Archived - Average Annual Percentage Adjustments in by Quarter

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Base rate wage adjustments from major collective bargaining settlements reached in the fourth quarter of the year 2008 averaged 3.4% annually over the contract term; this is lower than the 4.1% increase in the previous quarter. The fourth quarter results are based on 110 agreements covering 154,590 employees.

When the parties to these fourth quarter settlements previously negotiated, the resulting wage adjustments averaged 2.7%, lower than in their current settlements. Contract durations in the fourth quarter 2008 averaged 42.7 months, compared to 38.3 months in the previous round of settlements.

Percentage Wage Adjustments in Major Settlements by Quarter

Wage adjustments in the public sector averaged 3.5% and in the private sector, 2.9%. The public-sector results are based on 89 agreements covering 127,850 employees; public sector employees account for 82.7% of the total employee coverage in the fourth quarter. Public-sector agreements in Alberta recorded wage adjustments averaging 5.0%. There was a large number of education-sector settlements in the fourth quarter in Ontario, with wage adjustments averaging 3.0%. The private sector results are based on 21 agreements covering 26,740 employees and private-sector employees account for only 17.3% of the total employee coverage in fourth quarter settlements. Wage adjustments in this sector ranged from a wage freeze for 600 employees with Cooper Standard Automotive Ltd. in Ontario, to a 5.2% increase for 1,470 employees with Real Canadian Superstore in Alberta.

Percentage Distribution of Employees by Size of Wage Adjustment, by Public and Private Sectors,

On a jurisdictional basis, the largest average wage adjustment was recorded in both Newfoundland and Alberta at 5.0%, and the lowest increase was in Manitoba at 1.8%. The largest concentration of agreements (65.5%) and employees (55%) was in Ontario where wage adjustments averaged 3.0%. In the federal jurisdiction, 2,100  Canada Post employees received increases averaging 2.6%.

On an industry basis, the largest average wage adjustment was in the education, health, and social services sector at 3.5%, and the lowest adjustment was in manufacturing at 1.8%. The largest concentration of agreements (71.9%) and employees (67.5%) was in the education, health, and social services sector where wage adjustments averaged 3.5%.

The majority of agreements (67.3%) and employees (61.6%) had wage adjustments in the 3.0 to 3.9% range; 16.4% of agreements covering 23.4% of employees recorded adjustments at or above 4.0%; 14.5% of agreements and 13.9% of employees had wage adjustments below 3.0%; 1,520 employees (1%) in 2 agreements (1.8%) were subject to a wage freeze.

Sectors

  2008
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Public Sector 3.2 3.0 4.5 3.5
Private Sector 3.9 1.7 3.0 2.9

All Industries/Jurisdictions

  2008
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Average Annual Adjustment 3.4 2.4 4.1 3.4
Non-COLA 3.3 2.7 4.1 3.4
COLA 5.1 1.4 4.1 2.3
 
First-Year Adjustment 3.3 2.3 5.6 3.6
Non-COLA 3.2 2.9 5.6 3.6
COLA 5.6 0.5 6.0 2.3

Industries

  2008
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Primary Industries 4.8 3.4 - 3.2
Utilities 3.3 2.1 3.5 -
Construction 5.8 - 4.7 -
Manufacturing 1.1 1.1 3.1 1.8
Wholesale and Retail Trade 4.6 1.7 2.5 3.4
Transportation 3.2 2.9 3.2 2.9
Information and Culture 2.0 2.1 1.6 2.0
Finance and Professional Services 2.0 2.9 - 2.9
Education, Health, and Social Services 3.5 3.8 4.7 3.5
Entertainment and Hospitality - 1.2 2.3 3.2
Public Administration 2.1 3.3 3.0 3.4

Jurisdictions

  2008
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Newfoundland and Labrador - 5.0 - 5.0
Prince Edward Island 3.0 - 3.0 -
Nova Scotia 3.5 2.9 4.7 -
New Brunswick 4.0 3.0 3.7 3.7
Quebec 2.4 2.1 2.8 2.6
Ontario 3.0 1.8 2.9 3.0
Manitoba 4.1 3.5 3.3 1.8
Saskatchewan 2.3 - 6.2 3.5
Alberta 4.0 4.7 5.3 5.0
British Columbia 3.3 3.4 2.6 2.5
Territories - 4.4 - -
Federal Jurisdiction 3.4 2.6 3.3 2.7

Monthly Tables

Yearly Tables

Major settlements are those involving bargaining units of 500 or more employees.

For additional information, please view the Technical Notes (PDF format, 200kb).

Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, HRSDC.

For more information, contact us.

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Date Modified:
2011-11-16