PostalReporter.com |
NRLCA Special Edition Newsletter September 2004 (pdf) |
USPS and NRLCA Reach Tentative Two-Year Contract Extension Agreement (PDF) (8/31/04) |
Duration Two years (expiration date: November 20, 2006). General Wage Increases November 27, 2004 – 1.3% increase of the basic annual salary for the step in effect on November 20, 2004. A partial chart which shows 40-48 hours is printed at the end of this article. The effect on 12-39 hour routes is not printed only to conserve space. Hourly rate employees will receive proportional application. RCA/RCR-- Schedule 1 – increase 20˘ per hour ($15.42) Schedule 2 – increase 24˘ per hour ($18.71) On February 5, 2005 the COLA earned during the 2000-2004 Agreement will roll into RCA/RCR schedules as already provided for in the current Agreement. This will result in an 82˘ per hour increase. Accordingly, Schedule 1 employees will be paid $16.24 per hour and Schedule 2 employees will be paid $19.53 per hour. November 26, 2005 – 1.3% increase of the basic annual salary for the step in effect on November 20, 2004. A partial chart which shows 40-48 hours is printed at the end of this article. The effect on 12-39 hour routes is not printed only to conserve space. Hourly rate employees will receive proportional application. RCA/RCR--Schedule 1-increase 21˘ ($16.45 per hour) Schedule 2-increase 25˘ ($19.78 per hour) Time Standards An eighteen minute per week time allowance for reloading/unloading for all routes will be added by a base hour change, effective with the beginning of the 2005 guarantee year (October 30, 2004). EMA Increase of three cents to the base, the second pay period after theratification of the 2004 Contract Extension. Example: If the EMA rate is 41.5˘ permile at the time of ratification, the new rate will increase to 44.5˘ per mile. This threecent increase is the largest one-time upward adjustment to EMA since the advent of collective bargaining in the Postal Service. Mail Count 2005 – The only routes that will be counted are vacant routes, auxiliary routes and routes where either the regular carrier or employer opts for a count. Four weeks - February 18 – March 18 (includes a holiday). 2006 – The only routes that will be counted are vacant routes, auxiliary routes and routes where either the regular carrier or employer opts for a count. Two weeks - February 24 – March 9. COLA Continuation COLA will be retained and will be calculated and added to the basic annual salary the second full pay period after the release of the CPI-W in: January 2005 July 2005 January 2006 July 2006 RCA’s An amount equal to the COLA paid to full-time rural carriers on an hourly basis will be rolled into RCA/RCR hourly rates two full pay periods after the release of the July 2006 Consumer Price Index. This is five months earlier than in any previous agreement. RURAL CARRIER ASSOCIATE/RURAL CARRIER RELIEF SCHEDULES STRAIGHT-TIME HOURLY WAGE RATES
Rural carrier associate/relief straight-time hourly rates listed at page 127 will be revised as follows: Effective Date Schedule 1* Schedule 2** 7) 11/27/04 $15.42 $18.71 (This schedule reflects the 1.3% general wage increase)
8) 2/5/05 $16.24 $19.53 (This schedule reflects COLA roll-in from the 2000 Agreement)
9) 11/26/05 $16.45 $19.78 (This schedule reflects the 1.3% general wage increase)
An amount equal to the COLA paid to full-time rural carriers on an hourly basis under the 2004 Contract Extension will be rolled into RCA/RCR hourly rates two full pay periods after the release of the July 2006 consumer price index.
* Applies to rural carrier associates hired beginning August 24, 1991. ** Applies to rural carrier associates and rural carrier relief employees on the rolls prior to August 24, 1991. Health Insurance Employer contribution for bi-weekly premiums for health insurance continues as is. Future Developments Provides for the formation of a Task Force to discuss future developments that may impact the rural carrier craft, such as DPS flats and Delivery Point Packaging; to address effectiveness, and minimize adverse impacts on the rural carrier craft, postal customers and Postal Service. Memorandums of Understanding All are to remain in force for this extension. Examples: Joint Education Training Fund Right-Hand Drive Incentive Sick Leave for Dependent Care Leave Sharing As you can see, all of the items listed above are significant gains for the rural carrier craft. There are no concessions or “givebacks” associated with any of these gains. The NRLCA National Board believes that this contract extension is beneficial to the entire rural craft and we strongly encourage each of you to vote yes, in favor of ratification.
The wage increase will be for all regular route evaluations from 12 hours to 48 hours. The partial chart printed below indicates the actual dollar amount of the 1.3% increase for each general wage increase for 40-48 hours and steps A-12. This is the amount that will be added to the basic salary schedule on November 27, 2004 and again on November 26, 2005. |