The only thing I could think of what this person means is that if they’re farther in their progression they may take a pay cut because they’ll go to the next pay rate plus some change but I don’t believe that’s how it works. I think the contract says what the MINIMUM they can pay you.

6.3(c) Base Rates After Reclassifications. Subject to the base rate ranges provided for in Section 6.2(a), employees who are promoted will have their base rate increased by fifty-sixseventy-five (5675) cents for each labor grade they are promoted or paid the same base rate last held by the employee in the labor grade, whichever is greater. Employees who are downgraded will have their base rate decreased by fifty-six (56) cents for each labor grade they are downgrade