Due to a variety of articles published recently in The Peak and The Tyee, we've been getting quite a bit of questions about vacation pay recently, here are the most common ones answered after the jump:

1. How does vacation pay work in BC?
2. What is SFU doing?
3. Who does this affect?
4. Is SFU breaking the law?
5. How can I get involved?

For more information:
The Tyee: "SFU underpays teaching assistants for vacation, says union" by Tom Sandborn http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/06/03/SFU-TA-Pay/

The Peak: "SFU one of Canada’s top 100 employers?" by Mohamed Sheriffdeen http://www.the-peak.ca/2013/06/sfu-one-of-canadas-top-100-employers/

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1. How does vacation pay work in BC?

-          According to the minimums put in place by the employment standards act, if you
have been continuously employed for less than five years by the same employer,
you are owed 4% vacation pay. If you have been continuously employed for five or
more years by the same employer, you are owed 6% vacation pay. This is in lieu of
the paid time off salaried employees receive, in other words 4%= 2 weeks vacation
and 6%=3 weeks vacation.

2. What is SFU doing?

-          SFU is only paying many of its employees only 4%, regardless of length of
employment, SFU continues to assert that there is no requirement that they have to
pay 6%.

3. Who does this affect?

-          This affects any SFU employee that has worked continuously for five years and has
not received this increase.

4. Is SFU breaking the law?

-          It is TSSU’s position that SFU is violating the minimum standards of the BC
employment standards act.

5. How can I get involved?

-          Email President Peter sfu_pres(at)sfu.ca, Dr Jon Driver vpacad(at)sfu.ca, and
Chris Hatty hatty(at)sfu.ca with your concerns and issues to make your voice
heard and feel free to CC the email to us. You can also let us know at tssu(at)tssu.ca if this case applies to you or if you would like to work on this campaign (paid).

Help us translate this document to your preferred language, contact tssu(at)tssu.ca for more information. Compensation is available.