NALC – 2/19/25 – The NALC Executive Council met today to consider the progress made during the 15-day negotiation period that followed the reopening of contract negotiations with the Postal Service on Feb. 3, pursuant to Article 16 of the NALC Constitution. The Council voted unanimously to not agree to terms with the Postal Service that would have produced a modified tentative agreement to be sent to eligible members for a second ratification vote. NALC has notified USPS officials that we are now at impasse on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The parties’ ongoing dispute over terms of a new agreement will now be decided in the interest arbitration process. The parties have selected Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan to serve as the chair of the three-person arbitration panel. Information on hearing dates for interest arbitration will be shared as soon as the schedule is confirmed.
“While there was some movement on the issues that matter to letter carriers during this 15-day period of good faith bargaining, it was not enough to produce a fair contract for the active members of NALC. We have been preparing our case for interest arbitration since before we officially opened this round of contract negotiations,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We have built a strong case, and we will fight like hell in interest arbitration to achieve the best collective bargaining agreement for letter carriers that the process can produce.”
What a difference a few days makes. Renfroe said that the NALC had been preparing for years for the interest arbitration; he’s going to wish they had exercised it. The present time doesn’t seem to be the best to enter into arbitration, but due to Renfroe and company dilly dallying this is what we’re left with. Now it unfortunately for the members looks like he will achieve his goal of “helping” the USPS after all. You know, I just watched Renfroe on one of his video messages. It’s clear from the view outside his window that he’s in his office, yet he’s wearing a sweatshirt with a hoodie. This cat makes what, $225 large and sits in an expensive office we pay for and can’t even dress professionally. Change the damn by laws and make these people adhere to a dress code like we have to. If you’re the president, then dress like the president and not like the custodian.
Over 500 days for a crappy TA that Renfroe tried to sell as “ the best we could get” when now he’s going to fight like hell huh. There is no fighting in interest arbitration. Both sides make their case and there’s a decision, that’s it. He should have been fighting during negotiations but there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of that. This union has gone to hell from what it used to be and it’s sad. You can thank Fred Rolando who picked Renfroe over Lew Drass and look what it got us. Renfroe should have put a four month limit on negotiations and then gone straight to arbitration; the bottom is now so low for raises that if we win better pay it’s not likely to be substantial. Carriers all over the country want to know what’s going on in the new facilities with the routes but the NALC director of city delivery talks about the new programs on your scanner and other superfluous things. He loves how clean and airy these places are, just don’t ask him about the travel time and if the routes are being cut or anything really important. Lew would not have done us like this