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On Aug. 19, career letter carriers began earning the first two cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) payable under the new contract that were effective Sept. 3, 2016, and March 4, 2017, as well as the 1.2 percent general wage increase that was effective Nov. 26, 2016. These increases will be reflected in the Sept. 8, 2017, paychecks. Back pay on these increases will be calculated from their effective date through Aug. 18, 2017.

Career letter carriers will begin earning the third COLA payable under the new contract, effective on Sept. 2, 2017. This will be reflected in the Sept. 22, 2017, paychecks. Back pay is not applicable for this increase as it will begin being earned on its effective date.

The U.S. Postal Service has informed NALC that due to the complexity of implementing the new pay scale for city carrier assistants, CCAs will begin earning their pay increases on Sept. 16, 2017. The increases will be reflected in the Oct. 6, 2017 paychecks. 

The new CCA pay rates will include the 2.2 percent general wage increase that was effective Nov. 26, 2016, as well as the two step increases that were also effective on that date ($0.50 per hour for those CCAs with 12 weeks of service and an additional $0.50 per hour for those CCAs with 52 weeks of service). CCAs will be placed in their appropriate step based on their weeks of service. Back pay on these increases will be calculated from Nov. 26, 2016, through Sept. 15, 2017.

The Postal Service has indicated that it will take some time to calculate the back pay for the more than 210,000 letter carriers, but that all back pay will be processed and paid as soon as practicable.

These new pay rates can be seen in the new letter carrier pay schedule , also available for review on the free NALC Member App for Apple and Android smartphones.