NALC's preparations for the next round of collective bargaining have been ongoing since early September and have included weekly meetings of the Executive Council and staff committees, polls, and two weeklong meetings of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees. A final important piece of these preparations is hearing from each of you.

The 2026 NALC Collective-Bargaining Survey is now open to current active NALC members. Please let us know what your priorities are for the next contract by completing it. The survey will be open until Friday, Feb. 20.

Once again, a violent criminal that harmed a letter carrier has received a light sentence. Under multiple presidential administrations, the Department of Justice has proven ill-equipped to bring justice for the victims and federal sentencing guidelines for these heinous crimes remain woefully inadequate. 

Congress must act now by passing the bipartisan Protect Our Letter Carriers Act to fix this broken system. 

Letter carriers serve America’s communities every day. The federal justice system must protect us and fulfill its core mission of bringing justice to those who violate federal law by attacking hardworking civil servants. 

The 290,000 active and retired members of the National Association of Letter Carriers call on Congress to pass the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act.”

- Brian Renfroe, President, National Association of Letter Carriers

NALC filed the national-level grievance, case number 6X 23N-6X-C 25507021, claiming the Postal Service failed to abide by the NACI Award by not processing pending grievances pertaining to the matter. In the settlement (M-02015), the parties agree that all pending grievances related to the NACI Award will be processed in accordance with Article 15 of the National Agreement, including the scheduling for arbitration, if necessary. Accordingly, the parties consider the issues raised in case number 6X 23N-6X-C 25507021 to be moot and agree to close this case without prejudice to the position of either party in this or any other matter.

In accordance with the resolution passed at the 52nd Biennial Convention, the rates for political ads in The Postal Record for candidates for national office are calculated at the actual per-page publication cost. The rates printed below are based upon the average of the 2024 and 2025 printing and postage costs.

Such advertisements may be printed in any issue of The Postal Record. Ads must be received by the 5th of the month preceding the month in which the ad will appear, e.g., February’s deadline (Feb. 5) is for the March publication.

Camera-ready ads or the copy for ads, as well as payment by check payable to NALC, must be received at NALC Headquarters by the same deadline (The Postal Record, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144). Ads may be sent electronically to postalrecord@nalc.org, but payment must be made by check.

Ads will run in an advertisement section of the magazine and will be labeled as advertisements.

Below are the rates for political ads (size shown is width x height):

• Full page (8” x 10-1/2”): $3,600
• Half page (8” x 5-1/4”): $1,800
• One-third page (8” x 3-1/2” or 2-2/3” x 10-1/2”): $1,200
• One-quarter page (4" x 5-1/4" or 8" x 2-2/3"): $900

Consistent with NALC policy, no other advertisements will be accepted for The Postal Record.

The following box contains the two-year costs for printing and postage for The Postal Record, which typically runs in the President's Biennial Report prior to the convention. The price for an ad in The Postal Record is based on these costs.

On Sunday, Feb. 22, NALC branches are encouraged to host a “Fight Like Hell!” rally calling for a fair contract.

This national day of action will come days before NALC is scheduled to open contract negotiations with the Postal Service on Feb. 25.

If your branch is interested in hosting an event on Feb. 22, please contact your national business agent’s (NBA) office.  

NALC Headquarters will work with NBA offices to ensure each event has materials and resources for a successful event. To guarantee the delivery of supplies, all event requests must be submitted to NBA offices by Jan. 27. 

As events are scheduled, details will be available at nalc.org/feb22. 

“We know what we’re fighting for at the bargaining table, and we know what we deserve,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “With branches across the country coming together on a single day, we’ll make our demands known to the Postal Service while reminding our customers that the service we provide every day deserves a fair contract.

“I encourage every NALC branch to join the fight, mobilize, and host a rally on Feb. 22.”

Born in Murphysboro, IL, Brother Helsley proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1982 to 2002, retiring honorably with the rank of gunnery sergeant. After his military retirement, he continued his commitment to public service, spending the next 22 years as a letter carrier and NALC member. Until recently, he served as president of Branch 56, a position he held with dedication for the past eight years.

Those who knew Brother Helsley remember him for his joyful sense of humor and unwavering commitment to his fellow letter carriers.

Brother Helsley is survived by his wife, Amy; his children, Justin, Lyndsey, Cody, Kent and Amanda; nine grandchildren; and many other loving family members and friends.

“NALC mourns the loss of Brother Helsley,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “On behalf of NALC, I commend his years of devoted service to his branch and community, and I extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Today, NALC joins all Americans in honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King’s message that workers’ rights and human rights are intertwined is as evident as ever. Today, NALC recommits to the ongoing fight for civil and human rights, economic justice and dignified workplaces.

As we head into collective bargaining next month, Dr. King’s teachings and philosophies will guide us as we fight for a fair contract. Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Regardless of how difficult it may be or what challenges might surface, NALC is committed to fighting together for what is right, just and fair for letter carriers at the bargaining table.

NALC is also sponsoring this year’s AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference. We look forward to continued opportunities to work alongside the entire labor movement in our collective effort to combat discrimination and injustice, fight for equality and voting rights, and to finally realize Dr. King’s dream.

The second group of Rank-and-File Bargaining Committees has convened and is meeting in person in the Washington, DC, area. This group of 30 letter carriers from across the country is divided into three committees: Branch Leaders, Contract Enforcers and Newer Members.  

Branch Leaders

Contract Enforcers

Newer members

• Desiray Anderson—Southern Delaware Branch 906
• Jacinta Fair—Colorado Springs, CO Branch 204
• Daniel Gordon—Warwick, RI Branch 3166
• Jade McBride—Olympia, WA Branch 351
• Brett Meissinger—Colby, KS Branch 4635
• Josiah Morse—Maine Merged Branch 92
• Kiara O’Donnell—Saint Paul, MN Branch 28
• Chris Podunajec—Paducah, KY Branch 383
• Ryan Raeke—Wichita Falls, TX Branch 1227
• Diana Sanchez—Garden Grove, CA Branch 1100

Branches can register via the Members Only portal. The registration deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026. Watch the video below for step-by-step instructions on how to register.

For additional information and resources, visit the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive tool kit. The tool kit webpage will continue to be updated as this year’s food drive approaches.

In anticipation of the 2026 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe shared the following:

“Letter carriers are in every community and can see who in their communities are in need. Our members step up every year by filling the shelves of local food pantries through the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the country. NALC’s commitment to this effort is unwavering, and we look forward to another successful drive in 2026.”