Did You Know – Increments vs General Across the Board Increase

Written by Darcy Hryn-Bird

Did you know that there is a difference between a general across the board increase and an increment?

General across the board increases are typically negotiated by the parties each term of the Collective Agreement.  The only reason why someone might not receive a general across the board increase would be if they are at the top of the salary range and there had not been any negotiated changes in the salary range.   ASPA members had a general across the board increase on May 1, 2021, of 1.5 per cent.  There will not be a general across the board increase on May 1, 2022, as the Collective Agreement expires on April 30, 2022.

Increments recognize member’s growth in proficiency from experience and a satisfactory level of performance from year to year.  Generally, all members would receive an increment unless they are at the top of the salary range.  However, the employer can withhold an increment if the member’s performance is seen as unsatisfactory.  This does not occur often.  Increments are added to the members base salary each May 1.  This provision continues even though the Collective Agreement will expire on April 30, 2022.  The majority of the members should see an increment on May 1, 2022.

The increment that the member will receive depends on the quartile they are in.  The salary range is split into four (4) quartiles.  To see the ranges, quartile splits and where you would fall based on your salary, look to the Collective Agreement on page 37.

The increment percentages for each quartile are as follows:

Quartile 1 – 2%

Quartile 2 – 1.5%

Quartile 3 – 1.0%

Quartile 4 – 0.5%

Lastly, when we do have a general across the board increase, it will be applied to the members salary first and then the increment would be applied.

If at any time you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at aspa@aspasask.ca or directly to our Member Services Officer, Glenn Billingsley, at glenn@aspasask.ca.