Benefits Overview

By Louise Harrison

Did you join our September GMM and hear from Janet McHugh from the UBC Benefits Team? Whether you joined or not, we’ve put together an overview here of new and existing benefits at UBC. We also wanted to highlight some fabulous benefits and the work of our members on getting these into our collective agreement!

You can view the slides from Janet’s presentation here

Did you know…

AUCE 1 was the first union in Canada to get top up for maternity leave. Read more about AUCE 1’s work on negotiation maternity leave benefits here: AUCE Local 1 Booklet.pub (labourheritagecentre.ca)

Susanne Lester was an integral piece in this work and in our union as a whole. Susanne sadly passed away in 2020. You can read more about Susanne’s work below:

And we did it! By Susanne Lester, Koerner Library

CUPE 2950 launches local history project at UBC

A union for Working Women at UBC – AUCE 1 (Vimeo)

New Benefits

Sustainable Transportation Initiative Pilot Project

Launched in October 2023 for pay grades 1-3. Please visit this page for more information: CUPE 2950 Sustainable Transportation Initiative Pilot Project » CUPE 2950

Extended Health Benefits

Effective January 1, 2023 (must be enrolled in the Extended Health Plan)

  • Prescription drugs for the treatment of infertility (no annual maximum)
  • Fertility procedures (ie: physician and lab services, genetic testing, expenses related
    to the egg/embryo/sperm, etc) up to $40,000 per lifetime
  • Surrogacy medical benefits (ie: physician and lab services, genetic testing, expenses
    related to the egg/embryo/sperm, etc) up to $50,000 per lifetime, per family
  • Surrogacy non-medical (wellness) benefits (ie: obtaining medical records,
    midwife/doula, prenatal specific fitness class, etc) up to $2,000 per lifetime, per family
  • Adoption expenses (ie: legal fees, agency fees, criminal record checks, etc.) up to
    $50,000 per lifetime, per family
  • Gender affirmation (ie: includes coverage for procedures not covered under the
    provincial health plan) up to $50,000 per member

UBC HR Article: New family building, accessibility, and gender-affirmation benefits added to improve equitable access to coverage for extended health plan members | UBC Human Resources

Benefits at UBC

CUPE 2950 members are eligible for the full benefits package if you work at least 17.5 hours per week with an appointment of at least 12 months in length.

There are many benefits available to you as a CUPE 2950 Member at UBC:

Commutes, eats and treats!

By Tanvi Prannoy Chawla

A warm welcome to all the new members and greetings to all the existing members of CUPE 2950, UBC. September marks the beginning of the Academic Calendar Year 2023-2024 and also an excellent time to share and refresh some housekeeping information related to Transit (commute), UBC discount cards and Food/drink joints.

Know your commute:  “With over 155,000 trips to and from UBC each day, encouraging more sustainable modes of transportation is key to meeting our sustainability goals”- https://sustain.ubc.ca/campus. Please refer to the following links for Maps, Directions and tours to various UBC Campuses-

All the links are helpful to know about the accessibility on Campus to plan the transportation. The latter link also helps get updates on construction and roadwork to make navigating campus easier. There is information for cycle lovers and walkers.

UBC Card: It’s not just a piece of ID; it’s a magic card granting access to-

  • UBC Library privileges
  • Building access and access to card-controlled rooms
  • UBC Bookstore e-Money purchases
  • Food Services’ dining convenience and discounts- https://food.ubc.ca/meal-plans/ubccard-value-plan/
  • Meal plans for Housing residents
  • Athletics facilities

UBC Food Asset Map: Food is a fuel source. A healthy body leads to productive output, peace of mind and a happy tummy😊. There are various food ventures in and around UBC. Here are a few good links:

Open Executive positions

Education Committee Chair shall chair Committee meetings and ensure minutes are taken; report that Committee’s activities to the Local Executive and membership.

Job Evaluation Chair shall chair Committee meetings and ensure minutes are taken; report that Committee’s activities to the Local Executive and membership.

Recording Secretary shall be responsible for full, accurate and impartial minutes of regular or special membership meetings and Local Executive meetings; include a copy of the full financial report presented by the Treasurer with all GMM minutes; ensure the production and distribution of these minutes.

Sergeant-at-arms (2 positions) shall assist in maintaining the record of membership attendance at meetings, if so required, and perform such other duties at membership meetings as may be assigned by the Chair or the Local Executive; guard all inner doors at membership meetings and admit no one but members in good standing, Local office personnel, and/or officers and officials of CUPE, except on the order of the Local Executive.

Trustees 2 positions ending in 2025 & 2027 shall not be a member of the Local Executive; act as an auditing committee on behalf of the members and audit the books and accounts of the Treasurer, the Recording Secretary and the Standing Committees at least once every calendar year; make a written report of their findings to the first membership meeting following the completion of each audit; submit in writing to the President and Treasurer any recommendations and/or concerns they feel should be reviewed in order to ensure that the Local’s funds, records and accounts are being maintained by the Treasurer in an organized, correct and proper manner; ensure that monies are not paid out without proper constitutional or membership authorization; ensure that proper financial reports are made to the membership; audit the record of membership meeting attendance; inspect at least once a year any stocks, bonds, securities, office furniture and equipment, and titles or deeds to property that may at any time be owned by the Local, and report their findings to the membership; send a copy of the following to the National Secretary-Treasurer of the CUPE, with a copy to the assigned servicing representative: their recommendations and/or concerns to the President and Treasurer along with the Treasurer’s response; the completed audit report on the prescribed form provided by the National Secretary-Treasurer; their report to the Local membership; and their recommendations and/or concerns to the President and Treasurer along with the Treasurer’s response.

Interested in joining a committee but not chairing? See our committee page here.

Interested in becoming a steward? Find out more here and contact the office at office@cupe2950.ca for more information.