How could Queen's slow the growth of the compensation budget?

The University has been looking for ways to slow the rate of growth of the compensation budget to help reduce our projected deficits.

The current wage settlements were negotiated in good faith; any changes would need to be agreed to, and endorsed by, employee groups.  

An early retirement incentive plan for faculty members in the QUFA Bargaining Unit is currently available.

In Spring 2009, the administration tabled a proposal with QUFA regarding "Queen's Days", when the University would close down for a few unpaid days during the year. QUFA rejected this idea. In Fall 2009, Principal Woolf requested that the QUFA Executive consider proposing to its members a 2% reduction in the negotiated salary increase for 2010-2011, with 1% being reallocated back to each faculty member's academic department on a transparent and accountable basis, and the other 1% going to reduce the university's operating budget deficit. This would have represented a base reallocation to academic units of about $1 million, and it would have reduced the university's operating deficit by another $1 million.The QUFA executive decline the request.

For 2009-2010, the Principal, Vice-Principals, Deans and senior staff took a salary freeze. The Chair of the Board of Trustees granted Principal Woolf's request to take a 2% salary cut starting January 1, 2010. In addition, Principal Woolf will decline any salary increase for 2010-2011.

The administration has continually expressed its desire to discuss various options for slowing the rate of growth of the compensation budget and is committed to working with employee groups to find solutions.