Professional Development

Although CUPE 3908 Unit 2 members are not required to engage in research and scholarship as part of their employment responsibilities under the Collective Agreement, eligible employees may submit PDEA applications for assistance from the fund to a maximum per employee of not more than $600 per year.

For the duration of the 2024-2028 Collective Agreement or until such a time that the surplus in the fund has been exhausted, employees may claim a maximum of $1000.00 per year.

PDEA application deadlines are November 15, March 15, and July 15.

The PDEA fund form may be downloaded here.

Eligibility

All Unit 2 members, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, working appointments totaling 120 hours or more for the year, may submit applications for PDEA reimbursement. Receipts for professional development must be from the year you apply.

The fund covers: Conferences and research (i.e., fees, travel, and accommodation); and Professional Skills Development (ie. Costs for conducting research, purchasing research materials, and professional development fees).

To find out if a particular expense is eligible for CUPE-2 PD funding, please email us.

PDEA: TGSA/Graduate Studies & CUPE 3908

If you are also submitting an application for conference funding to the TGSA and Graduate Studies as well as the CUPE 3908 PDEA Fund, be sure to submit different expenses to each fund.

Funding Formula for PDEA Reimbursement

As outlined in Appendix C of the Unit 2 Collective Agreement, there is a fund of $27,500 available to members for PDEA and UHIP coverage. This fund will increase to $30,000 on September 1, 2026, and to $32,000 on September 1, 2027.

Applicants who apply for PDEA will be subject to the following funding formula:

• If the amount of money requested by members in a process period is less than the amount of money remaining in the fund, all eligible applicants will be reimbursed for their requests, upon approval of the PDEA subcommittee, up to the $600 maximum per member per year (or $1000 per year until the surplus in funds is exhausted).
• If the amount of money requested by members in a process period exceeds the amount of money remaining in the fund, the PDEA committee will calculate the amount remaining in the fund as a percentage of the total amount approved for payment. For example: If there is $1000 left in the fund and the total requested funds is $1500, eligible applicants will receive 2/3 of their requested funds. This will ensure an equitable distribution of funds among all eligible applicants.

Acknowledgment

Should you receive PDEA funding, please be sure to acknowledge the support of CUPE Local 3908 and Trent University in conference programs and publications. Refer to forms for application procedures.

The PDEA fund form may be downloaded here.

What is UHIP and why do I need it?

UHIP is an insurance plan that provides medical coverage for international employees who are not eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), or for those who are in the 3 month waiting period for OHIP.

If you’re an international employee are you are required to enrol yourself and your immediate family in UHIP.

Where can I learn more about UHIP?

Visit https://www.trentu.ca/currentstudents/international/health-insurance to learn more about what coverage you have with UHIP, and how to submit your claims.

Is there a reimbursement?

Recognizing that CUPE members coming from abroad pay much more for UHIP, international members who demonstrate the need for financial assistance may apply for assistance with UHIP premium costs, up to a maximum per member of $200.00 per year.

Whoʼs eligible?

All Unit 2 members, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, working appointments totaling 120 hours or more for the year, without OHIP coverage may submit applications for reimbursement.

How do I apply for reimbursement?

To apply for UHIP reimbursement fill out the UHIP form located here.

You will need to provide a description of your financial situation that demonstrates need for the reimbursement. Remember to keep any documents you have that will support your application.

Members can submit applications three times per year:

• Fall: November 15
• Winter: March 15
• Summer: July 15

CUPE 3908 Unit 2: Gender Affirmation Fund

Download the Gender Affirmation Fund Application and Expense Claim Form

What is the Gender Affirmation Fund?

The Gender Affirmation Fund is a fund of $5,000 that is available to support social, legal, medical, and other transition related costs that are not covered by OHIP or any other government program that the member is able to/or wishes to access. It is available on a first-come basis to support CUPE Unit 2 members and their families requesting financial assistance.

This fund understands that there are many barriers/reasons as to why an individual may not be able to access funding through OHIP, other government programs, or insurance. This may include unsupportive or nonexistent medical teams, religious choices, and the desire to choose a specific surgeon/medical procedure variation. This fund was created to eliminate barriers, not create more.

How do you define ‘transgender’?

The fund understands the term transgender to mean an individual who has a gender or genders that do not align, entirely or in part, with the gender that they were assigned at birth. There are many identities that fall under the umbrella of transgender, including but not limited to: trans, trans woman, trans man, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, two-spirit, and gender-fluid.

Who is eligible to apply to the fund?

Individuals who are members of CUPE3908 Unit 2 at the time that they apply for assistance under the fund as well as their domestic partners and dependent children.

What types of expenses are covered by the fund?

The list included below outlines examples of the expenses that the fund covers. We recognize that we could not anticipate every possible relevant expense in advance, so if you want to claim a particular expense but do not see it on the list, we encourage you to apply.

How do I submit an application/expense for assistance under the fund?

To submit your application, please complete the form linked here (it is also linked at the top and bottom of this document). Expenses not eligible for coverage under another benefit plan may be submitted under this fund. You may then send completed applications to Trent’s Pension and Benefits Advisor at any time. Requests will be authorized on a reimbursement basis provided they conform to stated limits elsewhere in this document.

Once delivered to the Human Resources office, the application and all subsequent and related correspondence shall be treated confidentially in the same manner as medical records. These items will not be included in the member’s general Personnel File and shall not be available except on a need-to-know basis for the purpose of administering the fund.

The current contact information for Trent’s Pension and Benefits Advisor is as follows:

Carley Brook, Pension and Benefits Advisor
(705) 748-1011, ext. 7569, cbrook@trentu.ca

Do you prioritize certain expenses over others?

Any costs incurred by a trans member in relation to their trans identity are important to that member. It is not our place to make subjective value judgments about the relative value of an expense, or to create a hierarchy of costs. The fact that a member believes an expense to be important and necessary is all that we need to know. In the event that the Fund does not have sufficient resources to meet all requests from it, the applicant will be encouraged to apply again in the following year. 

Are there limits as to how much I can receive?

Yes. There is an annual maximum limit of $5,000 of support for any CUPE 3908 Unit 2 member, and $2500 for domestic partners, and dependents. 

If I have difficulty paying my costs up-front, can I apply for funding prior to making an expensive purchase or doing surgery?

No funds will be provided in advance; however, funds can be earmarked for members to allow for reasonable planning of expenses. To earmark funds, please provide documentation outlining estimated costs, timeline, or exact date of service or purchase. 

To ensure that all members have equal opportunity to access funds, earmarked funds cannot be held indefinitely. Earmarked funds will be held for up to 3 months. Members who have a known date, for example a surgical date, that is further out than 3 months can simply contact us to confirm that the information is still accurate, and the funds can then continue to be held. If eligible, based on CUPE affiliation at the time of service or purchase, members can apply retroactively for funding with valid documentation. If funds are no longer needed, please reach out to us as soon as possible to allow us to open the funding up again to other members.

List of Expenses

The list of possible expenses below is intended to provide an expansive example of possible expenses. As stated above, we recognize that we could not anticipate every possible relevant expense in advance, so if you want to claim a particular expense but do not see it on the list, we encourage you to apply. 

Please note that the example expenses provided below are in no particular order:

• Gender Affirming Surgeries
  • This fund will cover the remaining portion of any gender affirming surgery that the member has not secured funds for, not exceeding the annual maximum limit and/or accounting for remaining money in the fund.
  • This fund does not act as a judge and will also provide funds for surgeries outside the scope of what OHIP covers. For example, facial feminization surgery.
• Travel Costs Associated with Gender Affirming Medical Procedures
  • This may include the cost of gas and/or transit, housing expenses, and any meal expenses as per Trent University’s per diem for travel. Additionally should a medical procedure require a care person accompany the applicant, their expenses would also be eligible.
• Permanent/Semi-Permanent Hair Removal
• Gender Affirming Prosthetics/Garments
  • There are many different types of gender affirming prosthetics/agreements, below are common examples:
    • Breast Forms
    • Bras and breast form bras
    • Gaffs/tucking undergarments
    • Packers/STPs
    • Packing undergarments
    • Binders
    • Wigs/hair pieces
    • Gender affirming swimwear
• Clothing
  • Transitioning can mean the replacement of an entire wardrobe. This fund recognizes that replacing a wardrobe, especially professional attire, can be costly.
  • Lifetime maximum limit of $500 for clothes for members, $250 for dependents and domestic partners.
• Mental Healthcare
  • There may be costs associated with accessing support groups, therapists, and other aspects of mental healthcare that are not covered by other means.
• Legal Documentation
  • Fees associated with the cost of updating/replacing legal documents. This can include name changes, passport/residency documentation, and any fees associated with updating academic documents.
• Books
  • Books can be an important tool for self-discovery and self-exploration. This fund recognizes that purchasing biographies, short stories, self-help books, and other literature can play an important role in an individual’s transition.
  • Lifetime maximum limit of $500 for books for members, $250 for dependents and domestic partners.

Download the Gender Affirmation Fund Application and Expense Claim Form

Did you know that if you are a Unit 2 member and you are only provided a shared office space, you can request a T2200 form from Trent University? The T2200 form allows employees to deduct certain expenses that they are required to incur as a condition of their employment, including using a portion of their home as an office!

Eligible employees should download the form, fill out their name and job title, and submit it to their Dean’s Office by the deadline–March 15th. Your form will be returned within 10 working days.

The CRA has stated that the T2200 form is to be completed by the employer. Though Trent University has stated that they expect members to complete all sections of the form to the best of their ability, this is not necessary.

For more information, see the following:

• Revenue Canada, Workspace in the Home Information
  
• Revenue Canada, T2200 Form Download

Disclaimer: CUPE3908 and Trent University do not give tax advice. The information provided here is general, and members are advised to seek the guidance of a tax professional to determine its applicability to their specific circumstances.

The CUPE 3908 Comfort Fund celebrates and honours important moments and milestones in the lives of our members by providing a $150 gift card from the local.

Recognizing both joyful and difficult times, the Comfort Fund is available for a variety of life events. This may include, but is not limited to, occasions such as a birth, marriage, illness, or the passing of a loved one.

Please submit all requests within two months of the event being recognized. Applications can be made by the member or on their behalf.

To submit a request, complete our online form here: https://goo.gl/forms/qPCaqzr1unH6N7MA3.

For most of our members it is quite clear if they are a Unit 1 member or a Unit 2 member. All Unit 2 members are also students at Trent University. For our Unit 2 members who are working a Unit 1 position, it may not be so clear.

There are two situations where a Unit 2 member can hold a Unit 1 position:

1. A Student may be appointed to a Unit 1 position (as per Article 5.09 of the Unit 1 Collective Agreement).
2. A Student may apply for a Unit 1 position via the normal posting procedures outlined in the Unit 1 CA. This simple means that a member has been hired via competition, and not through an appointment.
   

In situation 2, where a student is the successful candidate through competition, for the duration of their contract, they will be subject to all rights, responsibilities, and privileges under the Unit 1 CA. Please note that a sessional faculty member (formerly course instructor) approval form is required.

This means that our Unit 2 Members who hold Unit 1 Sessional Faculty member positions are eligible to earn Right of First Refusal (RFR) for their courses. To learn more about RFR, please visit the Unit 1 page, read the RFR infographic, or view the RFR slideshow. 

We encourage all Unit 2 members who are subject to the Unit 1 CA to familiarize themselves with the Unit 1 CA.