UPDATED SUMMER 2021

Progression through the Wage Grid

As Sessional Lecturers accrue seniority points, they move through the wage grid (Steps 1 – 7). Progression through the wage grid works as follows:

• Five seniority points must be successfully completed before moving to the next step except for movement from Step 6 to 7 which requires 10 points AND 35 points overall.

• Initial placement on the wage grid is at the discretion of the hiring academic unit; however, it is important to note that:
  • SLs are paid the same wage regardless of the department where they work.
  • SLs cannot move down the wage grid.
• Progression through grid/wage steps is based on combined seniority across the University.
  • When determining the wage for an upcoming work assignment, it is critical that units take into account not only Accrued SPs, but also any Pending SPs, across all academic units.  
  • Do not depend on the # of SPs on the Application because that only reflects the # of accrued SPs at the time of application. 
  • Run the 'SL (Unit 2) Complete Seniority Point List for Editors' to assess if there are any PENDING SPs, and whether any SPs have been accrued in other academic units.

SLs who Teach Across Multiple Academic Units

SLs who teach across multiple academic units must be appointed at the same wage step in each academic unit*.  In addition, SLs cannot move down the wage grid from previous work assignments.  Getting this right will require some coordination and validation to ensure that your SLs are placed at the appropriate step.  The following process should support this work. 

1. Use the Report in the TA/SL hiring portal titled "SL (Unit 2) Complete Seniority Point List for Editors" to identify how many Seniority Points each SL has (accrued and pending) and at what wage step they should be at as per the Article 14 Wage Grid.
2. Use the Report in the TA/SL hiring portal titled "SL (Unit 2) Work Assignments Across All Academic Units" to determine if each SL has taught in other academic units and where/when their Pending SPs may be from.
3. If a Pending SP is for a previous work assignment that has yet to be closed out, it will be added to the accrued SPs to determine the wage step in #1 above.
4. (a) Identify the highest wage rate paid to the SL in your department.  (b) Identify the highest wage rate paid to the SL in any other department, as applicable.  Contact your HR Service Associate to verify wage rates outside your department.  (c) Process work assignments in all units at the higher wage step.
5. Regarding SLs who teach across multiple academic units, we encourage you to reach out to the admin in the other unit to ensure you're on the same wage step for your respective appointments.
6. Ensure consistency in entering the wage step in both the Offer of Appointment and in HRER.
7. Contact your FASR Consultant should if placement on the grid is still not clear.

*Assignments paid above the wage grid are exempt from this process.

For Sessional Lecturers paid above the wage grid:

Effective January 1, 2021, where the wage in a work assignment for a particular course has been offered as a CUPE 3913 work assignment above the grid for three (3) or more consecutive offerings, future appointments to a salary rate above the grid will be commensurate with previous appointments to the same course work assignment. For example, if a Sessional Lecturer is paid at $11,000 for a course three times in a row, future offerings of that course must be compensated at $11,000 or more. Wage rates may only reduce where there has been a reduction in amounts paid for similar courses in the sector in Ontario.

Other Updates

• 14.11: increase to Supplemental Payment for large in-person classes where no TA has been assigned
• 14.12: Preparatory pay for first-time teaching may be prorated, for example, 30 hours for 1.0 work assignment, 22.5 hours for .75 work assignment; 15 hours for .5 work assignment, etc..

• We can pay above the maximum.​

• Effective January 1, 2021, if we offer an above the grid wage in three or more consecutive offerings of a course, the above the grid wage must continue to be offered unless there is a reduction for similar courses in the sector in Ontario.​