Dear Local 88 Members,
Many of you have reached out about your FY 2027 COLA that you will receive in your paycheck for work starting July 1, 2026. The COLA is 3.5% this year and is applied to the pay scale. Like you, I am excited to receive this wage increase that we fought hard for at the bargaining table. This year also firms up the 3% between steps that has been an issue in the past. For some folks, your pay may reflect a smaller increase and that is explained below and in the attached pdf.
If you received the $1 increase upon ratification instead of the blanket 2.4%, your COLA adjustment won’t be the full 3.5% because you essentially got more money upfront. Your bargaining team ensured you received at least a $1 per hour raise, which placed you above the payscale. Instead of receiving the 2.4% increase then (which would have been less than $1 an hour), you received more money upfront. Consequently, your COLA is only rising to match the Step you are on and won’t be the full 3.5%. Additionally, as a full time employee, you should also receive a one time payment of $500. If you are part-time, you should receive $250.
If this is NOT your situation, it may require more digging and it could be a Workday error that payroll needs to address. Please check in with your department HR and reach out to a steward if you need help: current live/web steward list
Here is the linked pdf document with more information, click on it to learn more: 2026 L88 Wage increases explained
