and Senate, Democrats were united in voting against the bill. A few Republicans broke with their party to join Democrats in opposition, including Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Rand Paul (KY), and Susan Collins (ME). In the House, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) all found the bill to be not-so-beautiful and voted against it. After Vice President JD Vance broke a tie in the Senate on Tuesday and the House of Representatives passed the bill today, it is now headed to the president's desk to be signed into law. As you may recall, earlier versions of the bill in the House and Senate contained many disastrous provisions aimed at postal and federal workers, including: Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity contribution rate for all active employees to 4.4%, resulting in a direct pay cut for any active employee hired before 2014; Replacing the High-3 FERS annuity calculation with a High-5 calculation, resulting in a reduction in annuity payments; Eliminating the FERS Social Security supplement, which allows workers who have earned their retirement the ability to retire before their Social Security benefits begin; Increasing the FERS annuity contribution rate for new hires; Establishing a filing fee for the Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals; Disposing of the Postal Service’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet and rescinding EV funding. Thanks to the tireless activism of APWU members, and our coalition of postal and federal allies, the final version of the reconciliation bill contains NONE of these attacks!  “This was a direct result of APWU member activism and shows our collective power,” said APWU Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard. “I want to thank every member who picked up the phone, sent an email, wrote a letter, or who personally met with their member of Congress. You have shown that even when the odds are stacked against us, we can win!” While we successfully fought off the threats most affecting postal workers, we cannot lose sight of the fact that this bill is no doubt a crushing blow to millions of working families across the nation. “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," declared APWU President Dimondstein. "What is dubbed as ‘The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ is beautiful if you are part of the 1%, the fossil fuel industry, or multi-national defense contractors. For the rest of us, the working folks, this is as ugly as it gets.” Dimondstein continued, “We are pleased that through concerted efforts, including from our members and the APWU, the major attacks on federal and postal retirement benefits were stripped out of the final package. But let’s be clear: Congress shamefully voted for a massive transfer of wealth from the working and low-income people to make permanent $4 trillion in tax breaks for corporate America, Wall Street and the fat cats. It should never be acceptable to reward those who need it the least by taking away Medicaid health care benefits, nutritional assistance and educational support from those who need it the most.” Although many harmful provisions were successfully removed from this bill, we ask that you continue to stay vigilant. There are other dangerous bills currently moving through Congress and the APWU will keep you informed of our future fights. Reconciliation Legislation Passes - Attacks on Postal Pensions DEFEATED0Continue reading→