[April 30, 2013]
Dear members of AMUSE,
The following are updates for this week:
- May Day (International Workers Day) - Events, Panels, Rallies
- Collective Agreement Spotlight - HOLIDAY AND VACATION PAY
1. May Day (International Workers Day) - Events, Panels, Rallies
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day or ‘the real labour day’ was originally held on May 1st in commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket massacre in Chicago. Ever since, May Day has been a point around which workers unite and rally for fair working conditions for all. Here is a little information about events being held at McGill and in Montreal for May Day!
a) AMUSE presents: “Hope & Outrage: a May Day panel discussion!”
When: Tuesday, April 30th, 5-7pm
Where: Madelaine Parent Room, Shatner Building (SSMU)
What: Join AMUSE for a panel discussion about International Workers’ Day - is history, its significance, and its relevance to today. How did May Day start? What has been accomplished since the fight for the 8-hour day? What are workers fighting for now? Speaking at the event will be 2 Professors here at McGill, Aziz Choudry and Adrienne Hurley, and joining us from the Immigrant Workers Center, Mostafa Henaway. After the event, AMUSE invites all to for pints, chats, and pizza slices at Gert’s bar.
b) Solidarity Rally w/ MUNACA, AGSEM, and AMUSE
When: Wednesday, May 1st, noon-1:30pm
Where: Community Square (outside James Administration Building)
What: Join MUNACA, AGSEM, and AMUSE for a student-worker solidarity rally on International Workers Day! Say no to austerity measures! No to cuts! Students and workers unite!
c) Anti-Capitalist May Day demonstration
When: Wednesday, May 1st, 6pm
Where: Place Jacques Cartier (in front of City Hall)
d) Rally with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC/AFPC)
When: Saturday, May 4th, time tba
Where: location TBA
2. Collective Agreement Spotlight - HOLIDAY AND VACATION PAY
Recently, we’ve been receiving many questions with respect to Vacation Pay, and compensation for Legal Holidays. It seems that many members are unclear about this aspect of their rights, so we’ve decided to include a little *CA spotlight* in this week’s newsletter about it! Hope it helps. If you have any further questions or concerns, or you are in fact not receiving your vacation or holiday compensation as specified, you can contact Agatha at [email protected] - she will be sure to help get things sorted!
Let’s break this down into the categories of workers as outlined in our CA:
GROUP 1: long-term full –time employees (< 6 months)
GROUP 2: short-term full-time employees (> 6months)
GROUP 3: all other casual staff
If you fall into GROUP 3, you should be receiving a compensation of 4% for vacation and 2.4% for paid Legal Holidays – on each pay. If you’re unsure how to read your paystub, our Treasurer Justyn made this really handy video! It is really quite informative. You can give it a peak here.
If you fall into GROUPS 1 or 2, your vacation pay does not come to you in increments – it is being accumulated for you, and you can ask to receive it in a lump sum before taking your vacation.
If you work on a recognized Legal Holiday (holidays recognized as such can be found at https://www.workrights.ca/content.php?doc=18), you are entitled to an indemnity, which usually comes out to your average day’s pay. Essentially, you get paid double-time! The indemnity is calculated as 1/20 of the pay you’ve received in the 4 full weeks of pay, excluding overtime, preceding the holiday. You are also entitled to this indemnity if by chance you didn’t happen to be working that day, but were not absent from work either the day prior of the day following that holiday.
Hope this helps clear things up!
Attention GROUP 3 employees! Minimum wage is going up!
Make sure to keep posted! As of May 1st, 2013, the minimum wage in Quebec is going up to $10.15. As per our Collective Agreement, all members of AMUSE should always be making at least 10 cents above minimum wage. That’s right! So if you are currently making $10.10/hr, as of May 1st 2013, you will be making $10.25!
Make sure to check your pay stub to ensure these adjustments are made to your rate of pay. If they aren’t, speak to your manager or supervisor, or contact our Labour Relations Officer, Agatha, at [email protected].
