The National Rural Letter Carriers` Association (NRLCA) is a labor union that represents approximately 131,000 rural letter carriers across the United States. The NRLCA recently announced updates to its collective bargaining agreement with the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The new contract includes a three-year term and a 1.3% pay increase each year for rural letter carriers. Additionally, the NRLCA negotiated improvements to employee benefits, including increased health insurance contributions and the establishment of a new employee retirement savings plan.
One notable addition to the contract is the creation of a new Rural Route Evaluated Compensation (RREC) system. This system will establish fair and equitable compensation for rural letter carriers based on the complexity and length of their delivery routes. The NRLCA has been advocating for the implementation of such a system for years, and its inclusion in the new contract is a major victory for the union.
The NRLCA and the USPS also agreed to continue exploring initiatives to address the ongoing issue of rural mail theft. The union has been pushing for increased security measures to protect rural letter carriers and their customers from mail theft, which can lead to identity theft and other forms of fraud.
Overall, the NRLCA contract update is a positive development for rural letter carriers and their communities. The improvements to pay and benefits, as well as the establishment of the RREC system, will help ensure that these vital postal workers are fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication. The continued collaboration between the NRLCA and USPS on mail theft prevention initiatives is also a promising sign of progress in addressing this pressing issue.