For this installment of APA Questions From The Trenches, we asked APA President Maury Koffman to answer questions regarding the APA 2014 October wage increase.
How much is the negotiated APA annual wage increase this year for 2014?
The APA negotiated annual wage increase is applied every year in October. For the 2014 year, the APA annual base wage increase is 2%. Per the APA contract, 40% of the wage increase is automatic – across the board – and 60% applies the merit pay guidelines that require objective and consistent application. Your immediate supervisor should also provide advance notice of you annual wage increase amount before it is realized on your October 2014 paycheck.
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How is the merit pay portion of the wage increase determined?
The APA contract codifies a mandatory objective process in determining the merit pay portion of the APA annual wage increase. The full details can be found within the Letter of Agreement on Merit Pay located at the end of the APA contract. In short, the criteria must be openly communicated and objectively applied in the department. Additionally, the decision on merit pay allocation is to be discussed between you and your immediate supervisor before your October 2014 paycheck is issued.
Does the APA contract define a minimum and maximum annual salary for all members of the bargaining unit?
Yes and no. The APA contract outlines minimum salary requirements for all grade levels within the bargaining unit. However, the APA contract serves as a floor and individual bargaining unit salaries may rise above the APA minimums and progression levels. Per Clause 132 of the APA contract:
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Salary Progression increase consideration [annual 3% maximum] will be given to employees who have completed at least one (1) year of service on the effective date of the increase, whose current performance is determined to be not less than satisfactory, and whose salary is less than one hundred twenty-five (125%) percent of the minimum hiring level.
What is the APA base wage increase in future years?
The following annual base wage increases are subject to the APA contract provisions of 40% across the board and 60% using the merit pay process:
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October 2014 – 2% base wage increase
October 2015 – 2.5% base wage increase
October 2016 – 2.6% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula
October 2017 – 2.6% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula
October 2018 – 2.6% maximum base wage increase through matrix formula
How does the matrix formula work to determine my annual base wage increase?
The matrix in the ratified agreement defines the formula for the annual APA raises commencing with the October 2015 base wage increase. For example using the matrix, because health care costs increase between 1.01% – 2% in the first year of the agreement, APA members are eligible for a 2.5% base wage increase in October 2015, subject to the contract provisions of 40% across the board and 60% using the merit pay process. The complete matrix can be found within the ratified agreement which is conveniently located on the APA website:
http://lay.wyz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/MOU-2014-2017.pdf
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