The Deal in Numbers
Year 1: +$1.50/hr. Year 2: +$1.25/hr. Year 3: +$1.25/hr. Total: $4.00/hr over three years, plus increased H&W and pension contributions. Baseline JW rate goes from $54.75 to $58.75 by 2028.
Why Contractors Signed
Simple. There aren't enough electricians. Data-center buildout in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois is competing with residential and commercial for the same guys. Contractor associations negotiated hard for productivity language but caved on wages because they can't staff jobs without the union hall.
What This Does to Non-Union
Merit-shop contractors within 200 miles of a Local 134 job are quietly bumping their rates too. If you're a non-union JW making $42/hr, expect a $3-5/hr raise this fall or you're going to be recruited hard by the hall.
What It Means for Bids
Every commercial electrical bid in the Midwest is going up 8-12% over the next 18 months. GCs will absorb some. Owners will eat some. And a bunch of projects that were marginal go into the 'defer to 2027' pile.
The Bottom Line
The trades are having their moment. Anyone who told a kid to skip the union in 2020 owes them an apology and $8k in back-pay math.