Greetings ASPA Members,
Welcome to February! The shortest month is upon us, and as the days start to get longer and we get the odd reprieve from the worst of the winter weather, we can feel the promise of spring’s renewal coming right around the corner. This winter has been a busy one for ASPA, and as always, this work could not be done without the challenging work for the ASPA Executive Team and the ASPA Staff.
Thank you to our Vice Presidents Alexis Dahl and Candice Pete Cardoso for their continued challenging work and the expertise they bring to the APSA table, as well as to the Executive members and the ASPA committee members for their collective exemplary work this year. As well, thank you to the backbone of our office, ASPA’s Member Services’ Officer Shayne Meggs and our Financial and Administrative Assistant Angeline Hainstock. We are grateful for the work you do.
This past Fall, ASPA offered two Common Grounds sessions hosted by Shayne Meggs. Alexis Dahl and Ken Glover hosted a Lunch and Learn on the bargaining process in October as well, and both events were well attended. The exceptional turn out at these events are a testament to the ever-growing interest from our members in becoming more involved in our union. Please stay tuned for other ASPA information sessions to be announced soon.
On January 28th, ASPA presented the employer with our intention to bargain for our next collective agreement. On January 30/31st, ASPA hosted an introduction to bargaining workshop facilitated by Hugh Wagner. Twenty ASPA members came out to learn about the bargaining process and partake in a mock bargaining exercise. We hope that this workshop encourages members to put their names forward to join our bargaining team. Bargaining team membership will be decided upon shortly, and we look forward to working towards a fair and equitable collective agreement.
General Membership
The ASPA membership continues to stay strong with 1649 members as of this month. Fluctuations in membership numbers are usually due to casual employees, such as markers/proctors.
Overview of Membership Numbers:
- October 1, 2025 – 1627 members
- November 1, 2025 – 1638 members
- December 1, 2025 – 1650 member
Standing Committees
Communications and Public Relations Sub-Committee (Engagement Committee)
This committee has been working on the Quarterly newsletter, managing an ASPA Facebook page and currently working on a few articles to post on the website. If you think there is something relevant to the union, please feel free to send it to us!
There is a “Suggestion Box” on the website, which can be found on the right-hand sidebar of the aspasask.ca website. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions for the Executive Committee. Changes have been made to ensure it is anonymous for those who chose to be.
Education Sub-Committee (Engagement Committee)
This committee has been working towards identifying learning opportunities for our membership. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) will be hosting their Pension and Benefits Conference in Regina this March. In April, the Spring School will also be happening. Keep your eyes open for communications on when the registrations will open. They are also planning Lunch and Learn sessions in February and March.
Social Sub-Committee (Engagement Committee)
This committee has been remarkably busy planning the two Common Grounds coffee events (18-25 members per session), the Pizza Lunch in October which sold out in record time, as did the Winter Social in January. There are events in the works for 2026, so please keep watch for the emails.
Research Committee
This committee has remained available to respond to Executive and member requests. You can expect the yearly census survey to be released in the first couple weeks of February.
General Office
As a reminder, our Financial and Administrative Assistant, Angeline Hainstock, is located in our general office and is available to assist with any questions. The ASPA office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm in Room 304 or 302 Kirk Hall. You are welcome to contact us at any time by phone at 306-966-2471, by email at aspa@aspasask.ca, or by stopping by the office.
Member Services
If you have any questions or would like information regarding your union, or if you believe you are being treated unfairly or in ways that do not align with your contract, myself, the MSO, or the VPs who are designated to advocate on your behalf. Please connect with me at robert@aspasask.ca.
In solidarity,
Robert Procyk