CUPE Local 3908 Unit 2 and Trent University are pleased to jointly announce that a new collective agreement has been ratified, following ratification of the agreement at the Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, October 12. The agreement was previously ratified by the majority of voting members of CUPE after a ten-day voting period ending Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

CUPE 3908 Unit 2 represents all employees registered as students at Trent University who are regularly employed for no 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 the Oshawa locations, save and except any employees for whom a trade union held bargaining rights on March 17, 1998.

“I’d like to congratulate both bargaining teams for their work on reaching this agreement,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “This new agreement will provide longer term labour stability, while advancing the professional development of academic student employees which will further enhance the overall student experience.”

"The union is pleased with the deal offering student workers increases to wages and benefits. We look forward to continuing to work with the university to ensure our members are well served," said Phil Abbott, vice-president, CUPE 3908 Unit 2.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• A four-year term commencing September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2021
• Revised process around GTA Assignments for returning students
• Enhancements to the professional development fund in each of the four years, as well as an increase to the amount of reimbursement for benefits in years three and four
• Across-the-board increases to stipends and rates in each of the four years