General – Page 2 – OPSEU Local 365

06Oct 2025 by Alisha McGregor

Broader Public Service Conference Election

General

Date: Oct. 14th, 6pm On Zoom, Link in email Please join us for this short Zoom meeting where we will elect members to attend the Broader Public Service Conference held at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto on Nov. 14th to 16th. This is an excellent opportunity to network with the University sector.

23Sep 2025 by Montana Scott

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…

21Sep 2025 by Alisha McGregor

Come Walk with OPSEU in the Ptbo- Nogo Pride Parade!

General

Date: Saturday Sept. 27thTime: Meet at 12pm in front of City Hall. Parade starts at 1pmLocation: From City Hall 500 George St North to Millennium Park. Happy Pride OPSEU 365! We are inviting you and yours to represent OPSEU local 365/ the support staff of Trent University to join other OPSEU locals walking in the Ptbo-Nogo Pride parade. Locals from all over Peterborough and area (Region 3) organized with the OPSEU Rainbow Alliance to walk as members and allies of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. JP Hornick the president of OPSEU will be joining us in the parade! Meet outside City Hall around 12pm (look for the OPSEU van and flags). The parade route leaves City Hall at 1pm and travels 1km along George st to Millennium park for the Pride in…

28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott

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…

28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott

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…

28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott

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…

28Apr 2025 by Montana Scott

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…

18Apr 2025 by Alisha McGregor

Federal Election Campaign to Encourage Voting

General

To All Members of OPSEU 365:The 2025 federal election is underway. Advance polling starts tomorrow and will run from April 18 to 21 from 9 AM – 9 PM. If you don’t vote early, Election Day is April 28.Your Local 365 has compiled key information to help make it easier to know your candidates, know the parties, and understand how, where, and when to vote. Who are my local candidates, and what are they saying?We reached out to local candidates running for the Conservatives, Greens, Liberals, and NDP in Oshawa and Peterborough - and gave them one week to share their plans to:a) support post-secondary education,b) welcome international students, and,c) address housing, affordability, and climate issues.We also provided each candidate the chance to send a personal message to our membership of over 500 strong. …

23Mar 2025 by Alisha McGregor

Demand Set Meeting, April 30th

General

The OPSEU 365 Bargaining Team is hosting our demand set meeting April 30th at 6pm to 8pm on Zoom. If you need a computer/ space to attend this meeting privately while on campus, DNA C102 in Peterborough and DRA A112 in Durham have been booked. Using either of these computer labs, you can sign into the meeting on Zoom. Your input is very important. Please join us and advocate for what you think should be included in our next collective agreement.

10Mar 2025 by Alisha McGregor

Demand Set Educational Lunch and Learn

General

Join OPSEU 365 on March 13th at 12pm to 1pm in SC 108 or on Zoom for a educational Lunch and Learn on Demand Set. Bring/ eat your lunch and enjoy the light refreshments. We plan to cover the basics of the demand set process and prepare ourselves for bargaining. Questions and discussion are always welcome!

Category: General