The NALC Executive Council met at NALC Headquarters in Washington, DC, this week to continue preparations for the next round of collective bargaining. Negotiations with the Postal Service will officially begin in February 2026, as the current National Agreement is set to expire on May 22, 2026.
During this week’s meeting, the Executive Council discussed priorities and key economic components of the National Agreement as part of the ongoing collective-bargaining preparation process. While at Headquarters, NALC’s six collective-bargaining subcommittees, composed of Executive Council members and letter carrier staff, are continuing to meet to review information and develop bargaining proposals. Following last month’s national rap session in Cleveland, OH, subcommittees are reviewing members’ feedback, suggestions and ideas received at the event.
An entire day of the national rap session was devoted to attendees hearing from each subcommittee and learning about the articles of the National Agreement they are working on, as well as the ideas and proposals the subcommittees have discussed so far. A significant portion of each presentation was dedicated to attendee questions and feedback. Subcommittee members answered questions and took notes, which are now being reviewed as they work to finalize their proposals. Videos, podcasts and more from the rap session can be found at nalc.org/2025rap.
Additionally, subcommittees have reviewed a wide range of materials, including official NALC bargaining positions, prior bargaining proposals, collective-bargaining agreements of other unions, and reports from the Rank-and-File Committee that met in mid-September.
Next month, a second Rank-and-File Committee will convene outside of Washington, DC. Organized into groups of branch leaders, contract enforcers and newer members, the committee undertakes a weeklong review process similar to that used by the Executive Council and staff on the bargaining subcommittees. As with the first Rank-and-File Committees, the input they provide will offer valuable guidance for the subcommittees as they refine and finalize their proposals.
NALC will continue to provide updates on the collective-bargaining preparation process.
