Negotiators conducting collective bargaining between January and September of this year agreed to raise construction craft workers’ wage and fringe benefits by an average of 2.6 percent or $1.63 during the first contract year, according to the Construction Labor Research Council’s (CLRC) latest Settlements Report. These rates are comparable with increases granted in 2020, but CLRC projects slightly higher increases for the near future.
Geographically, the highest average first-year increase by percentage negotiated so far this year was 3.7 percent out of both the Mountain Northern Plains Region (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) at 3.7 percent and the New England Region (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT). New England also had the highest by dollar amount at $2.13. The lowest settlements, both by percentage and dollar amount, came from the South Central Region (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) at 1.8 percent and $0.67.
The craft with the highest average first-year increase by percentage was the Plumbers/Pipefitters at 3.2 percent, and the lowest was the Roofers at 1.7 percent. The Plumbers received the highest dollar increase at $2.50, and the Roofers received the lowest at $0.93.
The report provides further timely information on current trends in union craft wage and fringe benefits increases in the construction industry. In addition to a general overview, the report offers various detailed data cuts, including by geographic region and specific craft. AGC members can access the complete report in the Labor & HR Topical Resources area of AGC’s website under the main category “Collective Bargaining” and subcategory “Collective Bargaining Agreement Data.” (Be sure to first login as an AGC member.)
As a companion to the report, CLRC has released a five-minute video. The video features CLRC Executive Director Carey Peters going over the key findings of the report.
Collective bargaining chapters are reminded to please send new contract data directly to CLRC promptly upon settlement of collective bargaining negotiations. Chapters and members are also reminded that CLRC consulting and custom research services on local matters at a discount to AGC affiliates. This includes market share analysis, union/nonunion wage and fringe benefit comparisons, collective bargaining agreement language cost analysis, workforce/labor analysis and projections, and more.