During this week’s meeting, the Executive Council discussed priorities and key economic components of the National Agreement as part of the ongoing collective-bargaining preparation process. While at Headquarters, NALC’s six collective-bargaining subcommittees, composed of Executive Council members and letter carrier staff, are continuing to meet to review information and develop bargaining proposals. Following last month’s national rap session in Cleveland, OH, subcommittees are reviewing members’ feedback, suggestions and ideas received at the event.

An entire day of the national rap session was devoted to attendees hearing from each subcommittee and learning about the articles of the National Agreement they are working on, as well as the ideas and proposals the subcommittees have discussed so far. A significant portion of each presentation was dedicated to attendee questions and feedback. Subcommittee members answered questions and took notes, which are now being reviewed as they work to finalize their proposals. Videos, podcasts and more from the rap session can be found at nalc.org/2025rap.

Additionally, subcommittees have reviewed a wide range of materials, including official NALC bargaining positions, prior bargaining proposals, collective-bargaining agreements of other unions, and reports from the Rank-and-File Committee that met in mid-September.

Next month, a second Rank-and-File Committee will convene outside of Washington, DC. Organized into groups of branch leaders, contract enforcers and newer members, the committee undertakes a weeklong review process similar to that used by the Executive Council and staff on the bargaining subcommittees. As with the first Rank-and-File Committees, the input they provide will offer valuable guidance for the subcommittees as they refine and finalize their proposals.

NALC will continue to provide updates on the collective-bargaining preparation process.

Today, the Postal Service announced its Fiscal Year 2025 financial results, reporting a net loss of $9 billion, a $542 million decrease from last year. These results reinforce the need for continued policy changes and network modernization to achieve long-term financial sustainability.

For years, NALC led the fight to repeal the retiree health care pre-funding mandate. This was achieved in the Postal Service Reform Act. Today, we continue to say what we said then – more must be done.

First, rather than being a creditor to the taxpayer-funded government, the Postal Service must be allowed to diversify the investments of the hundreds of billions of dollars it is currently required to invest in U.S. Treasury bonds. In addition, the Office of Personnel Management must rectify the decades-long overallocation of Civil Service Retirement System liabilities to the USPS. These reforms would provide both immediate and long-term financial relief, allowing the Postal Service to make overdue investments in its infrastructure to modernize its processing and delivery networks.

The Postal Service is an independent, non-taxpayer-funded agency. It has long been expected to operate like a business while providing a critical public service under direct congressional oversight. Congress must enact these commonsense reforms so letter carriers and all postal employees can do what we do best for another 250 years – serving the American people every day.

At this week’s meeting, Executive Council members engaged in discussions regarding economic elements of the National Agreement. Internal bargaining subcommittees also continue to meet regularly to review information relevant to their assigned articles of the National Agreement and develop proposals for submission in the bargaining process. Click here for a list of the subcommittees that each Executive Council member has chosen to serve on, along with the related National Agreement articles.

The materials being reviewed by subcommittees include official NALC bargaining positions adopted through national convention resolutions, proposals from previous rounds of bargaining, collective-bargaining agreements from other unions, and reports from the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee. Click here for more information.

At the upcoming National Rap Session scheduled for Nov. 21-23 in Cleveland, OH, subcommittees will share information with branch and state leaders about their progress and what’s ahead. Workshops on Saturday, Nov. 22, are open to all attendees and will educate members about the collective-bargaining process and the ongoing work of the bargaining subcommittees. The subcommittees, which are comprised of Executive Council members as well as select Headquarters letter carrier staff, will explain the subjects they are working on as NALC prepares for the next round of collective bargaining beginning next year. The workshops will also include a roundtable discussion between the subcommittees and the membership. Discussions during the workshops are open to everyone.

The Rap Session on Sunday, Nov. 23, is open to any member in attendance; however, only current branch and state association presidents, or their authorized designees, are eligible to ask questions at the microphones in the Rap Session. President Renfroe will cover a variety of topics at the Rap Session, including the economic portion of collective bargaining.

A complete schedule of events is provided here.

The Executive Council is scheduled to meet again prior to the Rap Session later this month. NALC will continue to provide updates on the collective-bargaining preparation process.