Mail industry groups are cautious about the new three-year labor settlement reached between the U.S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, although at least two think the pact needs to be studied more closely as to how it will affect USPS finances.
“On first review, we are encouraged that it appears as if the arbitrator took into account the state of the economy, the state of the Postal Service and the state of the mailing industry,” said H. Robert Wientzen, president of Direct Marketing Association, in a statement.
“This [agreement] seems to eliminate another unknown as we examine the need for and level of postage rate increases,” he noted.
But PostComm president Gene Del Polito said he needed more clarification about what some new job categories spelled out in the settlement mean.
According to news reports, the settlement gives the 340,000 postal clerks, maintenance workers and motor vehicle drivers a 4.4% wage increase over three years, a lump payment of $499 and cost of living increases in the second and third years.
Currently APWU members receive wages ranging from about $21,956 to $46,394 annually.
The pact was sent to arbitration when the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
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