News & information

By joint agreement (M-01942), several COVID related memorandums of understanding have been further extended through June 4, 2021. These memoranda include: temporary expanded sick leave for dependent care (M-01910); temporary use of the 7:01 rule (M-01913); temporary workplace changes to promote social distancing (M-01915); and temporary use of TCAs (M-01916).

NALC and the Postal Service also agreed, to another temporary time limit extension on Step B and arbitration appeals (M-01943), with a few changes from the last such agreement, and an agreement giving local parties the ability to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who previously did not, or could not, place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list (M-01944). Both of these agreements will expire on June 4, 2021, as well.

Also extended through June 4, 2021, is a USPS memorandum (M-01914) which instructs managers and supervisors to allow liberal changes of schedule to accommodate employees who are dealing with childcare issues related to the pandemic. The memorandum also provides for liberal sick leave usage for employees who are sick and liberal annual and leave without pay (LWOP) to the extent operationally feasible, treats COVID-19 related leave as scheduled (as opposed to unscheduled) leave, and directs that leave taken for COVID-19 related reasons during this time not be cited in discipline for failing to maintain an assigned schedule.

Furthermore, with the understanding that under the American Rescue Plan Act, CCAs may be granted up to 600 hours of paid Emergency Federal Employee Leave (EFEL) for COVID-19 related reasons, the parties have also agreed to a new MOU (M-01941) that suspends MOU Re: Temporary Additional Paid Leave for CCAs (M-01911). This MOU will expire on June 4, 2021 as well.

Additionally, as was previously agreed upon for leave year 2021, NALC and USPS have agreed (M-01940) to allow regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement to carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2021 to leave year 2022.  Provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) regarding payment of accumulated leave are not changed as a result of this MOU, which expires December 31, 2022.

Each of the MOUs and the USPS directive can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.