McMASTER UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSOCIATION PROPOSALS FOR LIBRARIAN REMUNERATION FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 16, 1999 TO JUNE 15, 2002

APRIL 6, 1999

The MUFA librarians groups are cognizant of the amount of research effort and negotiating time that was spent to achieve the Faculty remuneration agreement reached in March 1999 for the next three years 1999/2000; 2000/2001; 2001/2002. Because of this recognition, the MUFA librarians have agreed to follow the pattern of the faculty agreement with a few modifications. The position of the MUFA librarians is that they will follow the faculty lead and seek a three-year agreement as requested by the Administration in salary negotiations under the specific conditions outlined for each salary year below.

YEAR 1: June 16, 1999 to June 15, 2000

During this year, the MUFA librarians propose an Across-the-Board increase, plus merit and an increase in PDA, a pension holiday and the creation of a modem pool fund.

1. Across-the-board increase to the salary base of 1.25%

Rationale: Like faculty members, MUFA librarians have suffered a large erosion in the financial buying power of their salaries. Since 1991 both groups have seen their salaries eroded by more than 10%, even with the 1% increase to be received May 1, 1999 which is the last payment of the 1997-1999 two-year agreement. MUFA librarians would have asked for higher than 1.25%, since this only covers the 1% December 1997 to December 1998 measure of inflation in the CPI plus 0.25% catch-up. They decided, however, that since this 1.25% was the amount settled on by the Association, that they would withhold requests for higher ATB at this time and accede to the MUFA faculty settlement. This amount is to be paid on June 16, 1999.

2. Merit Pool of 2.4% of Librarian Salaries

Rationale: MUFA librarians have used a percentage amount for the merit pool equivalent to the Administration's calculation of the gross amount of faculty CP/M costs. To keep their agreement in line with MUFA faculty, MUFA librarians believe this to be equitable. It is understood that this 2.4% merit pool will be distributed to librarians using the new librarian evaluation scheme. If this scheme is not available in time for the June 16, 1999 deadline, merit will be distributed under the old scheme for this one year (1999-2000).

This amount is to be paid on June 16, 1999.

3. Increase in the Professional Development Allowance of 1%

Rationale: The 1% increase in the PDA will cover the financial inflation described above and make the percent change in MUFA librarian PDA the same as MUFA faculty's proposed change.

This change will be made to PDA effective May 1, 1999.

4. A Pension holiday of 50% Employee Contributions with a Corresponding Adjustment of the Termination Benefit (to maintain its value).

Rationale: Because of the large pension surplus and the fact that the University has been taking pension holidays for a number of years, the MUFA librarians feel that an employee pension holiday of 50% should be continued. In the event of any subsequent agreement (e.g., in the McMaster University Ad Hoc Committee for Retirement Provisions for Salaried Employees) that affects employee contributions to the Pension Plan, that agreement will supersede this negotiated pension holiday as of the implementation date of that new agreement.

This will take effect June 16, 1999.

5. Modem Pool Funding of $100 per MUFA Librarian.

Rationale: MUFA faculty have negotiated a continuance of their modem pool funding. Since that benefit was instituted in the 1996/97 agreement, faculty using the Pool have been given approximately $100 per person to connect them to the University from home. MUFA librarians feel that because a large part of their job involves computer work that participation in the modem pool is necessary to support their work from home. The amount of $100 per person would ensure the comparability between MUFA librarians and faculty.

The Modem Pool funding year will begin June 16, 1999.

YEAR 2: June 16, 2000 to June 15, 2001

MUFA librarians have again patterned their brief on the faculty agreement for 2000/2001.

1. Across-the-board increase to the salary base of 0.5%

Rationale: Although MUFA librarians believe this to be a paltry ATB and more is needed to staunch their salary erosion, they have agreed to follow the faculty ATB request.

The ATB will be paid starting in the June 16, 1999 salary.

2. A Lump Sum Payment of $300 per MUFA Librarian

Rationale: In 1997-1999 MUFA librarians delayed their merit increases by six months (they were payable December 16, 1997 and 1998 respectively). The $300 lump sum recognizes the dollars lost by this delayed payment which was comparable to that agreed to in the MUFA faculty settlement for that period. This lump sum payment will be paid in the June 16, 2000 salary and not folded into the librarian's base salary.

3. Merit Pool of 2.4% of Librarian Salaries

Rationale: The size of the merit pool in percentage is equal to the 1999/2000 pool as per the faculty agreement. It is assumed that the new merit scheme will be in place for awarding this merit.

Merit increases will be made starting in salaries of June 16, 1999.

4. Increase in the Professional Development Allowance of 1%

Rationale: This is comparable to the amount agreed to by faculty for this period. It will be include in PDA beginning May 1, 2000.

5. A Pension Holiday of 50% Employee Contributions with a Corresponding Adjustment of the Termination Benefit (to maintain its value).

Rationale: This is comparable to the agreed upon position for faculty members. In the event of any subsequent agreement (e.g. in the McMaster University Ad Hoc Committee for Retirement Provisions for Salaried Employees) that affects employee contributions to the Pension Plan, that agreement will supersede this negotiated pension holiday as of the implementation date of that new agreement.

This will take effect on June 16, 2000.

6. Modem Pool Funding of $100 per MUFA Librarian

Rationale: The argument that MUFA librarians should have contribution toward their computer work is the same as that made above for 1999/2000.

The Modem Pool funding for Year 2 will begin June 16, 2000.

YEAR 3: June 16, 2001 to June 15, 2002

1. Across-the-board increase to the salary base of 1.25%

Rationale: This amount of ATB follows the faculty settlement. Payment of the increased ATB would begin June 16, 2001.

2. Merit Pool of 2.4% Librarians Salaries

Rationale: The merit pool to be awarded is the same as Years 1 and 2 of the agreement. This is comparable to the faculty agreement.

Merit awards would be made according to the new librarian scheme and included in salaries as of June 16, 2001.

3. Increase in the Professional Development Allowance of 1%

Rationale: The 1% increase in PDA is comparable to the faculty agreement for Year 3.

The increase in PDA would be included from May 1, 2001.

4. A Pension Holiday of 50% of Employee Contributions with a Corresponding Adjustment of the Termination Benefit (to maintain its value).

Rationale: This is the same 50% pension holiday as in Years 1 and 2 and is comparable to the faculty settlement. In the event of any subsequent agreement (e.g. in the McMaster University Ad Hoc Committee for Retirement Provisions for Salaried Employees) that affects employee contributions to the Pension Plan, that agreement will supersede this negotiated pension holiday as of the implementation date of that new agreement.

This will take effect June 16, 2001.

5. Modem Pool Funding of $100 per MUFA Librarian

Rationale: The rationale of this benefit to librarians is discussed in Year 1 and is comparable to the faculty settlement. The modem pool funding for Year 3 will begin June 16, 2001.