Merit (PTR and 5% Merit Award) Process for 2016-17 (PDAD&C #108)

I am writing further to PDAD&C #82 to provide an update on the Merit (PTR/5% Merit) process for faculty and librarians for the 2016-17 academic year.

We have not yet reached agreement with UTFA on salary and benefits negotiations for 2017/18. However, we have reached an agreement to proceed with implementing PTR awards effective July 1, 2017 on the basis set out below.

You will recall that a new mechanism was agreed to in 2015-16 for the calculation of PTR pools which links PTR and ATB. We have agreed that for payment of PTR effective July 1, 2017, normal PTR will be calculated on the basis of 0% ATB and that following an agreement or award for 2017/18 salary and benefits which includes any July 1, 2017 ATB amount, a further calculation and payment of PTR will be made. Therefore, PTR pools will be calculated  as follows:

1. Units should proceed with the calculation of PTR (calculated as if ATB was zero for the purposes of the new mechanism – please see breakpoints and per FTE pool contributions below). The resulting above and below the breakpoint pools will be distributed according to the assessments for faculty and librarians in each pool.
2. Following an agreement or award for 2017/18 which includes any ATB amount effective July 1, 2017, a further payment of PTR calculated on the basis of that ATB would be made. A further update to this memo would be provided at that time.

The timetable outlined in Deadlines and Key Activities should be adhered to by all divisions.

Language for PTR Letters

For those units that wish to include explanatory language in PTR letters to faculty and librarians, we suggest the following:

“Salary and benefits negotiations for 2017/18 between the University and UTFA are ongoing, and no agreement has been reached with respect to any ATB amount for 2017/18. As a consequence, the PTR pools being distributed at this time do not include any additional funds resulting from the contribution on salaries above the reference point. Following an agreement or award for 2017/18 that includes any ATB effective July 1, 2017, you may receive a further PTR payment based on your 2016-17 merit assessment. In addition, your July 1, 2017 base salary set out below does not include any ATB increase. Once an agreement or award as been reached for 2017/18, you will receive a further communication which will include any additional increases to your July 1, 2017 base salary.”

Further information concerning the Merit (PTR/5% Merit) process is available online.

Pool Amounts and Full Instructions

The PTR pools for distribution effective July 1, 2017 are now available in the HRIS B6 application. Instructions on the HRIS implementation of these increases will be circulated to your Business Officers. The full instructions regarding HRIS processing are also available online.

PTR for Tenure-Stream and CLTA Faculty:

Breakpoint:          $160,450
Amount contributed to pool per FTE:

Below Breakpoint – $3,510*
Above Breakpoint – $1,990*

PTR for Teaching-Stream Faculty (Continuing and Term Appointments):

Breakpoint:          $143,100
Amount contributed to pool per FTE:

Below Breakpoint – $3,275*
Above Breakpoint – $1,900*

PTR for Librarians:

Breakpoint:          $121,600
Amount contributed to pool per FTE: 

Below Breakpoint – $2,745*
Above Breakpoint – $1,355*

*These amounts exclude the 5% set aside for allocation through the 5% Merit pool

5% Merit Pool

Recommendations with respect to 5% Merit Pool awards in multi-department faculties should now be forwarded to the Dean in line with instructions provided by the Dean’s Office.

By June 9, 2017, Deans of single department faculties should forward their recommendations for the 5% Merit Pool by to:

Jane Harrison
Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life
jane.harrison@utoronto.ca
(Confirmation will be provided by June 20, 2017)

Please note that 5% Merit may also be paid out in two installments as described above.