Wage settlements for labour up 3.5 per cent

Gains highest in private sector, prairies

Collective-bargaining agreements in September resulted in a 3.5 per cent wage increase. That’s the same as increases from settlements reached in August, but up from 2.9 per cent in July.

The September results are based on 25 settlements covering nearly 36,000 employees.

Wage gains were much higher in the private sector (4.5 per cent) than in the public sector (2.8 per cent). Adjustments were generally highest in the prairie provinces. There were no settlements in Quebec in September.

Wage adjustments in September settlements ranged from .9 per cent (Vancouver Board of School Trustees’ technical and officer workers) to 6.7 per cent (Electronic Contractors’ Association of Alberta).

Third quarter

In terms of third-quarter results, the average base-rate wage increases averaged 3.4 per cent. That figure includes 86 settlements covering about 230,000 workers. The last time these parties negotiated, they averaged an increase of just 1.8 per cent.

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