By Walter Denmon

Uniform allowances, letter carrier safety and wages are among the key issues for some union members in the ongoing contract negotiations between the U.S. Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers union.

Discussions over a new contract were reopened until mid-February between the postal service and the NALC after union members voted to reject a proposed collective bargaining agreement by a margin of 63,680 to 26,304, the NALC said Jan. 31.

The proposed contract included protections against discrimination for pregnant workers, an annual general pay increase of 1.3%, and semiannual cost-of-living adjustments.

But some union members who spoke with USA TODAY said the proposal fell short on issues like uniform allowances, letter carrier safety and the amount of time it takes for employees to reach top pay. The postal service did not respond to a request for comment on employee concerns.

NALC push for more transparency during negotiations

Elizabeth Burns, a letter carrier based in Austin, Texas who has worked for the postal service for nearly 25 years, was among those pushing for more transparency on the bargaining process as talks resume in early February. She added that union president Brian Renfroe wasn’t forthcoming with members about what he asked the postal service during negotiations.

“(The NALC president) gave no hard information on what was going on with negotiations,” said David Noble, a retired mail carrier who first joined the postal service in 1975, previously ran for president of the NALC and retired in 2012. He has an active lawsuit against the union because of how past elections were carried out.

When asked about members' transparency concerns, Renfroe said he provides updates to employees at annual training sessions in each of their 15 geographic regions.

"I am a little more cautious about what I put out on the website," he said. "That communication is for the whole world to see."

By April Lanux

Egypt has signed a €1.4 million development grant agreement with Spain to fund the preliminary feasibility study for the extension of Cairo Metro Line 1 from New Marg to Shebin Al-Qanater.

This initiative is part of Egypt’s sustainable transport projects under the NWFE national platform, aimed at enhancing eco-friendly and efficient urban mobility.

The agreement was signed by Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Eduardo Soriano, Spain’s Economic and Commercial Counselor in Egypt.

The feasibility study will be conducted by Typsa, in collaboration with the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), and is expected to be completed within eight months.

Minister Al-Mashat emphasized that this agreement aligns with Egypt’s strategy to integrate local resources with international partnerships, accelerating development in key sectors.

She highlighted that the Cairo Metro expansion is a prime example of successful international cooperation, as it provides a sustainable and efficient transportation solution for millions of Egyptians each day.

Through the sustainable transport pillar of the NWFE program, Egypt is actively building international partnerships to implement large-scale infrastructure projects.

In addition to the extension of Cairo Metro Line 1, ongoing initiatives include the electrification of Alexandria’s Abu Qir railway, which will be transformed into a modern metro system to enhance urban connectivity.

Minister Al-Mashat also praised the longstanding partnership between Egypt and Spain, which continues to expand in key areas such as green economy transformation and sustainable development.

She noted that Spain will host the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development later this year, an event expected to drive global efforts in accelerating economic growth and sustainable financing mechanisms.

This agreement reinforces Egypt’s commitment to modernizing its transport infrastructure through international collaboration, ensuring smoother, more efficient, and environmentally friendly public transportation.