This fell to about 1 per cent in the year 2000. The data are drawn from a database maintained by Human Resources Development Canada, which contains information on agreements signed in the unionized sector of the economy. Note that wage settlements in the public sector are excluded from the numbers presented in the text.
Data in this sector are distorted by wage freezes in the 1990s as governments at various levels sought to control budget deficits. 39  In 1980, average duration across all contracts in the private sector was approximately 27 months. In 2001, it was about 36 months. 40  Gray (1978), Canzoneri (1980).