“COLA is not a raise”
Try telling that to private-sector employees who’ve had their pay frozen for a few years, who are forced to give the non-raise COLA pay to their civil servant overlords.
COLA is a raise; has anyone ever had their pay lowered by COLAs?
BTW, you don't OWN civil service employees. They're hired from the same place you were hired ~ if you like their pay and bennies apply for a job.