Collective Bargaining Series - State and Local Government (BG) bg.txt Section Listing 1. Survey Definition 2. FTP files listed in the survey directory. 3. Time series, series file, data file, & mapping file definitions and relationships 4. Series file format and field definitions 5. Data file format and field definitions 6. Mapping file formats and field definitions 7. Data Element Dictionary ================================================================================ Section 1 ================================================================================ The following is a definition of: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SERIES - STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (BG) Survey Description: This series summarizes wage-rate changes in major collective bargaining units (those with 1,000 workers or more) in State and local governments where: (1) A labor organization is recognized as the bargaining agent for a group of workers; (2) the settlements are embodied in signed, mutually binding contracts; and (3) wages are determined by collective bargaining. Wage-rate change data are measured for units of 1,000 workers or more; compensation measures are compiled for settlements of 5,000 workers or more. Summary Data Available: Wage Rate Changes: Two types of information are presented. "Settlement" data measure the net impact of increases, decreases, and no change in wage rates as a result of new settlements reached during the reference period. Changes scheduled during the first 12 months after the contract effective date (first-year) and all changes over the contract term expressed as an annual rate (over the life) are presented. Data on "wage rate changes under all major agreements" include increases, decreases, and no change in the reference period stemming from settlements in that period, from earlier settlements with changes deferred to the period, and from COLA adjustments. Compensation Changes: These data measure changes (increases, decreases, and no change) in employee compensation (wages and benefits) resulting from settlements negotiated in the reference period covering 5,000 workers or more. Both changes occurring within 12 months of the contract effective date (first year) and all changes that will occur over the contract term expressed as an annual rate (over the life) are presented. "Compensation changes" measure changes in the costs for employee compensation including specified lump-sum payments and reflects both the size and timing of compensation rate changes. Frequency of Observations: Data are presented semiannually and by calendar year. Data Characteristics: All percent changes are stored with one decimal place. All employment measures are in millions. Updating Schedule: Updates are available in February and August. References: BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 7, "Negotiated Wage and Benefit Changes", Bulletin 2285 (1988). ================================================================================== Section 2 ================================================================================== The following Collective Bargaining Series (State and Local Government) files are on the BLS internet in the sub-directory pub/time.series/bg: bg.alteration - Alteration codes mapping file bg.contacts - Contacts for bg survey bg.data.1.AllData - All data bg.duration - Duration codes mapping file bg.measure - Measure codes mapping file bg.period - Period codes mapping file bg.sector - Sector codes mapping file bg.selection - Selection codes mapping file bg.series - All series and their beginning and end dates bg.txt - General information bg.unit - Unit codes mapping file ================================================================================= Section 3 ================================================================================= The definition of a time series, its relationship to and the interrelationship among series, data and mapping files is detailed below: A time series refers to a set of data observed over an extended period of time over consistent time intervals (i.e. monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually). BLS time series data are typically produced at monthly intervals and represent data ranging from a specific consumer item in a specific geographical area whose price is gathered monthly to a category of worker in a specific industry whose employment rate is being recorded monthly, etc. The FTP files are organized such that data users are provided with the following set of files to use in their efforts to interpret data files: a) a series file (only one series file per survey) b) mapping files c) data files The series file contains a set of codes which, together, compose a series identification code that serves to uniquely identify a single time series. Additionally, the series file also contains the following series-level information: a) the period and year corresponding to the first data observation b) the period and year corresponding to the most recent data observation. The mapping files are definition files that contain explanatory text descriptions that correspond to each of the various codes contained within each series identification code. The data file contains one line of data for each observation period pertaining to a specific time series. Each line contains a reference to the following: a) a series identification code b) year in which data is observed c) period for which data is observed (M13, Q05, and S03 indicate annual averages) d) value e) footnote code (if available) ================================================================================= Section 4 ================================================================================= File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define bg.series. Note that the Field Numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Data files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. series_id 13 BGU01111001 2. measure_code 2 00 3. unit_code 1 1 4. alteration_code 1 1 5. sector_code 1 1 6. contract_duration 1 0 7. contract_selection 2 00 8. seasonal 1 U 9. begin_year 4 1984 10. begin_period 3 Q02 11. end_year 4 1995 12. end_period 3 Q02 The series_id (BGU01111001) can be broken out into: Code Value(Example) survey abbreviation = BG seasonal (code) = U measure_code = 01 unit_code = 1 alteration_code = 1 sector_code = 1 contract_duration = 0 contract_selection = 01 ================================================================================== Section 5 ================================================================================== File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define each data file. Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Data files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. File Name: bg.data.1.AllData The above-named data file has the following format: Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. series_id 13 BGU01111001 2. year 4 1984 3. period 3 Q01 4. value 12 3.9 5. cont_break 1 N 6. status 1 F 7. footnote_exists 1 N The series_id (BGU01111001) can be broken out into: Code Value(Example) survey abbreviation = BG seasonal (code) = U measure_code = 01 unit_code = 1 alteration_code = 1 sector_code = 1 contract_duration = 0 contract_selection = 01 ================================================================================ Section 6 ================================================================================ File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define each mapping file. Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Mapping files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. File Name: bg.alteration Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. alteration_code 1 1 2. alteration_text 50 Text File Name: bg.duration Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. contract_duration 1 0 2. contract_duration_text 50 Text File Name: bg.measure Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. measure_code 2 01 2. measure_text 90 Text File Name: bg.period Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. period 3 Q01 2. period_abbr 5 QTR2 3. period_name 20 Text File Name: bg.sector Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. sector_code 1 1 2. sector_name 40 Text File Name: bg.selection Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. contract_selection 2 01 2. contract_selection_text 80 Text File Name: bg.unit Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. unit_code 1 1 2. unit_text 20 Text ========================================================================================= Section 7 ========================================================================================= COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SERIES - STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (BG) DATABASE ELEMENTS Data Element Length Value(Example) Description alteration_code 1 1 Code identifying the type of change measured by the observation. alteration_text 50 Text Description of type of change Ex: Changes (net measured by the observation. increases, and no change) begin_period 3 Q03 Identifies first data observation Ex: Q03=3rd Quarter within the first year for which (Q=Quarterly, Q05= data is available for a given Annual Average) time series. begin_year 4 1975 Identifies first year for which data is available for a given time series. cont_break 1 Y=Continuity break Identifies point at which data N=No break within a series are no longer comparable. contract_ 1 0 Code identifying the length duration of the contract. contract_ 50 Text Description of the length of duration_text Ex: All contracts contract. contract_ 2 01 Code identifying the contracts selection negotiated in the period. contract_ 80 Text Description of contracts selection_text Ex: All contracts negotiated in the period. negotiated in periods end_period 3 Q05 Identifies last data observation Ex: Q05=Annual Average within the last year for which (Q=Quarterly, Q05= data is available for a given Annual Average) time series. end_year 4 1980 Identifies last year for which data is available for a given time series. footnote_exists 1 N=No footnote Identifies whether a footnote Y=Footnote exists for the data series. (To see footnote, refer to publication.) measure_code 2 01 The measure identifier. measure_text 90 Text Name of element being Ex: Settlements, 1st measured by the observation. compensation. period_abbr 5 QTR2 Abbreviation of period name. period 3 Q01 Identifies period for which Ex: Q01=1st Quarter data is observed. (Q=Quarterly, Q05= Annual Average) period_name 20 Text Full name of period to which Ex: First half the data observation refers. seasonal 1 S=Seasonally Code identifying whether the Adjusted data are seasonally adjusted. U=Unadjusted sector_code 1 1 Code identifying the sector of the economy. sector_name 40 Text Name of economic sector to Ex: State and local which data refer. government series_id 13 BGU01111001 Code identifying the specific series. status 1 F=Final data Code identifying whether data P=Premliminary data are preliminary or final. unit_code 1 1 Code identifying the unit of measurement. unit_text 20 Text Name of unit of measurement Ex: Mean (in percents) for observation. value 12 Data value Observation for the series. year 4 1990 Identifies year of observation.