Member benefits
Resources for new members
Welcome to the NALC
By joining your union, you have taken the first and most important step toward protecting your job and securing the future of letter carriers and the United States Postal Service. Below you will find information to help you learn more about your union and your rights and benefits as a city letter carrier.
Structure of the NALC and how it works for you
The NALC’s structure is designed to provide the best possible representation and support for its members.
The grievance procedure
The grievance procedure is how your contractual rights are enforced.
The National Agreement
The National Agreement is NALC’s collective-bargaining agreement with the Postal Service. A copy is mailed to all new members.
Letter Carrier Resource Guide
NALC’s Letter Carrier Resource Guide is new, improved, and updated! It's a one-stop-shop for valuable information for all city letter carriers at every stage of their career.
National Agreement Q-and-A’s for CCAs
This jointly-developed document provides the updated mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to the 2011 NALC-USPS National Agreement. Section 1 concerns city carrier assistants (CCAs). Section 2 addresses other contractual provisions. New questions and responses are identified by underscoring. For more information, click here.
CCA Uniforms
M-01822 provides details on the annual uniform allowance for CCA employees. This document provides information on the procedures, instructions and a sample letter from the USPS to authorized uniform vendors. For advice on what uniform items to order and other information, click here.
MOU for filling full-time letter carrier opportunities
On August 30, 2013, NALC and the Postal Service signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Re: Residual Vacancies—City Letter Carrier Craft, M-01824. This MOU established the guidelines for filling full-time letter carrier opportunities, including residual vacancies. The current process is found in MOU Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft, pages 161-165 of the 2019-2023 National Agreement.
This procedure includes assignment of unassigned regulars, full-time flexibles, conversion of part-time flexibles, acceptance of voluntary transfers, and conversions of city carrier assistants to career status. To read more about the guidelines of the MOU, see the October 2017 City Delivery article from The Postal Record.
MOU on CCA staffing
In a memorandum of understanding (M-01826) dated Oct. 22, 2013, regarding city carrier assistant (CCA) staffing, the NALC and the Postal Service agreed that city carrier assistants who served as city carrier temporary employees (TEs) directly before their initial CCA appointment will not serve a probationary period when converted to full-time career status during the term of the MOU. Updated with M-01877.
MOU on newly-converted CCA probationary periods
NALC and the Postal Service agreed in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Re: Article 12.1 - Probationary Period that city carrier assistants (CCAs) who served a cumulative 360 days as a city carrier assistant directly before being converted to full-time career status will not serve a probationary period during the term of the 2016-2019 National Agreement.
CCAs and on-the-job injuries
As a city carrier assistant (CCA), you are protected from your very first day under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (FECA), which provides compensation rights for federal employees injured while on duty. FECA is administered though the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, OWCP.
NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan
Administered by the Mutual Benefit Association, the NALC CCA Retirement Savings Plan is a great way to start saving for your retirement. Simply choose a plan and watch your money grow. And when you become a career employee, you can join the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and will have the option to transfer your funds from the MBA.
Quick facts about the NALC
NALC has a long and storied history. A more detailed account is available here in Carriers in a Common Cause.
Membership cards
The NALC official membership card bears the union’s seal and certifies NALC membership. It shows the member’s branch number along with the branch’s city and state, and it is signed by the national president and secretary-treasurer, as well as the branch secretary. Membership cards are available from your branch secretary.
NALC Constitution
The NALC Constitution governs our union. A copy is mailed to all new members.
More information
Click here to read a Postal Record article that provides further information, especially for CCAs.
CCAs—check your pay stubs!
If you’re a city carrier assistant (CCA) who recently returned from your five-day break between appointments, check your pay stub to be sure you are being paid correctly. There have been instances reported where the CCA hourly rate was incorrectly reduced.
Pursuant to the Jan. 10, 2013 Das arbitration award, CCAs who were on the rolls as temporary employees on that date shall be paid at Step AA of Table 2, which is the higher hourly rate of the two steps for CCAs. Click here to review the most recent paychart.
Also, check the new re-appointment letter you receive in the mail from Shared Services (PS Form 50, “Notice of Personnel Action,” item number 62, “Base Salary”) to be sure your hourly rate is correct.
If you are being paid incorrectly, contact USPS Shared Services at 877-477-3273, Option 5, to advise them that you are being paid incorrectly. Also, discuss it with your NALC shop steward or local branch officer and local management.