October 21, 2024:
NSCAD University instructors are the lowest-paid contract instructors in the Atlantic region and Canada at large. For example, Mount Allison instructors are paid 7487$ per 3-credit course, while NSCAD instructors are paid 5780$. In comparison to other art universities in the nation, the numbers for NSCAD’s wages are even more abysmal. Concordia pays 10,369$ per 3-credit course while University of Guelph pays 7989$. To reiterate — NSCAD pays 5780$ per 3-credit course while Concordia pays almost DOUBLE this amount! NSCAD instructors deserve equal pay for equal work.
NSCAD TAs and RAs are paid 17$ an hour and haven’t received a pay raise in over 40 years! The living wage is 28.30$/hour in Halifax. University of Guelph TAs make $45/hour and Concordia TAs make 29$/hour for the same work. The math is quite frankly not mathing, especially since Halifax is now one of the most expensive cities in the nation to live in, far exceeding the cost of living in both Guelph and Montreal.
Our members struggle to pay for groceries and rent, and the CUPE 3912 NSCAD bargaining committee is doing everything we can to change that as we continue to bargain with the employer.
CUPE 3912 NSCAD began bargaining on September 11th with the employer. Here’s what’s on the bargaining table for NSCAD Individual Course Appointees, Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants: Substantial wage increases, health benefits, paid sick leave, family responsibility and compassionate care leave, adoption, pregnancy and parental leave, an established precedence system, a childcare allowance, improved process around notification of appointment, improved process around course cancellation including substantial increase to cancellation fee, advanced notice and a generous window of opportunity to boost enrollment, an onboarding package, and a more respectful, safe and healthy workplace environment. Stay tuned for more updates on the bargaining process!
March 18, 2024: The Negotiating Committee was formed.