The membership of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union has voted overwhelmingly to ratify the 2000 National Agreement recently negotiated between Union and USPS representatives. Based on the ballots counted on April 2 and 3, 2002 in Washington, DC, there were 18,155 votes in favor of ratification and 931 votes in opposition to ratification. The ballot count was tabulated and certified by the American Arbitration Association in the presence of all observers.

National President Billy Quinn and National Secretary-Treasurer Mark Gardner expressed their thanks to the membership, and to the various Local Union officers and representatives who supported the tentative agreement. "We are extremely pleased with the results of the ratification vote, and the endorsement that the vote provided for the efforts of the National Negotiations Team," said Quinn. "It is especially satisfying that such a large number of mail handlers took the time to vote and express their views."

National President Billy Quinn, along with Postmaster General Jack Potter, signs the 2000 National Agreement. Looking on are National Secretary-Treasurer Mark Gardner and USPS Vice President of Labor Relations, Tony Vegliante.

Based on the ratification, all members will be receiving the benefits, economic and otherwise, that are included in the four-year agreement, including the following monetary payments:

1. The $499 lump-sum payment will be included in paychecks for Pay Period 12 of 2002, which will be paid on June 7, 2002.

2. The November 2000 and November 2001 wage increases of 1.3% and 1.9% will be added to paychecks beginning with Pay Period 13 of 2002, and therefore will first appear in paychecks issued on June 21, 2002.

3. The retroactive amounts due to employees because of the November 2000 and November 2001 wage increases will be included in paychecks for Pay Period 17 of 2002, which will be paid on August 16, 2002.

These dates have been confirmed by the payroll offices at USPS Headquarters. Although these dates could be subject to some slippage, we now expect that these payment dates will be implemented as announced.

In addition, future wage increases of 1.5% and 1.3% will be added to base wages in November 2002 and November 2003, and COLA payments based on increases in the Consumer Price Index will be added to base wages in September 2002, March 2003, September 2003, March 2004, and September 2004.