Uniform allowances, letter carrier safety and wages are among the key issues for some union members in the ongoing contract negotiations between the U.S. Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers union.
Discussions over a new contract were reopened until mid-February between the postal service and the NALC after union members voted to reject a proposed collective bargaining agreement by a margin of 63,680 to 26,304, the NALC said Jan. 31.
The proposed contract included protections against discrimination for pregnant workers, an annual general pay increase of 1.3%, and semiannual cost-of-living adjustments.
But some union members who spoke with USA TODAY said the proposal fell short on issues like uniform allowances, letter carrier safety and the amount of time it takes for employees to reach top pay. The postal service did not respond to a request for comment on employee concerns.