On March 21, 2025, Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan issued a final and binding award that set the terms for the 2023-2026 National Agreement. Since then, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have been working together to prepare for its release and implement new provisions. The online version of this agreement is now accessible on the NALC website.
Following the Nolan Award, NALC and USPS discussed how to implement new rules effectively. They agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) titled “Resolution of Issues Left Open by the Nolan Award of March 21, 2025.” This MOU states that some new provisions in Article 8 will become effective on July 1, 2025. Until then, sections from the previous agreement will remain active.
Article 8 introduces new overtime options for full-time letter carriers. Previously, carriers could sign either the Work Assignment List or the Overtime Desired List (ODL), allowing them to work overtime on both scheduled and non-scheduled days. From July 1 onward, they can choose to work up to 12 hours only on scheduled days or up to eight hours on non-scheduled days. Signing both ODLs allows them to work up to 12 hours daily on all days.
Letter carriers must sign one or both new ODLs during a two-week signup period before each calendar quarter if they wish to remain available for overtime under these changes.
Additionally, Article 8’s Section 5.G.3 will require automatic payment for hours worked beyond daily and weekly limits starting July 1. However, USPS may not have updated its payroll system by then. Until it does, management must manually adjust pay through their Grievance Arbitration Tracking System (GATS). Documentation of these adjustments will be provided to NALC at headquarters.
The parties also agreed to implement a New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program nationwide starting July 1. This program was previously tested in selected locations through pilot agreements using an alternate dispute resolution process.
The electronic version of the National Agreement is available online, with printed copies expected soon.
