Close This Window

FYI

General Pay Increase Takes Effect Nov. 27

APWU-represented workers on Nov. 27 will receive a 1.3 percent increase in their annual salaries. The increase will be based on wages as of Sept. 13, 2003. This is the second increase under the 2002 contract extension that is based on the 2003 salary level. All previous pay increases under the National Agreement had a “base-salary date” of Sept. 9, 2000.

Effective with Pay Period 26-04, this pay hike will be reflected in paychecks issued Dec. 10. Also effective in that pay period will be a dues increase in compliance with Article 16, Section 2, of the APWU National Constitution and Bylaws.

Based on the 1.3 percent salary increase, the raise in salary means an automatic dues increase of 60 cents per member per pay period for career employees, and 41 cents per member per pay period for transitional employees.

Thirty cents of the 60-cent increase goes to the career employees’ locals, 16 cents goes to the national union’s general fund, and 14 cents goes to the union’s private-sector organizing fund. The new National Per Capita Tax is $7.78 per pay period from each career employee’s paycheck, which includes $7.36 per capita for the general fund and 42 cents for the organizing fund.

Of the 41-cent increase coming from transitional employees, 20 cents will go to their locals, 11 cents will go to the National Per Capita fund, and 10 cents will go to the union’s organizing fund. A transitional employee’s dues deduction each paycheck will be $5.93: $5.63 retained at the national level and 30 cents going to the organizing fund

A Message from Greg Bell, Director, Industrial Relations Director

The APWU has been informed that payment to employees as a result of the "Sunday premium" settlement will be in the paychecks for pay period 26, to be distributed on Dec. 17, 2004.

The settlement provided that any employee whose regular schedule included a period of service, any part of which was within the period between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday, including those employees on court leave, military leave or continuation of pay (COP), who was not paid Sunday premium for each hour or COP, military leave, and court leave during those periods of service from February 2000 through the present, as a result of disputed changes to the Employees and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) made in calendar year 2000, shall receive payment at the then-current rate for Sunday premium not paid.

In addition, where a discipline arbitration award or settlement included back pay, those employees entitled to Sunday premium payment are entitled to be paid Sunday premium with interest at the then-current interest rate.

The settlement required the Postal Service to rescind the disputed ELM changes and to restore the provisions and administrative practices that were previously in effect prior to the 2000 changes.

In addition, the Postal service was required to supply APWU local presidents and APWU Regional Coordinators with a list of affected employees. In the event there is a dispute over whether an employee is eligible for payment, the dispute will be referred to the parties at the national level.

Penalty Overtime Exclusion

As referenced in Article 8, Sections 4 and 5, of the USPS-NALC and USPS-APWU national agreements, the December period (during which penalty overtime regulations are not applicable) consists of 4 consecutive service weeks. This year, the December period begins Pay Period 26-04 - Week 2 (December 4, 2004) - and ends Pay Period 01-05 - Week 1 (December 31, 2004).

Watch this window for other important information.

Close This Window