Collective bargaining settlements reported to the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) between January and June of this year resulted in an average first-year wage-and-benefits increase of $0.55 or 1.1 percent.Ìý This is considerably lower than the $1.49 or 3.1 percent average increase reported for the comparable period last year.Ìý The average second-year increase in newly negotiated multi-year agreements is $0.69 or 1.6 percent, and the average third-year increase is $1.01 or 2.2 percent.Ìý These increases are also lower than those negotiated a year earlier, but by a smaller margin, according to CLRC.Ìý As in Human Resource & Labor News, wage-and-benefit increases negotiated in 2009 overall were the lowest in 13 years.
CLRC found widespread occurrences of small or zero increases during the period.Ìý "Almost a quarter of new agreements were freezes or reductions, and about two-thirds were less than two percent," CLRC reported in its latest Wage amd Benefit Settlements Report.Ìý "Similarly, about two-thirds of the first-year increases were less than one dollar.Ìý Almost all second- and third-year increases were under three percent," CLRC said.Ìý This is not surprising given the economy, nor is the shorter duration of newly negotiated contracts.Ìý Most parties agreed to just one-year agreements, with the vast majority of the remainder agreeing to three-year agreements.
Of the 80 settlements covered by the report, 33 were from the East North Central Region, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, west Virginia, and Wisconsin.Ìý Â The average first-year increase in that region was about double the national average at $1.11 or 2.0 percent.Ìý
The complete report - which provides an early indication of 2010 bargaining results and will be followed by further reports later this year -- is posted along with other CLRC reports on the Labor & HR Topical Resources page of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s website at .Ìý Select "Collective Bargaining" from the first pull-down menu and "Collective Bargaining Agreement Data" from the second for links to the reports.Ìý For a searchable database of collectively bargained wage and fringe benefit rates, go to .Ìý
Collective bargaining ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Chapters are reminded to kindly send all settlements information to CLRC promptly upon completion.Ìý Information may be submitted by e-mail at clrc@clrc.biz, by fax to (202) 347-8442, or by mail to 1750 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006.