We summarized the main features of the contract in the NALC Bulletin, which is sent to stations and offices across the country. Full details of the interim agreement, as well as the forward-looking pay schedules, other contractual changes and information relating to the new Declarations of Intent (MOUs), will be presented in the December issue of The Postal Record. They will also be distributed in the coming days on the union`s electronic platforms. “With each union, we will seek an agreement that lives up to our employees, is fair to our customers, recognizing the realities of today`s marketplace and positioning the post office for success,” said Brennan. September 25, 2014 – The NALC and USPS have agreed to extend the current Section 8 fair test until December 31, 2014 in the 22 districts currently participating. The test was introduced by an agreement of 3 June 2013, which stems from the national task force “Article 8”. “Discussions are continuing,” the group said in a statement, “to give negotiators extra time to reach a comprehensive agreement.” The statement added: “The parties have agreed to extend their negotiations because there is still a common hope of reaching a comprehensive agreement.” The USPS and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union agreed on an extension of the talks, although the union said the number of preliminary agreements reached so far by both parties was “relatively limited.” Meanwhile, the National Association of Letters has declared a deadlock in its discussions. The union and the post office will go to mediation, but they seem to be in the process of arbitration in 60 days. Both parties will take advantage of the conciliation process to continue discussions and will accept arbitrators who will make a binding decision if they fail to reach an agreement. The terms of the 2019 national agreement between NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service were officially ratified on April 7, 2020, following a delay in the vote count due to the persistence of the pandemic.