Daily News: March 18, 2022

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Labor update

NRLCA approves new contract
The NRLCA represents more than 132,000 rural carriers nationwide.

The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association membership has ratified a new three-year labor contract with the Postal Service.

The contract covers more than 132,000 rural carriers represented by the union.

Highlights of the agreement include annual general wage increases, semiannual cost-of-living adjustments, measures designed to stabilize work schedules, increased flexibility to use rural carrier associates, and an interim process to expedite implementation of the revised standards from the Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System study.

“This agreement is economically responsible, fair to our employees and serves the best interests of our customers,” said Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Tulino.

“The agreement aligns with the Delivering for America 10-year plan’s intent to provide reliable, value-driven mail and package delivery service to all Americans in fulfillment of our universal service obligation.”

The new agreement runs through May 20, 2024.

Adjusting the work environment

Learn more about reasonable accommodations
Sign language interpretation is an example of a reasonable accommodation.

All federal agencies, including the Postal Service, must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, unless to do so would cause undue hardship for the Postal Service.

Whether an accommodation would cause undue hardship is assessed by the Postal Service on a case-by-case basis.

The goals of an accommodation are to enable a person with a disability to:

• Be considered for a desired position;

• Perform the essential functions of their position; and

• Enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as do similarly situated individuals without disabilities.

Accommodations vary with each individual and may include modifications to work processes, equipment, facilities, nonessential job duties and work schedules. Some physical examples include providing footstools, stand-up desks and ergonomic keyboards.

Services from sign language interpreters and job coaches are other examples of reasonable accommodations.

Employees who believe they may need a reasonable accommodation should make the request to their supervisor or manager.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a civil rights law, is the basis for these requirements.

Policy handbooks, guidance memos, forms and training courses are available on the Reasonable Accommodation Blue page.

 

What’s next?

Getting ready for retirement
The March 24 session will help employees prepare for retirement.

Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on preparing for retirement.

The session, “Retirement 101,” will be held Thursday, March 24, at noon EDT.

An Aetna representative will conduct the webinar, which will cover how retirement benefits work, including tools and resources to help employees plan changes.

Participants must register before the event on the webinar website. Following the session, every registrant will receive an email with a link to a recording of it.

Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.

The USPS Wellness LiteBlue page also has retirement planning information.

For more information, email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.