OPSEU Local 365 and Trent University are pleased to jointly announce that a new collective agreement has been finalized, following ratification of the agreement at a Board of Governors meeting on Friday, February 10, 2023 and by the majority of voting members of OPSEU on Thursday, February 9, 2023. A highlight in the three-year agreement is a commitment to the transition of members to the multi-employer, jointly-sponsored University Pension Plan in January 2025.  

“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. “In a situation in which the legal decisions on Bill 124 created a complex bargaining environment, the agreement continues an era of very positive labour relations at Trent. The move to a jointly-sponsored pension plan also provides a secure, sustainable pension for staff and ensuring the financial sustainability of Trent University moving forward.”

"I am pleased to say that OPSEU Local 365 for the support staff of Trent University has successfully ratified a new three-year agreement. This was a very intricate process as it involved us moving our pension to the UPP,” said Adele Devlin, president of OPSEU Local 365. “I believe we have a lot of wins in this agreement. The agreement is a testament of the hard work and commitment on both sides. I am very proud of what our bargaining team was able to achieve in this round of negotiations.”

Highlights of the three-year agreement include:

• Agreement to convert from the University’s single employer pension plan to the University Pension Plan, the university sector’s jointly-sponsored pension plan, effective January 1, 2025
• Focus on employee mental health and wellness through staff training initiatives as well as benefit increases for vision care, massage, physiotherapy and psychological care
• Amendments to job competition, evaluation provisions and processes
• Across-the-board wage increases, effective July 1 in each of the three years

OPSEU Local 365 represents 460 members; the bargaining unit comprises support staff at Trent and includes such positions as caretakers, administrative support, secretaries, systems analysts, maintenance workers, demonstrators, and teaching assistants.