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October to December 2006
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Construction union wage rates and indexes
(Table 327-0004: 1992=100 Wage Rate Indexes monthly 1986 to present; Table 327-0003: Wage Rates monthly 1971 to present)
Introduction
These series measure changes over time in the current collective agreement rates for 16 trades engaged in building construction in 20 metropolitan areas. Union wage rates by trade are also published for 20 metropolitan areas for both the basic rates and rates including selected supplementary payments. Indexes are provided (Table 3-2 ) for those cities where a majority of trades are covered by current collective agreements.
Characteristics
General
Two rates are indexed: basic rates, indicating the straight time hourly compensation; and basic rates including supplements, such as vacation pay, statutory holiday pay and employers’ contribution to pension plans, health and welfare plans, industry promotion and training funds.
Prices used
Wage rates used for these indexes are derived mainly from those published by the various construction labour relations associations across the provinces. Summaries of the signed agreements are provided to Statistics Canada.
Adjustments to prices
None. Rates used are those published in the collective agreements.
Weight base
The weights used for the 1992 based indexes were derived from the 1991 census data. As before, a fixed- basket Laspeyres index formula is used for the 1992 based indexes.
Index formula
Price indexes are base-weighted.
Revisions
Wage rates and indexes are subject to revisions for 30 months. Collective agreement rates are no longer available for the majority of trades for metropolitan areas in Saskatchewan. For the 1992=100 series, these metropolitan areas were excluded from the survey.
Historical data
Details on rates (1971 onwards) and indexes (1971 to 1983 inclusive) for individual trades are available monthly on CANSIM. For the 1981=100 and 1986=100 series, composite indexes by major trade group and region are also generated and stored on CANSIM. The databank numbers are available both in the CANSIM directory or on request.
Reference documents and further reading
For further information contact Client Services at telephone: 613-951-9606, fax: 613-951-2848, Internet e-mail: infounit@statcan.gc.ca, Prices Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
