Construction collective bargaining agreement increases in the U.S. in 2004 averaged 1.36 per hour, or 3.8 percent for the first year, according to the Construction Labor Research Council.

That increase was significantly lower than wage and benefit increases in 2003, which amounted to 1.42 per hour or 4.3 percent in the first year. And this is in an industry whose leaders acknowledge that construction wage and benefit levels are too low and have not kept up with inflation.

The CLRC via the Construction Labor Report, said second- and third-year wage and benefit levels - at 3.8 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively - have changed little over the last six years.

The national hourly wage and benefit package for all union building trades workers in the U.S. is $38.07 per hour, the CLRC said.