The wage gains have not been enough to overcome the economy's problems, however.
But wage gains are also popping up all over the place.
The wage gains were larger for state employees than municipal workers.
But rather than increase prices, the nation's big retailers are finding other ways to get the money for those wage gains.
But to help offset the cost of the health insurance, the union has agreed to hold back on wage gains.
Moreover, wage gains do not automatically lead to higher prices.
On the other hand, the wage gain got folded into every future contract.
The last 20 months have been a period of wage gains again.
Last year, for the first time, Americans with the lowest incomes experienced the highest rates of wage gain.
The latest increase brought the year-over-year wage gain to 3.2 percent.