Pay Increases in June 2024
Effective June 1, 2024, research assistants 1 and research assistants 2 will receive a 2.5% economic increase to their hourly pay rate, and research associates will receive a 4.5% increase. This is equivalent to a horizontal move on each respective salary scale, within a single step, from the June 2023 rate to the June 2024 rate.
In addition, research assistants and associates who began working in their position prior to December 31, 2023 and who receive a successful evaluation from their supervisor will also receive a professional advancement increase of 2.5%. This is equivalent to a vertical move on the salary scale, from one step to the next, within the June 2024 rate. If they have not already, your supervisor should provide you with a copy of the employee evaluation form for you to sign and should submit it to Human Resources prior to June 1.
In lieu of these cost of living and professional advancement increases, research assistants and associates who are paid at a rate above the maximum of the salary scale will receive a lump sum payment equivalent to 2.5% of their salary.
For more detailed information on pay increases and salary scales, please refer to the collective agreement. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact Sean Cory (sean.cory@aerum-amure.ca).
Upcoming Holidays
A reminder to all full-time and part-time AMURE members that you are entitled to paid leave for the upcoming statutory holidays on Monday May 20, Monday June 24, and Monday July 1. Casual employees receive an indemnity for holidays on top of their pay. More information on statutory holidays can be found in the collective agreement and on McGill’s website.
We have recently become aware of an issue with how holiday time is calculated for part time employees. So, if you are a part-time employee, please check your pay stubs that include a holiday. If you have received a lower-than-expected salary for a pay that includes a holiday, please contact Sean Cory (sean.cory@aerum-amure.ca). We are looking into this issue.
Summer Fridays
Summer Fridays for all full-time and part-time research assistants and associates will begin on Friday, June 21. The full schedule of Summer Fridays can be found on the University website. If you are required to work on a Summer Friday, you are entitled to either equivalent time off on another day or overtime pay. If you are a part-time employee, you will be entitled to Summer Fridays on a pro-rated basis – that is, you are entitled to time off equivalent to one fifth of your weekly working hours.
AMURE Tip of the Month: FTQ Fonds RRSP+
The Fédération des travailleurs et travailleueses du Québec (FTQ) is Quebec’s largest central labour body. The FTQ manages the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, which aims to contribute to economic growth in Quebec by investing in businesses across all sectors of the Quebec economy. Quebec taxpayers can purchase shares in the Fonds, which are eligible as registered retirement savings program (RRSP) contributions through the Fonds RRSP+ program. As such, any contributions to the RRSP+ program are tax deductible. In addition, the federal and provincial governments each offer a 15% tax credit for any shares purchased within the RRSP+ program, up to a maximum contribution of $5,000 per year. That means that someone who purchases $5,000 of Fonds shares in a given year through the RRSP+ program will benefit from $1,500 in tax savings ($750 at the Quebec provincial level and another $750 at the federal level). This is in addition to the tax deduction they will benefit from that all RRSP holders are eligible for, the value of which depends on their marginal tax rate.
There are two ways to contribute to the Fonds RRSP+: via preauthorized bank withdrawals or employer payroll deductions. However, due to the popularity of the RRSP+ program, the Fonds has halted all new contributions via preauthorized bank withdrawals. McGill employees are in luck though, as the University offers payroll deductions for the RRSP+ program. If you would like to benefit from the program and the tax savings that accompany it, you would first need to create an account on the Fonds website, and then set up payroll deductions through your account. The amount you choose will then be deducted from each biweekly paycheck. You can choose whether to benefit immediately from the tax deduction and credit at the time of each biweekly withdrawal, or to benefit from them when completing your tax return each year instead.
AMPL Strike
The Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) have been on strike since April 24 to pressure McGill to negotiate a collective agreement in good faith. To show our support, AMURE board members voted during the last board meeting to provide AMPL with $1,500 in solidarity funds. If you would also like to show your support, you are welcome to join their picket lines, however briefly, anytime during the day on Wednesdays or Fridays on the lawn at 3644 rue Peel, in front of the Faculty of Law. There are also briefer picket lines on other weekdays between 8:15 am and 10:15 am, right outside the doors of the law library at the same address.
Support for McGill’s Floor Fellows
In February 2024, McGill decided to abolish the job position of floor fellows – older students who live in McGill residences and provide support to younger, first-year students. This move affects 65 floor fellows unionized under The Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE). The University has decided to replace these positions with 45 residence life facilitator positions, which floor fellows can apply to. However, floor fellows argue that since residence life facilitators don’t live in the dormitories, the support that floor fellows provide remains unmatched. If you would like to support the floor fellows in their attempts to pressure the University, you can sign an open letter they have created that sends an email to Provost Fabrice Labeau with each signature.