Q: What are the Consumer Price Index increases for the last 5, 10, and 15 years in Portland?
A:
- The 5 year CPI average is 2.3%
- The 10 year CPI average is 2.1%
- The 15 year CPI average is 2.4%
Q: How does the history of Local 290 wage increases compare to the CPI?
A: Please see below for a yearly and average comparison.
Q: It has been suggested that UA 290 members are falling behind the cost of living. What would their total package be if they had received the CPI % increases for the last 15 years?
A: The graph below shows that from 1996 through 2010, the total package for UA 290 members would be $9.04/hr less if they received the CPI increase each year.
Understandably, a UA 290 member experiences the perception that they are “falling behind” in terms of purchasing power because so much of each increase has been directed toward benefit costs instead of the taxable base.
Union contractors pay the total package and feel like they are “falling behind” relative to non-union companies.
Non-union employees often receive more money on the check because their employers are able to purchase benefits at reduced costs (for UA 290 it is $42,411 annually). This allows them to present a lower price per hour to the customer.
