Negotiators conducting collective bargaining between January and June of this year agreed to raise construction craft workers’ wage and fringe benefits by an average of 2.6 percent or $1.57 during the first contract year, according to the Construction Labor Research Council’s (CLRC) latest Settlements Report. This compares to 2.8 percent or $1.58 for the same period in 2020 and 2.8 percent or $1.62 for all of 2020.
The latest data reflect a continuation of a slightly downward trend in increases that began last year, following several consecutive years of higher increases. CLRC notes, however, that the average dollar increase negotiated so far this year remains more than double what it was in 2011.
The report includes information on the distribution of first-year increases by percent ranges over the past years, noting that the percentage of such increases falling in the range of 1 percent or less has increased over the three-year span while those in the range of 5.1 percent or more has decreased.
Geographically, the highest average first-year increase by percentage negotiated so far this year came from the Mountain Northern Plains Region (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) at 3.4 percent, and the highest dollar increase came from the Southwest Pacific Region (AZ, CA, HI, NV) at $2.48. The lowest settlements came from the South Central Region (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) by both percentage, at 1.5 percent, and dollar amount, at $0.52.
The craft receiving the highest average first-year increase by percentage was the Plumbers/Pipefitters at 3.2 percent, and the lowest was the Carpenters at 1.8 percent. The Plumbers received the highest dollar increase at $2.50, and the Carpenters received the lowest at $0.80.
The first half of the Settlements Report provides an analysis of data from newly settled agreements as discussed above, while the second section also covers data from previously negotiated agreements that are currently in effect and increased planned for subsequent contract years.
As a companion to the report, CLRC has released an 8-minute video. The video features CLRC Executive Director Carey Peters going over the key findings of the report and guiding users on how to read the report.
The complete report, which includes additional data and analyses, is available to AGC members 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.)
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 analysist and projections, and more.