BigBrownSanta
Well-Known Member
After reading through the COLA language in the old contract and the new contract, I noticed that none of the wording has changed except for the dates.
(Old contract)
Article 33 paragraph 4
"Effective August 1, 2003, and every August 1 thereafter during the life of the Agreement, a cost-of-living allowance will be calculated on the basis of the difference between the Index for May 2003 (published Jun 2003) and every May thereafter, and the base index for May 2002 (published June 2002) and every May thereafter, as follows:"
(New contract)
Article 33 paragraph 4
"Effective August 1, 2009, and every August 1 thereafter during the life of the Agreement, a cost-of-living allowance will be calculated on the basis of the difference between the Index for May 2009 (published June 2009) and every May thereafter, and the base Index for May 2008 (published June 2008) and every May thereafter, as follows:"
Since the wording is the same in both contracts, there is no good reason that the contract would only allow for a COLA raise in only 4 out of the 5 years of the contract.
It's my belief that the COLA raise for August 1, 2008 IS covered under the 2002-2008 contract, NOT the newly ratified contract. Since we are still under the old contract in regards to economics, then the COLA raise should be calculated and paid on August 1st.
Can anyone out there who has a real understanding of our union contract (jon frum where are you?) show where the contract says there will be no COLA raise for 2008?
(Old contract)
Article 33 paragraph 4
"Effective August 1, 2003, and every August 1 thereafter during the life of the Agreement, a cost-of-living allowance will be calculated on the basis of the difference between the Index for May 2003 (published Jun 2003) and every May thereafter, and the base index for May 2002 (published June 2002) and every May thereafter, as follows:"
(New contract)
Article 33 paragraph 4
"Effective August 1, 2009, and every August 1 thereafter during the life of the Agreement, a cost-of-living allowance will be calculated on the basis of the difference between the Index for May 2009 (published June 2009) and every May thereafter, and the base Index for May 2008 (published June 2008) and every May thereafter, as follows:"
Since the wording is the same in both contracts, there is no good reason that the contract would only allow for a COLA raise in only 4 out of the 5 years of the contract.
It's my belief that the COLA raise for August 1, 2008 IS covered under the 2002-2008 contract, NOT the newly ratified contract. Since we are still under the old contract in regards to economics, then the COLA raise should be calculated and paid on August 1st.
Can anyone out there who has a real understanding of our union contract (jon frum where are you?) show where the contract says there will be no COLA raise for 2008?