Benefits

CUPE 951 members' benefits include an Extended Medical Plan, a Dental Plan, and a Pension Plan. Members also have access to UVic's Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

Extended Medical and Dental coverage is currently provided by Pacific Blue Cross . For full details, to download forms, or to track a claim, please log on to CARESnet for secure, 24/7 online acces or call toll free 1-888-275-4672

Benefits information is also available through the Benefit Office (721-8089) at UVic Human Resources.

The current Extended Health Benefits include:

• a $50 deductible per family per year.
• 100% prescription coverage for drugs covered by BC Pharmacare (some restrictions apply)
• Coverage for paramedical visits including massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractor, naturopath, podiatrist, acupuncutre and speech therapy (per visit and and annual limits apply)
• Coverage for psychology services (BC-registered psychologist, counsellor or social worker; combined limit of $1200 per person per year)
  
• Lenses, frames, contact lenses, repairs and eye exams have a combined limit of $500.00 per person per 2 calendar years
• Eye exams are limited to $75.00 per person (between the ages of 18 and 65 ONLY) per 2 calendar years
• Orthotics & orthopedic shoes ($400 per person per year; $200 for children)
• Hearing aids and repairs have a combined limit of $1,800.00 per person per 5 calendar years
• Coverage for medical supplies including blood glucose monitors, casts, mobilty aids, and prosthetics.

Note that the above is subject to change; if there is a dispute between this summary and the information provided by Pacific Blue Cross, assume this summary to be incorrect.

The current Dental Benefits include:

• no deductible
• 85% coverage of basic services
• 65% coverage of major services
• 50% coverage of orthodontic services (with a lifetime limit of $2,000 per person)
• All x-rays have a combined limit of $61.97 per person per calendar year
• Scaling, root planing, and gingival curettage have a combined limit of $400.40 per person per calendar year
• Occlusal adjustment/equilibration and recontouring of teeth have a combined limit of $440.00 per person per calendar year
• Crowns, inlays, onlays, abutments, pontics, and veneers have a combined limit of 1 per tooth per person per 5 years from date of service
• Complete and partial dentures have a combined limit of 1 per arch (upper/lower) per person per 5 years from date of service

Note that the above is subject to change; if there is a dispute between this summary and the information provided by Pacific Blue Cross, assume this summary to be incorrect.

To access the Employee & Family Assistance Plan directly, go to Interlock for information or to contact a counsellor. If you need immediate assistance, you may also phone 1-800-663-9099 for 24 hour assistance. If you would like more background information on eligibility and objectives, please go to the UVic Human Resources page on Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) [UVic.ca link].

CUPE 951 also has trained Union Counselling Referral Officers who can confidentially direct you to Union or community resources as an alternative to the EFAP.

For more information on the Pension Plan, please go to the Pension Plan page.

Collective Agreement and Salary Schedules

2005/2010 Agreement Between University of Victoria and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 951.

If you have questions about the Collective Agreement, contact a Steward.

POLL: Under our current Collective Agreement, when do members qualify for long term service vacation?

Pension Plan

From Article 28 of the Collective Agreement:

28.02 Pension Plan
Agreement to Joint Trusteeship of Pension Plan
The parties have agreed to joint trusteeship of the pension plan effective January 1, 2008.

Section A - Pension Plan Participation and Contributions

(a) All regular employees who are eligible under the terms of the mutually
accepted Staff Pension Plan will, as a condition of employment, participate in
the Plan. All such employees will contribute the following minimum
percentages of basic salary by payroll deduction (inclusive of the 0.25% the
employees contribute to the mutually acceptable fund for pension
supplements:

(b) Effective April 1, 2006 the University will contribute a minimum of 10.5% of
basic salary inclusive of the 0.25% the University contributes to the mutually
acceptable fund for pension supplements.
(c) Provided the surplus in the plan exceeds Canada Custom and Revenue
Agency (CRA) rules the parties (University and Union) may bargain new
benefits or benefit improvements, provided that the minimum contribution rates
of both the University and the employees are adjusted to reflect the full normal
cost of these benefit improvements. Surplus in addition to the CRA maximum
may be used to defer the parties paying for these new costs provided the
surplus does not fall below the CRA maximum.

Section B - Modifications to the Pension Plan

The Pension Plan has been modified in previous Collective Agreements to reflect the
following changes:
(a) There will be no actuarial reductions for early retirement for employees retiring
at or after the age of 60. The early retirement penalty for employees will be 3%
per year from age 59 to a maximum of 15% at age 55. Early retirement with
this penalty provision may commence no earlier than the employee's 55th
birthday.
(b) Credit will be granted for each year of pensionable service prior to January 1,
1990 at the rate of 1.65% per year of pensionable earnings up to the average
Years Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) (as defined in the Plan).
(c) Credit will be granted for pensionable service during 1990 and 1991 at the rate
of 1.3% per year of pensionable earnings up to the average YMPE (as defined
in the Plan).
(d) Credit will be granted for each year of pensionable service after January 1,
1992 at the rate of 1.5% per year of pensionable earnings up to the average
YMPE (as defined in the Plan).
(e) Credit will be granted for each year of pensionable service after January 1,
2000 at the rate of 1.70% per year of pensionable earnings up to the average
YMPE (as defined in the plan).
(f) Effective January 1, 2000, the averaging of the YMPE will be over five years.

UVic Staff Pension Plan News

News and background regarding the UVic Staff Pension Plan.

Please click on the attached files below for more information.