CPI-U Portland Salem is to be replaced for a second time for COLA calculations in Article 30 Section 3 of the CBA.

In our 2016-19 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with PSU we obtained annual cost of living adjustments (COLA). To calculate the appropriate cost of living increases we agreed to use what was known as the Portland-Salem CPI-U, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unfortunately, in 2017 the Bureau stopped publishing that index.  We reported on December 7, 2017 that we reached agreement to replace the discontinued CPI-U Portland Salem with a proxy, a new so-called NH49H index for the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan area. Unfortunately, as of October 2018 the NH49H has not been published. We are in discussions with administration on finding another alternative proxy that is most representative of the Portland-Salem CPI-U we agreed on in our CBA. This new index is needed to calculate the COLA to be paid in January and February 2019.  We have not yet reached agreement with PSU. PSU-AAUP will only accept a new proxy index that gives faculty and academic professionals the full COLA we are entitled to based on the old index.  We will report on the final MOA once it is executed.