Pensions and Benefits

40. Pensions and Benefits

40.01   The following Group Insurance plans presently in effect will be continued on the current cost-sharing basis:

  1. Health
  2. Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  3. Long Term Disability
  4. Dental Plan

40.02   The University agrees that mechanisms will be provided to ensure that the Union has an opportunity to have input into recommendations regarding changes to pensions and benefits.

40.03   Contractual employees shall be entitled to participate in the Benefit Plan set out in Article 40 and to participate in the University Pension Plan. Membership in these Plans will be subject to the eligibility rules set down for each of the Plans.

40.04   Contractual employees will be required to participate in the Group Insurance Plans upon completion of six (6) months of continuous employment, including extension of contracts.

40.05   Contractual employees will be required to participate in the Pension Plan on the earlier of:

  1. the effective date of appointment to a contractual position of at least six (6) months duration and at least twenty (20) hours per week; or
  2. the effective date of completion of six (6) months continuous employment of at least twenty (20) hours per week.

40.06

  1. Sessional employees, as defined in Clause 2.01(d)(iv), as a condition of employment, shall be required to join and maintain membership in the Health, Life, Long Term Disability, and Dental Plans while actively employed or on layoff status subject to 40.06(b).
  2. The normal University policy with respect to the payment of benefit premiums will apply while the sessional employee is actively employed. During periods of layoff of less than one months duration, the sessional employee shall be required to pay their portion of the benefit premium, such premium to be paid to the University prior to the commencement of layoff by single payment or post-dated cheques. During periods of layoff in excess of one month, the sessional employee may choose to participate in the benefit plan provided that the sessional employee pays the employer and employee portion of the benefit premium, such premium to be paid to the University prior to the commencement of layoff by single payment or post-dated cheques.
  3. Sessional employees, as defined in Clause 2.01(d)(iv), employed by the University and included in the Bargaining Unit will not be eligible to participate in the University Pension Plan, unless the terms of their employment contracts are in accordance with the policies established for that Plan.
  4. Sessional employees, as defined in Clause 2.01(d)(iv), shall participate in the Group Retirement Savings Plan, in accordance with the terms and policies established for that plan.

40.07   All part-time employees employed by the University and included in the Bargaining Unit will not be eligible to participate in the Benefit Plans, as set out in this Article, or the University Pension Plan, unless the terms of their employment contracts are in accordance with the policies established for those plans.

40.08   Other Post-Employment Benefits (“OPEB”)

  1. Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) means group insurance benefits provided by the University to retirees and their beneficiaries in respect of coverage under life insurance and supplementary health and dental plans.
  2. Consistent with past practice, former employees who are deferred pensioners within the meaning of the Memorial University Pension Plan are not entitled to OPEB.
  3. Current employees as of the date of signing of the collective agreement who retire with an immediate pension not later than March 31, 2024, with a minimum of five (5) years’ pensionable service shall qualify for OPEB.
  4. Current employees as of the date of signing of the collective agreement who retire after March 31, 2024 and who have a minimum of 10 years pensionable service shall be eligible for OPEB upon immediate retirement.
  5. As per clauses 3 and 4, current employees must retire and commence receipt of a pension immediately on ceasing active employment at the University to qualify for OPEB. Such employees shall pay 50% of the premium applicable to the group insurance plans they elect to continue and the University shall pay 50%.
  6. Employees who are hired subsequent to the date of signing of the collective agreement (“Newly Hired Employees”), shall qualify for OPEB only where such employees have a minimum of fifteen (15) years’ pensionable service and commence receipt of a pension immediately on ceasing active employment.
  7. Former employees who are rehired following loss of seniority subsequent to the date of signing of the collective agreement shall be considered to be Newly Hired Employees for the purpose of OPEB eligibility.
  8. Notwithstanding clause 7 above, employees with service prior to the date of signing of the Collective Agreement who are employed outside the bargaining unit and are re-employed in a CUPE bargaining unit position subsequent to the date of signing of the Collective Agreement without a break in service at the University shall not be considered to be Newly Hired
    Employees for the purpose of OPEB eligibility.
  9. Employees who do not meet the criteria noted in clauses 3, 4 or 6 above shall not be entitled to OPEB on ceasing active employment at the University.
  10. Newly hired employees who become entitled to OPEB pursuant to clause 6 above shall pay premiums of the plan based on the number of completed years’ of pensionable service as follows:
    1. all current employees as of March 31, 2020, will be eligible for 50/50 premium sharing if they qualify for post-employment benefit coverage,
    2. all employees hired after March 31, 2020, will share 60% (employee) and 40% (employer) if they qualify for post-employment benefit coverage.
  11. Former employees who are rehired subsequent to March 31, 2020, and who become entitled to OPEB pursuant to clause 6 above shall be required to pay premiums in accordance with clause 10(b) above.
  12. This Clause shall be limited to eligibility conditions for OPEB only and shall not replace or expand upon existing collective agreement provisions pertaining to group insurance plans offered by the University.
  13. Nothing in this Clause shall have the effect of waiving or negating, in whole or in part, any requirement, procedural or substantive, under a Group Health and Life Insurance program or policy sponsored by the employer, e.g., the filing of continuation or other required forms, provision of proof of insurability, etc.