Hiring a campus-based research or teaching assistant through CO-OP

In accordance with the collective agreement between the University of Ottawa and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2626, campus employers may hire students through CO-OP to work as research assistants.

All contracts in which job duties include research tasks, as defined in the CUPE 2626 collective agreement, are subject to this collective agreement.

Campus employers must ensure that their student hiring practices and student compensation comply with the regulations, policies and collective agreements that apply, including the CUPE collective agreement.

Hourly rates of pay, excluding the 4% vacation pay and 2.5% holiday pay, for research or teaching assistants hired through CO-OP.

Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024:

Academic levelFirst CO-OP termSecond CO-OP termThird CO-OP termFourth CO-OP termFifth CO-OP term
Undergraduate$16.73$17.96$19.21$20.55$22.03
Graduate (master’s)$22.03$23.76$25.67$27.70NA

Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025:

Academic levelFirst CO-OP termSecond CO-OP termThird CO-OP termFourth CO-OP termFifth CO-OP term
Undergraduate$17.20$18.41$19.69$21.06$22.58
Graduate (master’s)$22.58$24.36$26.32$28.39NA
  • These rates exclude the 4% vacation pay and holiday pay, and are subject to change each year.
  • Rates of pay are determined by the student’s academic level and by how many CO-OP terms the student has completed.