CUPE Local 3908 Unit 2 and Trent University have jointly announced that the University’s Board of Governors ratified a new Collective Agreement with CUPE on the morning of Tuesday, March 17, 2015. The agreement was previously ratified by the majority of voting members of CUPE after a ten-day voting period ending Saturday, March 14, 2015.

CUPE 3908 Unit 2 represents 350 students at Trent University who are regularly employed for not more than 24 hours per week as teaching assistants, academic assistants, markers, proctors, lab demonstrators or lab advisors in the academic programs at Peterborough and at Durham campuses.

“I would like to commend both bargaining teams for their roles in the collective bargaining process. Bargaining is especially challenging at a time when the University faces fiscal challenges,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor, Trent University. “Finding a compromise that both sides were able to accept is an accomplishment to be lauded and appreciated.”

Highlights of the agreement include:

• A three-year term commencing September 1, 2014, to August 31, 2017
• Changes to benefits including enhancements to the professional development fund and offset by a slight reduction of reimbursement for the GSA Health Benefit Plan
• Amendments to the way graduate teaching assistant (GTA) positions are assigned to employees
• Improved monitoring of hours worked by GTAs
• Modest across-the-board increases to salary in years one, two, and three as well as a one-time student worker recognition amount being provided to employees in each year of the agreement

Trent University and CUPE are pleased to have reached a negotiated settlement that will allow the University to continue to deliver on its commitment to be recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction.