unions

It's probably lower, right, but I'd generally be careful of using inflation as guidance on what wages ought to be.

If wages are tied to inflation through an agreement it can be more difficult to get actual raises based on increased performance or skill, because "you already got a raise!" (pointing at the percentages).

However an inflation based raise is not really a raise. It's just keeping the money at the same value as it was before.

The right to negotiate is more important than getting a inflation adjusted wage.