Cola

[Ruralmailman]

Cola about the only Cola we are gonna get is a coca cola!

[Postaltexan]

Diet Coca Cola is my favorite, so I guess that is good~

[manOman]

COLA update

I'm still on the road, so it was a bit difficult to get all the numbers together. Today's CPI report showed that prices rose more in July than the experts (myself included) thought.  Here are the raw numbers from the BLS website:

Jan 2008  615.828
Feb 2008  617.345
Mar 2008  622.985
Apr 2008  627.606
May 2008  633.830
Jun 2008  641.082
July 2008  644.303

To calculate the change:

644.303 - 615.828 = 28.475

28.475 / .4 = 71.1875, which rounds to 71 cents/hour, or .71 X 2080 = $1476.80/year.

The explanation for calculating our COLA is in the contract at Article 9.1.F

Over on the NALC site, they have the COLA figured at $1498 and 72 cents/hour.  There may be differences in rounding, or some other little quirk, but these two figures are within $21 of each other, so I'm pretty sure we're getting something in that ballpark.

Here's a link to the NALC story (thanks to Paul1453 on PT's old board for pointing out the NALC figure):

http://www.nalc.org/news/latest/index.html

[Steve in PC]

Does the COLA affect all rural carriers, ie RCA's or is it just for the regulars. Seems someone at our office said RCA's won't see a raise for another year or so.

[Wave]

It effects RCA's after the current contract ends.

[Steve in PC]

So that means we stay where we are, but then get a nice raise in 2010? Hopefully I'll be regular by then, but then, the way things are looking, I'm not holding my breath.

[Wave]

I'm in the same boat, but my regular said she's retiring in 2 years.

[scrwd]

the only info i can find on this cola is from the nalc and their contract how come the nrlca has not said anything

[manOman]

The NRLCA site now has a COLA update in the "What's New" section:

COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE AUGUST 30, 2008

The Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for July rose to 644.3. This is an increase of 37.7 points above the May 2007 base of 606.6. This represents a COLA increase of $1497 per annum, $57.58 per pay period or 72 cents per hour for a 40-hour route, and is increased proportionally for routes over 40 hours. This increase will become effective on August 30, 2008, (Pay Period 19) in accordance with Article 9.1 .F.2 of the 2006-2010 National Agreement.

The next opportunity for additional COLA will be with the release of the January 2009 Consumer Price Index.
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I'll take the extra $20!!

[omg]

You take this and take that and"THEY"take3-4 hours back thanks to the MAIL COUNT!Whathever we earn we give back!