NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement:
NALC and USPS bargaining representatives spent most of the past week “locked down” in a Washington, DC hotel focused on negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. This intense session enabled us to work undisturbed in a neutral space towards reaching a tentative agreement.
Since last year, bargaining representatives have worked tirelessly to achieve common ground on hundreds of proposals that would benefit letter carriers and reward us for our value and contributions to the success of the Postal Service. This week’s uninterrupted negotiations resulted in progress toward resolution of numerous outstanding issues. The number of unresolved issues has narrowed significantly, and we will continue negotiations in the coming week.
As the week ends, I am more optimistic than at any earlier point in this round of collective bargaining that we can and will reach a tentative agreement that meets the moment for our members and fairly recognizes and rewards them for their dedicated work and contributions to the Postal Service. However, if negotiations break down, we are fully prepared to pursue our goals in the interest arbitration process.
As has been the case for decades, our bargaining process progresses discreetly through sensitive and substantive discussion as opposed to public campaigns in the press or on social media that would hamper our public-sector union’s efforts. I deeply appreciate the diligence and commitment to achieving results in this process from NALC’s officers, staff, and professionals, as well as the continued good faith bargaining engagement of Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino and his team.