{"id":9540,"date":"2023-12-05T17:50:57","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safacalgary.com\/?p=9540"},"modified":"2023-12-05T17:50:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:50:57","slug":"december-5th-update-to-membership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safacalgary.com\/2024\/2023\/12\/05\/december-5th-update-to-membership\/","title":{"rendered":"December 5th: Update to Membership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wages and Inflation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With access to the bargaining survey ending this week, your bargaining committee is looking forward to reading your priorities going into bargaining in 2024. Of course, one of the survey questions we are most interested in seeing, and I\u2019m sure that you are too, is that of desired wage increases. Here\u2019s some reasons why SAFA members deserve fair wage increases in this new collective agreement.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is, of course, the continuing rise in inflation, and how this drives-up the cost of everything from groceries to home repairs. According to the Government of Alberta, inflation has increased 20% since 2016 and is expected to go up another 6.9% by 2026. While there are small wage increases in the current contract, including a 1.5% increase on December 1st<\/sup>, those are not nearly enough to get SAFA members even close to covering inflation. And there are also those related interest rate hikes that have increased many of our monthly mortgage payments. A substantial cost of living increase is long overdue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of the GoA, it has been reported that they are expecting a $10 Billion surplus in their next budget, and a $2-3 Billion surplus going forward in the next few years. Previously, post-secondary faculty and staff have fallen inline and accepted several years of no wage increases or modest wage increases. It\u2019s time for the GoA to not only recognize and tout our great post-secondary institutions as they do, but to do the same for the great faculty that make everything possible. And there\u2019s no better way to do this than with a strong mandate for increased wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAIT is also in a strong financial position and continues to run a surplus. While they cite wages as their largest expense, that category is broad, and we don\u2019t know the ratio of faculty, staff, and management costs.  Regardless, we know that SAFA member wage increases are not a driver for increased expenses on wages, as we\u2019ve not been receiving big increases! We are aware that SAIT APT recently received wage increases, as well as some wage adjustments. We can only speculate on this amount. However, SAIT, like the GoA, needs to acknowledge the ongoing sacrifice that you\u2019ve all made over the last 10 years, and provide similar adjustments to SAFA members. There are two primary ways for SAIT to do this: substantial wage increases, and a substantial boost to the number of permanent full-time faculty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, we look forward to seeing your desired wage increases, and your bargaining team will stay at the bargaining table as long as it takes to bring you back a contract that is commensurate with all you do to make SAIT a world class institution. And don\u2019t forget, with the rate of inflation over the last decade, combined with several zeros in bargaining, it will take a wage increase of approximately 23% in the first year for you to break even. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bargaining team welcomes your thoughts on this and other negotiating topics.  You can contact us at safa@sait.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craig Coolahan,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour Relations Officer, SAFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

When Getting Ready for Holiday Break\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget that your two personal days will expire on December 31st<\/sup>, 2023. These days do not rollover \u2013 use them or lose them!  The request to use personal days does not require a detailed explanation and cannot be refused by your manager if you provide at least 2 weeks\u2019 notice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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