Quote:
Originally Posted by EllyPoinster
OK - let me take a crack at this.
The specifics may vary from town to town but, in general, town employees do not receive cost of living increases, per se. The raises they receive are based upon a binding contract between the town and the bargaining unit that represents them. These contracts usually establish wages for two to three years following their effective date based upon a variety of factors including employee longevity, education level and the then-current economic conditions. For this reason, the raise schedule agreed between the town and the bargaining unit will lag (up or down in terms of their relationship to changing economic conditions) behind those of non-union workers whose employers are able to react more quickly. But while it may seem that town employees are receiving an undue benefit today, it is more than likely that their next contract will reflect today's economic reality and swing raises, if any, below those of non-union workers.
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What I think is being referenced is a situation where there is no bargaining unit. The question then arises as to ehether or not should there be acrooss the board cola raises or nothing due to the official deckine in the cost of living.