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Burrus: COLA Raise Provides a Chance to Build Union

APWU Web News Article #79-07, Aug. 20, 2007

The Cost-Of-Living raise due in paychecks dated Sept. 21 presents the APWU with an important opportunity to build the union, said President William Burrus. “The COLA, which will give APWU-represented employees an annual raise of $686, demonstrates the value of the union contract,” he said.

This will be the third largest COLA increase since 2000. APWU-represented employees received an $812 cost-of-living raise last September, and a $728 COLA in September 2005. This adjustment will result in an increase of 33 cents per hour, or $26.40 per pay period.

“Historically, COLA raises have made significant contributions to our members’ wages,” Burrus said. “I encourage union activists to use the occasion of this raise to urge non-members to join the union, and to ask APWU members to become involved and to contribute to COPA, the union’s political action fund.”

The union president plans to send invitations to join the APWU to all non-members in September, timed to coincide with the raises. In addition, solicitations for COPA will be mailed to all APWU members. “We will let our members and non-members alike know that the COLA raises exemplify the union’s efforts and our strength,” he said.

“I hope that local and state leaders will assist in these efforts,” Burrus said. “Signing up new members and raising money for the union’s Committee on Political Action are critical tasks for activists at all levels of the union.”

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