Grievance Update

ASPA continues to have a number of open grievances, twenty (20) to be exact.  These grievances are the same ones that were open since the last update in November, which you can read here.

We continue to wait for two (2) Arbitration awards.   Both were heard last year. However; just last week, ASPA did receive an award on a wrongful layoff grievance that we had filed.   The arbitrator ruled in favour of the Union and we now await discussion with the employer as to the implementation of this award.  The award affirms that the employer cannot lay a permanent member off if the majority of their work continues to exist and moves to another member or individual as outlined in Article 16. 

Continue reading “Grievance Update”

Grievance Updates

Written by Darcy Hryn-Bird, ASPA Member Services

Our Member Services Officer, Darcy Hryn-Bird, is currently handling twenty-one (21) active grievances.  Unsure  what a grievance is or how to file one?  For more information go here.grievance 2

Most of the outstanding grievances are related to the employer failing to deduct Association dues from several positions across campus.  ASPA has been raising this issue with the Employer for the last number of years and started to file grievances when it became clear that our message was not being heard.  The grieved positions are currently in the “Research” group and are not in the scope of any bargaining unit.   We believe that these positions are similar to what our members are currently doing.  The reason that ASPA is pursuing these grievances is not to get more dues or increase our membership, but to ensure that employees of the University have been appropriately placed in a bargaining unit. We have made some progress on a few of the grievances in this area, but the movement is slow going.   Continue reading “Grievance Updates”

Potential CUPE 1975 Job Action – FAQ’s

As you are probably aware, CUPE 1975 took a strike vote at the end of September and the members provided the CUPE 1975 bargaining team with a strike mandate.  As an ASPA member you might be wondering what this means for you or how this might impact your work.

ASPA has put together answers to some of those questions that you might have.  If your question has not been answered or you require clarification, please contact our Member Services Officer Darcy Hryn – Bird at darcy@aspasask.ca or 306-966-7392. Continue reading “Potential CUPE 1975 Job Action – FAQ’s”

National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning, held annually in Canada on April 28, is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job or due to a work-related tragedy.

Statistics and beyond

The most recent statistics from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) tell us that in 2016, 905 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada. Among those dead were 6 young workers aged 15-19; and another 20 workers aged 20-24.

Add to these fatalities the 241,508 claims accepted for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease, including 29,588 from workers aged 15-24, and the fact that these statistics only include what is reported and accepted by the compensation boards, and it is safe to say that the total number of workers impacted is even higher.

What these numbers don’t show is just how many people are directly affected by these workplace tragedies. Each worker death impacts the loved ones, families, friends and coworkers they leave behind, changing all of their lives forever.  READ MORE

SGEU members reject offer from provincial government

Published on April 25, 2018 by D.C. Fraser, Regina Leader – Post

Members of Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) bargaining unit have rejected a Memorandum of Agreement deal with the province.

The deal on the table for members offered wage increases of 0, 0, 1 and 2 per cent over four years.

The last contract expired at the end of September 2016, meaning the first two years without increases would have been partially retroactive.   READ MORE

Merit

It is that time of year again.  Every year at this time people’s thoughts turn to Merit.   What is it and how do I get it?

Merit is outlined in the Collective Agreement (Article 9.5).  Merit is awarded in either a lump sum or an “add to base” allocation to ASPA members when their “proficiency, growth and levels of performance are considerably better than what is viewed as normal and recognizes exceptional contributions.”

It is intended that up to 60% of eligible ASPA members will be awarded a merit award in any given year with approximately two thirds receiving base salary merit increase and the other one third receiving lump sum bonuses.

Eligibility for Merit requires that a member “must be in the same position, in the same department as of November 1 of the current fiscal year” (Article 9.6.2).  Neither your individual status nor the status of the position you are in determine your eligibility for Merit.

The exact merit process depends on the unit/department/college that you are working in.  Most units/departments/colleges have their own process.  As a general comment however it is the ASPA member’s responsibility to submit documentation to their supervisor in order to be considered for merit.  You should speak to your supervisor about when this documentation needs to be submitted by and what the exact process is.  Your unit/department/college will need to provide Human Resources the names of those selected for Merit by June 15th.

For more information on Merit or to access the forms please go to: https://working.usask.ca/manageperformance/considerpositionreview.php  or contact ASPA’s Member Services Officer at darcy@aspasask.ca or 306-966-7392.

University’s expanded Retirees Association welcomes new members

By Judith Rice Henderson, USRA Membership Chair

When you leave the University of Saskatchewan for other employment or retirement, would you like to stay in touch with the campus and/or your former co-workers?  Consider joining the University of Saskatchewan Retirees Association (USRA) by applying for a free first year of membership (a $20 value) or by taking out a Life Membership (with fees prorated by age).  USRA is now the University’s only retirees association, having welcomed as Life Members during the 2017-18 academic year the membership of the recently dissolved University of Saskatchewan Non-Academic Retirees Association (USNARA).

Continue reading “University’s expanded Retirees Association welcomes new members”