Financials

FINANCIAL

last update 7/18/24

One of the benefits of a Union is to negotiate wages, salaries, and benefits. Are you a member contributing to this? If not, click here for Regular/PTF and click here for RCA/ARC

2024 USPS Leave Year and Pay periods 

2023 USPS Calendar 12-month


Watch the NRLCA.ORG website for updates to the Salary Schedules
How to navigate ePayroll on LiteBlue 
Employees are encouraged to use direct deposit for their paycheck

Benefits 101-presentations from the USPS-Wellness campaign

note: These are provided by the WIRLCA, however, no representation of accuracy and completeness is assumed. Employees are encouraged to contact USPS HR for complete information.

SALARY CHANGES

General Wage Increase Effective November 18, 2023

  • In accordance with Article 9.1.A.3, effective November 18, 2023 (PP 25-2023), the basic annual salary schedule (Tables One and Two) shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.3% of the appropriate February 27, 2021, salary schedule.
  • Further, in accordance with Article 9.1.H.3, effective November 18, 2023 (PP 25-2023), Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs) and Assistant Rural Carriers (ARCs) will receive a similar upward wage adjustment equal to 1.3% applied to the Tables Three and Four wage rates and a 1.0% wage adjustment for a total of 2.3% of the appropriate May 20, 2021, salary schedule.

These increases should be reflected in paychecks dated December 8, 2023.

Updated pay schedules are available on the NRLCA Website and will be included in a future edition of the National Rural Letter Carrier Magazine.

1/14/2023

UPDATE: Retro Pay Adjustment to be in February 17 Check

UPDATE: Please be advised that the retro pay due to rural carriers will be reflected in the February 17th paycheck.

***From the NRLCA Website

 As you know, the Postal Service (USPS) and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) ratified and signed a new collective bargaining agreement on March 23, 2022, approximately 6 months ago. The newly ratified agreement covers the period May 21, 2021, through May 20, 2024, and provides much-deserved general wage increases and cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments for rural letter carriers, including retroactive general wage increases dating back to August 2021 and COLA adjustments for July 2021 and January 2022.

We were advised by USPS officials that due to antiquated USPS software issues, the retro payments due and owing to rural carriers would not be made until May of 2023.

Upon learning this new information, I called Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and he was able to move up the retro pay date to January 31, 2023. While I appreciate the efforts of the PMG, a 10-month delay demonstrates a total lack of respect for rural carriers and is outrageous and completely unacceptable! While we are glad to have a date to look forward to, we are continuing to demand an appropriate remedy for all affected rural carriers. We filed a national-level grievance in August and if a suitable remedy is not agreed to by the parties, we will immediately move the issue to National Arbitration. The reality is the USPS has known for years that its software is outdated and that it must make retro payments every contract cycle. Enough is enough. We will not be party to giving management interest-free loans on the backs of our carriers!

JUST ANOTHER UNION-NEGOTIATED BENEFIT

WITHOUT UNION MEMBERSHIP THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE–JOIN TODAY

EMA CHANGES

EMA to Decrease to 97.0 Cents Per Mile Effective October 5, 2024

On September 11, 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the August Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which established the Private Transportation Index at 276.426, a decrease from the May 2024 Index of 280.714. Therefore, based on the August 2024 CPI-W release, the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for rural carriers will decrease 1.5¢ to 97.0¢ per mile. This EMA rate will be effective October 5, 2024 (Pay Period 22-2024).

Rural CarriersIn accordance with the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.G.3 of the USPS/NRLCA National Agreement, effective October 5 (Pay Period 22-2024), the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) will decrease to 97.0¢ per mile, or a minimum of $38.80 per day, whichever is greater.

Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs, Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part Time Flexibles, and Auxiliary AssistanceEmployees providing auxiliary assistance or serving auxiliary routes under the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.G.5, will receive EMA of 97.0¢ per mile or $10.30 per hour, whichever is greater. This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA chart for route stops and miles.

This was the tenth opportunity for an EMA adjustment under the terms of the 2021-2024 USPS/NRLCA National Agreement. The next quarterly adjustment will occur after the release of the November 2024 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and will be effective the second full pay period after release of that index.

The full EMA schedules will be posted on the Rural Carrier EMA Rate Schedule page when available.

Basic Financial Planning-

Contributed by Roger Dobbe, click here