The United States Postal Service has successfully negotiated a provisional contract with the union representing close to 200,000 mail carriers.

This agreement spans from 2023 to 2026 and includes adjustments for the cost of living throughout its duration. Additionally, mail carriers will receive three salary increases of 1.3%, two of which will be retroactive.

“After nearly two years of dedicated negotiations, we are thrilled to have reached a reasonable agreement that recognizes our members’ hard work and commitment to the Postal Service and the American public,” stated Brian L. Renfroe, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, in a press release.

This contract will be applicable for city mail carriers but requires approval from union members, although the timeline for the voting process has yet to be disclosed.

Union Contract Mandates Air Conditioning in Mail Carrier Vehicles

One key requirement of the agreement is that the Postal Service must provide air-conditioned vehicles for mail carriers. Should the Postal Service aim to purchase non-air-conditioned vehicles, this will necessitate further negotiations with the union.

As per the Associated Press, the Postal Service started replacing its existing fleet with Next Generation Delivery Vehicles in September, all of which include air conditioning.

The contract enhances overtime protections and establishes a pay rate of 2.5 times the base salary for any overtime exceeding 12 hours. Additionally, the union achieved an increase in the maximum pay rate and a reduced duration for carriers to reach the highest pay tier.

It’s noteworthy that the union had operated without a contract since May 2023.