Workplace issues
Contract Administration Unit
Lew Drass
Vice President
Lew Drass was re-elected national vice president in 2018 following national balloting held among the union’s active and retired members. He was first appointed to that position in March of 2014 by NALC President Fredric Rolando to fill a vacancy; he was elected to the position later that year by mail ballot. Full bio
NALC’s Contract Administration Unit oversees contract enforcement efforts at the highest level. The group of several NALC officers and staffers, headed by Vice President Lew Drass:
- Oversees the grievance arbitration system
- Files, discusses and attempts to resolve Interpretive Step grievances involving issues of contract interpretation
- Offers advice and support to the national business agent offices in NALC's 15 regions
- Compiles and publishes information resources for NALC contract enforcers at all levels of the union.
Click here for the latest news and updates.
Wounded Warriors Leave
PS Form 5980, “Treatment Verification for ‘Wounded Warriors’ Leave”
“Advanced Formal A and Beyond”
“Advanced Formal A and Beyond” is for NALC activists who have some experience at Formal Step A. The focus of this program is to teach participants to look at every Formal Step A case file from an arbitration advocate’s point of view. This training also sharpens the skills needed for enforcing the National Agreement at Formal Step A and provides an experience of what it’s like to serve as a Step B representative.
There is a lot of emphasis placed on handling situations where management fails to follow the grievance procedure as required by the National Agreement.
NALC Shop Steward’s Guide & Tool Kit
The shop steward’s job is difficult and demanding. The NALC Shop Steward’s Guide is a resource for the front-line steward that goes beyond the language of the National Agreement and Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) by providing more in-depth information on grievance-handling and how to effectively handle the day-to-day situations shop stewards encounter.
The NALC Shop Steward’s Guide is written for every steward/activist who handles grievances at the Informal Step A and/or Formal Step A of the grievance procedure. It has step-by-step guidance for what to do and what happens before, during and after each step of the grievance procedure from Informal Step A all the way to arbitration. This includes advice on how to handle matters when management fails/refuses to participate in the grievance procedure as required by our contract with the USPS. There also are individual sections on topics such as time limits for grievances, investigative interviews, information requests, remedies, tips for writing statements, grievance-handling forms and more. The samples in the grievance-handling forms section can be tailored for branch use.
The NALC 2014 Shop Steward’s Tool Kit is a DVD designed to put everything a steward may need for grievance-handling in an electronic format that is user-friendly. It contains updated versions of the NALC Shop Steward’s Guide, JCAM, Materials Reference System (MRS), many of the USPS handbooks and manuals, an updated “Grievance Starters” section and more.
The hard copy of the NALC Shop Steward’s Guide comes three-hole punched with a cover and a spine so that stewards can put it in a small binder. This will allow NALC to make future supplemental additions. A copy of the DVD will be included with each guide.
For branches that need additional copies of the NALC Shop Steward’s Guide and the NALC 2014 Shop Steward’s Tool Kit, these materials are available from the Supply Department for $5 per set. Call 202-393-4695, ext. 874.
News and Updates
2021 JCAM released
An electronic version of the 2021 USPS-NALC Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) has been released and is available under Workplace Issues in the resources section of our website.
Emergency Federal Employee Leave update
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Postal Service have issued guidance implementing the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021.
2019-2023 NALC-USPS National Agreement
The 2019-2023 NALC-USPS National Agreement is now available online.
Emergency Federal Employee Leave
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides an important new leave benefit for letter carriers affected by COVID-19.
Settlement Reached on Grievance Concerning Video Technology Testing in Vehicles
A settlement has been reached between NALC and USPS regarding national-level grievance Q16N-4Q-C 19378670 concerning whether the testing of video technology in city delivery vehicles violates the National Agreement.
NALC files national-level grievance regarding Post Office Sortation Equipment Reconciliation
NALC initiated a national-level grievance regarding the Postal Service's unilateral implementation of the delivery initiative called Post Office Sortation Equipment Reconciliation (SER).
NALC files national-level grievance regarding USPS delivery initiative
NALC initiated a national-level grievance regarding the Postal Service's unilateral implementation of the delivery initiative test
Consolidated Casing Grievance Settled
NALC and the Postal Service have settled a national-level grievance regarding the Postal Service’s unilateral testing of Consolidated Casing.
Statement from NALC President Fredric V. Rolando on the COVID-19 pandemic
President Fredric V. Rolando has issued a statement to letter carriers covering many issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NALC and USPS agree to two new MOUs on leave during the COVID-19 pandemic
Today, NALC and USPS agreed to two new MOUs expanding leave for letter carriers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NALC and USPS have mutually agreed to postpone a national-level grievance
A national-level grievance regarding the delay in implementing Arbitrator Goldberg’s Award in Case No. Q15C-4Q-C 17697250 will be postponed
In all offices, CCAs who have at least 30 months of relative standing on February 15th to be converted to career status
NALC and USPS have settled a national-level grievance regarding non-compliance with the contractual caps on the employment of CCAs.
USPS-NALC Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) now available online
The NALC is pleased to announce that the 2014 JCAM is now available online.
MOU on bidding during probationary period
NALC and USPS have entered into the Memorandum of Understanding Re: Article 12.1 – Probationary Period – Bidding.
National-level arbitration case decided on the 440 hour annual leave carryover rules
A national arbitrator has rejected USPS’ attempt to set a nationwide limit on the remedial authority of regular panel arbitrators based on the 440 hour annual leave carryover limit set forth in the ELM.
Three MOUs renewed
The NALC and USPS have agreed to renew three MOUs: Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft, Re: Sunday Delivery – City Carrier Assistant Staffing, and Re: Signing Overtime Lists.
National Arbitration Award Issued on August 6th
In an award issued on August 6, 2018, national arbitrator Stephen Goldberg vacated the Postal Service’s unilateral changes to certain provisions of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual.
NALC challenges change to promotion pay provisions
NALC has filed a national class-action grievance on USPS’s proposed revisions to the Employee and Labor Relations Manual and has appealed it to arbitration.
Agreement reached on implementing new Article 8 provisions
NALC and USPS have agreed on a new memorandum of understanding.