COLA 2018: First Cost of Living Allowance of 2018 - $520 to be effective March 3rd

  First Cost of Living Allowance of 2018 - $520 to be effective March 3rd
Effective on March 3, 2018, career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive the fourth of seven possible cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2016 National Agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the January 2018 Index, and provides an annual increase of $520 for all Steps in Table 1 and for Step P of Table 2. The remaining Steps in Table 2 will receive the proportional COLA increase percentages as outlined in Article 9.3 of the National Agreement. The increase will appear in paychecks dated March 23, 2018.
Reference: www.npmhu.org

When is the next 'Cost of Living Adjustment' calculated?

  When is the next 'Cost of Living Adjustment' calculated?

According to Section 9.3, Cost of Living Adjustment:
A. Definitions
1. "Consumer Price Index" refers to the "National Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers," published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor (1967=100) and referred to herein as the "Index."
2. "Consumer Price Index Base" refers to the Consumer Price Index for the month of July 2014 and is referred to herein as the "Base Index."
B. Effective Dates of Adjustment:
Each eligible employee covered by this Agreement shall receive cost-of-living adjustments, upward, in accordance with the formula in 4.C, below, effective on the following dates:
- the second full pay period after the release of the January 2018 Index (More reading here)... .
Note: The BLS states the release date of the January 2018 CPI data are scheduled to be released on February 14, 2018, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.
Thus, in the event CPI has risen to the level needed to garner a COLA based on the aforementioned information, the next COLA would be in March checks since the January 2018 CPI data are scheduled to be released on February 14, 2018.

Reference: NPMHU 317