UW Gazette, April 17, 1996 Waterloo ranks fourth among Ontario universities in faculty salaries, but 14th in staff salaries, says an information package distributed by the staff association last week. It lists average salaries for the staff at 19 institutions, ranging from $43,523 at Carleton University to $34,811 at the Ontario College of Art. UW's figure of $37,322 puts it just behind Guelph, and ahead of all the in stitutions except Brock, Nipissing, Laurier, Lakehead and OCA. Average faculty salaries are provided for 18 institutions (there's no number for OCA) and range from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, at $88,721, down to Nipissing University at $63,736. UW's figure of $79,901 puts it behind OISE, Toronto and McMaster. Says a paragraph explaining the salary tables: "In past compensation discussions, it has been the practice to use the wage settlements of other 'local' universities as abenchmark in addition to other comparative information. This approach has, in part, resulted in a decline in our average salary on a provincial scale because some of our 'local' benchmarks are near the bottom of the chart. "It is difficult to see from these public data how the same appraoch has been used in the determination of an equitable salary for faculty and staff. The University of Waterloo has risen to become one of the top-ranked univer sities in the country. We all share in the pride of that accomplishment and we believe we should also share in equitable compensation." The information was distributed along with a questionnaire that staff members are being asked to return - deadline, today - to help staff association negotiators know what to push for in this year's salary talks with UW management. Other points made in the package distributed by the staff association: ù "The average rating of performance evaluations for staff during the past four years has remained well above the job rate value of 3.0, and yet, UW staff have received no merit/salary increase. This situation has also affected our pensions." ù "During the Social Contract negotiations, the Staff Association worked to save jobs and also save the University money. The final agreement resuld in a savings of 1.4 mil lion dollars, with the commitment for equitable treatment among all employee groups. The Faculty settlement, however, resulted in salary increases and will cost the University 1.2 million dollars at the end of the Social Contract, when the cut in pay for the additional 'Rae Days' will no longer be in effect." ù "Since May 1, 1994,É 24 staff positions have been declared redundant, with no redundancies coming from the faculty ranks." ù "Both staff and faculty numbers have decreased either by attrition or failure to fill vacancies over the last several years. In fact, full- and part-time non-union staff numbers have fallen from 1727 in September, 1990, to 1530 in February, 1996, equaling a drop of 11.3%. Full- and part- time faculty numbers have moved from 842 in 1990 to 813 in 1996 for a 3.4% drop.É Together these numbers represent a change in the staff/faculty ratio from 2.05:1 to 1.88:1. The effects of SERP are not yet fully known." ù "Over the years from 1992 to 1995, the Consumer Price Index has risen an equivalent of 5.7%.É Betwen 1993 and 1994, non-union labour income increased 3.1%." The information package also tells staff that the staff association is working on a "Framework Agreement" that would be "a more formal arrangementÉ between our staff and the University of Waterloo to ensure that our good working relationshiips with Senior Administration continue. "The UWSA is confident that the University administration is fully aware of the contributions of its staff to the success of Waterloo. Acceptance of the proposed Framework Agreement will be a tangible sign of its commitment to fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of our employment."