Know the fiscal impact of every proposal at the bargaining table.
Data-Driven Collective Bargaining & HR Consulting
200+ Compensation Studies
Delivered
80+ Arbitration Cases
Prepared & Presented
15+ States
Markets Served
AI-Powered Analysis
Real-time cost modeling
Navigate the Complex World of Public Employee Compensation with Confidence
Most organizations approach compensation and labor negotiations with one of two tools: they hire a consulting firm that brings experience and relationships but relies on manual spreadsheets for cost analysis, or they license labor costing software that produces numbers but offers no strategic guidance on how to use them.
CollBar eliminates that tradeoff.
We are a full-service compensation consulting and labor negotiation firm with the CollBar Cost Modeling Engine built into every engagement. Whether you are a city manager preparing for collective bargaining, a school superintendent trying to understand the true cost of a proposed salary schedule, or a fire district board member weighing a new contract — CollBar gives you the data, the strategy, and the support to make decisions you can defend.
See Our ServicesOur Services
CollBar takes your current collective bargaining agreement, your proposals, and your employee data — and calculates what each proposal actually costs. The output is a fully functional Excel model you own.
Because Software Alone Is Not a Strategy — and Consulting Alone Is Not Fast Enough
Other firms make you choose. With CollBar, cost analysis and strategic consulting are inseparable.
Cost Modeling Engine
CollBar's proprietary engine takes your CBA, roster, and proposals and produces a comprehensive total-cost-of-employment model — in hours, not weeks.
Full-Service Consulting + Technology
Most firms offer either consulting or software. CollBar offers both, integrated into a single engagement. Your cost model feeds directly into your negotiation strategy.
Public Sector Expertise
Our team has spent careers inside local government and unionized environments — step-and-lane schedules, TRS/STRS/PERS pension systems, PERC proceedings, and interest arbitration.
Scenario Modeling
When proposals change mid-session, CollBar updates your cost model in real time. Walk into every session knowing the full financial impact of every counter-proposal.
No Learning Curve
Unlike standalone software, CollBar produces the analysis for you. Input your CBA and roster. We hand you back a completed, auditable workbook.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Public Entities and Unionized Employers Across Every Sector
CollBar serves public-sector entities and unionized employers across every industry — from small fire districts with 50 employees to healthcare systems with 100,000+.
Public Sector Clients
- Cities and municipalities
- Counties
- K-12 school districts
- Fire districts and regional fire authorities
- Public transit agencies
- Port districts
- Public utility districts (PUDs)
- Libraries and library systems
- 9-1-1 communication centers
- Colleges and universities
- Parks and recreation districts
Private Sector / Union Clients
- Healthcare systems and hospitals
- Building trades (IBEW, UBC, LIUNA)
- Manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, industrial)
- Energy and utilities
- Hotel, hospitality, and retail food services
- Transportation and logistics
- Third-party administrators (TPAs)
- Public radio
Who Reaches Out to CollBar
If you are responsible for compensation decisions, labor negotiations, or HR strategy in a public or unionized organization, CollBar was built for you.
City Managers
Preparing for multi-union bargaining rounds and needing defensible cost data for board presentations.
School Superintendents
Navigating certificated and classified bargaining, TRS/STRS pension complexities, and board communication.
HR Directors
Conducting compensation studies, managing classification and pay equity, and supporting bargaining teams.
Finance Directors
Understanding the true total cost of proposed contracts — salary, pension, benefits, taxes — before the board vote.
Labor Relations Directors
Needing analytical depth and strategic support for negotiations, grievances, and arbitration.
Fire District Boards
Preparing for IAFF negotiations and interest arbitration with a lean staff and limited in-house expertise.
Transit Agency Executives
Managing ATU contracts, service coverage requirements, and benchmarking against peer transit systems.
Healthcare HR Leaders
Navigating multi-union environments, Taft-Hartley funds, and complex benefits structures at scale.
County Administrators
Managing compensation across dozens of job classifications and multiple bargaining units.
From CBA to Confident Decision
You Share Your Contract and Roster
Upload your CBA (PDF is fine), employee roster, and any proposals on the table. If you do not have a roster, we generate a realistic model from the CBA's salary structure.
Our AI Extracts and Models Everything
CollBar's engine reads your CBA, identifies the applicable sector, extracts salary schedules, retirement provisions, and contract terms — pulling pension rates, payroll taxes, and benefits architectures automatically.
You Get a Complete, Auditable Workbook
Within hours, you receive a professional Excel workbook with Executive Summary, Salary Schedule, Employer and Employee Cost Detail, Incremental Cost Analysis, and Scenario Comparison tabs.
We Help You Act on It
We help you interpret the numbers, develop your bargaining strategy, present to your board, negotiate at the table, draft contract language, handle grievances, and implement the agreement.
Built for Public Entities. Powered by Technology.
CollBar is a compensation consulting, labor negotiation, and technology firm built for public entities and unionized employers. Our team combines decades of experience inside local government, school districts, and union environments with the CollBar Cost Modeling Engine.
We believe the organizations that serve the public deserve the same caliber of compensation analysis that Fortune 500 companies take for granted — but tailored to the unique realities of public budgets, pension systems, union contracts, and taxpayer accountability.
Learn More About Our Team
Five Pillars That Guide Everything We Do
We empower public-sector leaders with the data, analysis, and strategic support they need to make informed decisions about compensation and labor relations.
Expertise
Seasoned HR professionals with deep knowledge of public-sector compensation systems and union contract structures across 15+ states.
Objectivity
Neutral, data-driven analysis. Our recommendations are based on market data, cost models, and defensible methodology — not opinion.
Transparency
No proprietary formulas or hidden methodology. Everything we do is documented and replicable.
Fiscal Responsibility
Every recommendation considers taxpayer resources, budgetary constraints, and long-term sustainability.
Innovation
We invest in AI technology that gives our clients a decisive advantage in speed, accuracy, and analytical depth.
What Our Customers Say
“CollBar's AI cost model saved us weeks of manual spreadsheet work. We walked into bargaining knowing exactly what every proposal cost — down to the penny. The real-time updates at the table were a game-changer.”
Finance Director, Midwest School District
AI Cost Modeling + Collective Bargaining
Serving Markets Across 50 States
Make Smarter Compensation Decisions
Book a free strategy session. We'll discuss your organization's challenges and outline what a custom approach could look like — no obligation.
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