SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —At its Oct. 19, 2021, meeting in Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors authorized the temporary $3 per hour salary increase for the tribe’s governmental, gaming and EDC team members be made permanent to continue to address COVID-19 wage inflation.
Tribal Chairperson Aaron Payment said, “I would like to recognize our appreciation for our team members for their diligence over the years and our Executive Director and Human Resources team for pulling a plan together to finally bring our team members to market value.”
Payment added, “I also appreciate the board of directors’ approval of an interim plan this summer, then through adoption of a permanent increase ahead of the final market analysis plan.”
In August, the Sault Tribe Board had set a temporary $3 per hour raise through Oct. 2 for team members under the Sault Tribe umbrella to address COVID-19 wage inflation while reviewing the results of a wage compensation study. In September, the $3 raise was extended through the year end. The board has now determined the raise should be permanent and will pursue the compensation study.