Leaves Under the Collective Agreement

This document will provide you with details regarding the various forms of leave covered under the Unit 7 Collective Agreement.

Health Benefits

If you are a member of Unit 7 and are employed for at least one term then you are eligible for coverage under the CUPE 3907 top-up benefit plan. The Plan Year runs from September 1st to August 31st. Plans are non-contributory (100% U of T paid). Plan status and dependent eligibility is based on Student Plan enrollment each year. Unit 7 members do not need to do anything to enroll. You coverage will begin once Green Shield Canada (GSC) receives the information that you are eligible under your Unit 7 appointment. This will be late October/early November each year. Eligible employees enrolled under the Student Plan will be eligible for coverage under the CUPE 3902 Unit 7 Health Care Plan A – Top-up + HCSA: 
  • You can access the most up-to-date Benefit Booklet online through your Green Shield Canada account.
  • The individual HCSA is worth $300/year. The Family HCSA has a value of $600/year.
Eligible employees who have opted out of the UTGSU plan will participate in the CUPE 3902 Unit 7 Health Care Plan B – HCSA-only Plan. 
  • You will only be eligible for coverage under the $300 HCSA-only Plan regardless of whether you have eligible spouse/partner or dependent children.
The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) is like a bank account that you can use to pay for eligible health and dental expenses not fully covered by your group benefits plan or your provincial health plan. It also covers a wide range of health and dental expenses such as medical equipment, drugs and medications, eyeglasses, paramedical practitioners and orthodontic expenses, as well as co-payments or deductibles. This form, created by Green Shield Canada, shows eligible expenses under your Health Care Spending Account.

Health Benefits - Adding Dependents

In order for your dependent/s to be included in the Top-Up Plan, they must first be enrolled in your Student Plan. They will then be automatically enrolled in your CUPE Top-Up Plan if you are eligible.

To add your dependents to your Student Plan (in order for them to have access to the Top-up Plan), you must opt them in annually, at the beginning of the term you are first registered in. Visit Student Care to opt-in online during the periods below.

Fall: 1 September – 30 September

Winter: 1 January – 31 January

If you have the HCSA-only Plan you should contact Green Shield directly at 1-888-711-1119 to add your dependent/s.

Health Benefits - Important Forms and Websites

Top-Up Plan Benefits Booklet – You can find the most up-to-date benefits booklet by logging into your Green Shield Canada account. Your benefits booklet provides you with important information about your benefits plan. Top-Up Plan FAQ – have questions about your Top-Up Plan? Check here first for answers! HCSA Allowable Expenses – this form, created by Green Shield Canada, lists items/services that may (or may not) be charged to a HCSA, and under what circumstances certain expenses will be covered. Members are able to claim their Student Plan health and dental premiums through their HSCA account. See the Top-Up Plan FAQ to learn how to do this.

Financial Assistance Fund

For more information about each fund, click on the name/title of the fund (in red).

 
Rolling: September-August
Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors Fund (SF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support survivors. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
Trans Fund (TF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support trans members. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
Black and Indigenous Workers Fund (BIWF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support members impacted by anti-Black and/or anti-Indigenous racism. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
International Workers Legal Fund (IWLF)
  • Eligibility period: secured at least 1 hour of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: support international members facing legal difficulties. Please apply if you need support of any kind related to your experience as a member of this group.
February 1-28 & July 1-30, 2023
International Health Plan Assistance Fund (IHPAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: cover UHIP enrolment fees for members who, because of their international status, must pay out-of-pocket for UHIP for themselves, their spouse, or dependent child(ren). Members who receive major external awards that fully replace funding packages are not eligible.
U of T Family Plan Assistance Fund (UFPAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in which the application is made.
  • Purpose: cover U of T student or postdoc base plan enrolment fees for members who pay out-of-pocket for coverage for their spouse and/or dependent child(ren) on their U of T base plan.
 
September 1-30, 2023
Childcare Financial Assistance Fund (CFAF)
  • Eligibility period: have/will have performed at least 30 hours of Unit 7 work between September 1 and August 31 in the year before application is made. (Applications are made the following September—that is, immediately after the eligibility period.)
  • Purpose: offset eligible childcare expenses and primary care expenses that are incurred between September 1 and August 31 in the year before application is made. Children must be within set age ranges to be considered eligible.

How to Access Application Forms

During application periods, forms will be available online and accessible through the Member Portal. To find application forms, scroll up to the top right of the Union’s website.

If, during application periods, you do not see application forms on the Member Portal (under ‘Forms’), then you likely need to fill out a Membership Application Form (also found under the ‘Forms’ tab). When your membership application is processed, then the application forms for funds you may be eligible for will be accessible through the portal. PLEASE NOTE: processing of membership applications can take up to one hour.

If you do not know your Member ID number, which is required for fund and membership applications, you can find it in your CUPE 3902 newsletter footer at the bottom of the email, or by filling out this form in the Member Portal. For support, please contact website@cupe3902.org.