Message from Charlie Cash

The retroactive pay will be on paychecks this Friday. As with the last two retroactive payments made, I am already receiving calls that employees did not receive their retroactive payments or that it was not as much as it should have been. I am in the process of basically redoing the write up that we did for the last retroactive payments from the 2021-2024 national agreement. I hope to have that out either late today or early tomorrow.

Employees will not see the retroactive adjustments on the pay stub that they look at on their mobile phones or the small stub they may receive in the mail. They will need to download the full stub (which could be many pages long, the last stubs from the 2021-2024 retroactive payments were up to 20 pages long). There they will see each pay period adjustment. People also need to be reminded that the payments will have taxes withheld, TSP withheld, retirement withheld, etc.

Couple things to remember:

  • No one person’s retroactive pay will be identical to another. Retroactive pay is only made on paid work hours or paid leave that was used during the retroactive period.
  • If an employee was detailed to another pay scale (the most common is they were on a non-bargaining unit detail as a 204-b or such) they are not paid any retroactive payments for that.
  • Any employee who received payments from OWCP will not see retroactive payments from the Postal Service. Only hours paid by the postal service on the APWU pay schedule will be due retro active payments.

If people have doubts about their retroactive payments, they need to download and provide the full pay stub to their local leaders. If their local leaders have questions, they need to send the full pay stub to Lee Branca who will review them. If an issue is found, my department will address.

New APWU Contract Ratified!

It’s official! APWU members have overwhelmingly ratified the new 2024–2027 National Agreement with the USPS. This contract secures raises, protections, and retro pay through 2027!

Vote results:
34,867 YES (95%)
1,863 NO

“This contract protects nearly 200,000 postal workers—with no givebacks,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

 What’s in the New Contract?

  • Annual Raises: 1.3% (2024), 1.4% (2025), 1.5% (2026)
  • Six COLAs (Cost-of-Living Adjustments) for career employees
  • Layoff protection, including workers with under 6 years of service
  • PSEs convert to career after 2 years (still in effect)
  • Excessing limited to 50 miles
  • Step & grade upgrades = better long-term pay
  • Night shift pay increased for the first time in 30 years
  • More leave flexibility, increased uniform allowance, and stronger work rules

Retro Pay Coming
With ratification complete, retroactive raises will be one of the first items implemented!

Career employees will get back pay for:

  • 1.3% raise (effective Nov. 16, 2024)
  • $395 COLA (effective Mar. 8, 2025)
  • PSEs will receive:
  • 2.3% total raise (includes extra 1% in place of COLA)
  • Details on payment timelines will be announced soon.

A Contract Built on Solidarity
This strong agreement was shaped by union-led campaigns and floor activism, including “Union Proud, Say It Loud!”“Our power at the bargaining table came from your unity,” said Dimondstein.Bottom Line

This contract secures key protections and improvements, with no concessions, through 2027. Raises, job security, fair pay structure, and strong union wins are now locked in.

We did it together. Union proud. Union strong.