Pension & Benefits unit staff help members with pension issues such as understanding how their pension benefit is calculated, what the features of their plan are, how their plan is governed, and how contribution amounts are arrived at. They can also assist with any pension issues that members are unable to resolve on their own.
Unit staff also act as a resource to bargaining teams where pensions are negotiable and may also sit on the Board of Trustees or Sponsors Committee of some pension plans as required.
OPSEU/SEFPO is a sponsor of several jointly sponsored pension plans. They are:
College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Pension Plan
The CAAT Pension Plan is a jointly-sponsored, multi-employer pension plan originally created to provide retirement security the Ontario College system. They now proudly serve over 370 participating employers in 20 industries including the for-profit, non-profit, and broader public sectors all over Canada with 90,000 active and retired members offering secure workplace pensions and retirement income for life.
Regular full-time employees in the college system are automatically enrolled in the CAAT Pension Plan. Part-time employees have the option of joining the plan upon commencement of employment. For information on how to join visit the CAAT Pension Plan – College Employers.
It is important to note, that CAAT has developed pension solutions that offer a Defined Benefit pension at a fixed and affordable price. This solution is available to ALL workplaces in Canada. You can learn more about joining the plan by visiting their website at CAAT Pension Plan – DB Plus.
Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) is a jointly-sponsored, multi-employer pension plan for Ontario’s hospital and community-based healthcare sector with 470 participating employers and more than 286,000 plan members and retirees. The HOOPP defined benefit plan is a formula based benefit that provides security and peace of mind to Ontario’s healthcare workforce.
Regular full-time employees whose employers participate in HOOPP are automatically enrolled in the pension plan. Part-time employees can also join the plan under certain circumstances.
You can learn more about joining the plan by visiting their website at Join HOOPP.
OPSEU Pension Trust
The OPSEU Pension Trust (OPTrust) invests and manages one of Canada’s largest pension funds and administers the OPSEU Pension Plan, a defined benefit plan with over 106,000 members and retirees.
You can join the plan if you work in a fixed term or contract position in the OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining unit in the LCBO, OPS or at an agency, board, or commission or organization that contributes to the OPSEU Pension Plan under certain circumstances. You can learn more about joining the plan by visiting their website.
OPTrust has also developed a Defined Benefit pension benefit that allows Ontario based not-for-profit employers to join the plan at a fixed cost (3% of salary matched by the Employer). For more information visit OPTrust Select.
Canadian Blood Services Pension Plan
The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) Defined Benefit (DB) Pension Plan is jointly sponsored by Canadian Blood Services and the Participating Unions, and administered by a Board of Trustees representing both.
Employees who are represented by the Participating Unions enroll in the DB plan when they meet the eligibility requirements. Other employees may also enroll in the DB plan, if they wish.
You can learn about joining the plan by visiting their website at https://cbs.hroffice.com
Ontario Municipality Employees Retirement System (OMERS)
OMERS is a Defined Benefit Pension Plan established in 1962 for employees of municipal governments, school boards, libraries, police and fire departments, Children’s Aid Societies and other local agencies throughout Ontario.
- If you are a permanent, full-time employee with a participating OMERS employer, membership in OMERS is generally mandatory.
- If you are a part-time or seasonal employee with an OMERS employer, you may be required to join OMERS; but if you are not required to join OMERS, you may choose to join under certain conditions.
You can learn more about joining the plan by visiting their website at Join OMERS.
Pension Plan for Employees of Pathways to Independence
The Pension Plan for the Employees of Pathways to Independence is a jointly-sponsored, jointly trusteed single employer pension plan that provides retirement security to the employees of Pathways to Independence.
Full-time employees of Pathways to Independence are required to join the pension plan upon hire, part-time employees can join under certain circumstances. For more information please contact one of your union Pension Committee members:
Charmaine McLean
Rene Rendell
Giulia Volpe – [email protected]
If you need information on the on the Canada Pension Plan, Disability, Employment Insurance and Old Age Security; please see our other “Fact Sheets” on the OPSEU/SEFPO website. There you will find helpful information about these government programs.
Need help?
If you wish to contact the Pensions and Benefits unit, please email us at:[email protected].