23Sep 2025 by Montana Scott
Updates from the Joint Job Evaluation Committee (JJEC)  

Updates from the Joint Job Evaluation Committee (JJEC)  

General
by Angela Sikma, Deborah Earle, Jeff Gardiner and Erin Davidson   About two years ago, a committee was formed to review the Trent and OPSEU Job Evaluation Manual (referred to as “the tool”), a resource document used by the Joint Job Evaluation Committee (JJEC) to help ensure fair and equitable pay across all OPSEU jobs. It was a slow process, but a very thorough review has now been completed.   The tool had not been updated for nearly 20 years, so the review committee examined each job evaluation factor and updated the document to bring language, and job factors up to date.  Along with each factor being reviewed, the Rater notes were updated to help keep the JJEC's scoring consistent. The Rater notes along with the tool are used by the…
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28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott
Federal Election Information for Members

Federal Election Information for Members

Member blogs
Letter sent to the Peterborough/ Oshawa Candidates: To:  Michelle Ferrari, Emma-Lee Harrison, Heather Ray, and Jazmine Raine To: Rhonda Kirkland, Isaac Ransom, Sara Labelle, and Katherine Matthewson A big thanks to you all for running in the 2025 Federal Election in Peterborough.   The decision to run in an election takes courage, and you have our respect and admiration for stepping forward for our community.  By way of introduction, we are contacting you on behalf of OPSEU Local 365. Our union represents over 500 administrators, IT and academic staff, caretakers, maintenance workers and service providers who are proud of our shared workplace at Trent University.    We would like to give you, our local candidates, an opportunity to speak directly to our membership by completing a short questionnaire. Please complete and…
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28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott
Ergonomics in the Workplace

Ergonomics in the Workplace

Member blogs
by Daniel Matsushita Ergonomics refers to the science of designing work to meet the needs of workers. The practice of ergonomics aims to reduce cognitive and physical demands, and by extension, the risk of injury or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSD is a term referring to discomfort or injuries to the human muscular and skeletal systems, including joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons. Common examples of MSDs include carpal tunnel syndrome or epicondylitis (tennis elbow). MSDs may occur gradually (developing and worsening over time) or acutely (single occurrence causing injury, such as a back strain).   The importance of good ergonomic practices applies to all jobs. There are 3 main risk factors that can contribute to MSDs, including:   Force  Refers to the amount of effort made by the muscles and the amount…
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28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott
7 Things That Made my Student Staff Experience Unforgettable

7 Things That Made my Student Staff Experience Unforgettable

Member blogs
by Ena Kandel, former Student Staff in Student Housing I still remember walking into my Student Housing staff interview, a little nervous and not quite sure what to expect. I had just started my life in Canada and at Trent, and I was totally unsure of what the future held. That’s when I met Montana, my supervisor– calm and confident. At the time, I didn’t know where this role would take me, but over the months, I gained valuable lessons about communication, content strategy, and creativity.  What started as a part-time student job turned into an experience that helped me grow in ways I didn’t anticipate.  From August to April, I worked as a Recruitment Assistant in Student Housing. I designed posters, helped promote open houses, and even got to…
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28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott
Giving Your Student Staff an Experience that will Translate in the Workplace

Giving Your Student Staff an Experience that will Translate in the Workplace

Member blogs
by Montana Scott Student staff are an essential part of university services. They are staff's and administration’s closest ties to the student population, helping us to better understand student needs so we can offer the best possible experience. I have been mentored by some incredible leaders over the years – both private and public sector, and from a variety of backgrounds. Their examples have instilled discipline, creativity and professionalism into my acumen that I will carry with me forever. With their inspiration and my own learnings as a mentor, I have listed below some strategies I’ve adopted to ensure my student staff’s experience is as mutually rewarding as possible. **Notes: These strategies have been used in a public sector, academic environment where student growth is the primary concern. Some strategies…
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