Negotiators conducting collective bargaining in the first three quarters of this year agreed to raise construction craft workers’ wage and fringe benefits by an average of 2.8 percent or $1.66 during the first contract year, according to the latest Settlements Report just released by the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC). These averages are modestly lower than those reported for 2018. Nevertheless, CLRC forecasts an overall gradual rise to 3.2 percent and $1.85 by 2021.
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. When previously negotiated data are included, the average increase given for the period was 2.9 percent or $1.66, and CLRC projects an increase to 3.2 percent and $1.80 by 2021.
Additional data and analysis are provided in the full report, which 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.) An updated report is expected in December or January.
AGC’s collective bargaining chapters are reminded to please send settlements information to CLRC at clrc@clrcconsulting.org promptly after completion of bargaining. Chapters and members are also reminded that CLRC is available to assist with custom projects, such as analyses of local market share, contract language costs, union vs. nonunion wage and benefits comparisons, and wage and benefits benchmarks, at a discount for AGC affiliation. For more information about these services, please call CLRC at (202) 347-8440.