On October 6 we reported that the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Portland-Salem index would be discontinued January 1, 2018. We expected a significant impact as that index was the basis for all Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases in our collective bargaining agreement.
In a series of separate announcements, the US Department of Labor (DOL) announced the creation of a new structure for local datasets. As a result, a new dataset that applies to the Portland area will commence January 1, 2018.
The new dataset—N49H, covering Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro—includes a population of 5,208,399 people. It will be the dataset used by PSU-AAUP and PSU for COLA increases.
We will not have to find another dataset.
Since our current contract mentions the pre-existing Portland-Salem CPI-U, we will need to create and implement a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Administration to change our contract to use the new dataset, N49H. We expect to do that early in 2018.
More information about dataset changes are on the DOL website.
EF 11/28/2017