In the past the University has paid for increased wages by reducing our funding from the Queen’s Graduate Award which resulted in us paying more taxes. How will the Union secure real wage increases?
One way of ensuring a real wage increase is to negotiate a bonus awarded to TAs at the end of each term that is excluded from the calculation of the funding package. At the University of Western Ontario that bonus is now $705 (2008/9 academic year), and is indexed to increase over the life of the collective agreement. In other words, someone whose funding package is $20,000/year would make $21,410 if they TA for two semesters. Such a bonus ensures that the wage increase is real and that they have to find the money somewhere else.
Related Questions
- In the past the University has paid for increased wages by reducing our funding from the Queen’s Graduate Award which resulted in us paying more taxes. How will the Union secure real wage increases?
- Should Graduate TAs and TFs achieve increased wages and benefits, will these monetary gains affect future tuition costs or the number of TAships?
- I have been awarded the Achievement Award for Outstanding Graduate Students. Can I receive additional funding?
