2. Consultation with Management Associations
In accordance with Title 39, U.S. Code, Section 1004, consultations were conducted in 2001 with the National Association of Postal Supervisors, the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, and the National League of Postmasters of the United States. These sessions provided an opportunity for the management associations to participate directly in the planning and development of programs and policies related to pay policies that impact some 80,000 postmasters, supervisors, and other managerial personnel through 2001. Pay consultations commence in February 2002, with continued emphasis on accountability through the Merit Pay for performance program. The principle of market-based pay will be a fundamental concept underlying these consultations, ensuring that supervisory and managerial pay in the Postal Service is comparable to that maintained in the private sector, as required by the Postal Reorganization Act.

As in the past, each of the management associations will continue to provide representatives to participate on Headquarters and field teams tasked with formulating and testing procedures for new programs.