ASPA Advocate
Welcome to the online home of ASPA at the University of Saskatchewan
How your workplace is killing you.
An Uber software engineer making a six-figure income killed himself in 2016, with his family blaming workplace stress. A 21-year-old Merrill Lynch intern collapsed and died in London after working 72 hours straight. When Arcelormittal closed a steel plant that it had taken over, a 56-year old employee died of a heart attack three weeks later. His family said it was the shock. And the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has reported that over half of the 550 million working days lost annually from absenteeism “are stress related”.
In 2015, an analysis of almost 300 studies found that harmful workplace practices were as bad for mortality, and as likely to lead to a physician-diagnosed illness, as second-hand smoke, a known – and regulated – carcinogen. READ MORE
Keeping a Positive Attitude at Work
By Karen E. Mosier – Reprinted with permission. Originally printed in CARA Connection Newsletter Vol 6 Issue 1 January 2018
I like to keep a positive attitude at work. It isn’t always easy to maintain a positive frame of mind amid the daily stressors of a busy workplace. Being unhappy is not only bad for our health but it is also detrimental to our productivity.
The SFL Labour Reporter
The SFL Summer edition of the SFL Labour Reporter is now available. Check out page 5 where the SFL acknowledges ASPA’s recent affiliation.
Saskatchewan workers celebrate the repeal of Bill 40, vow to continue protecting Crown corporations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 25, 2018
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) is celebrating a hard-fought victory – the full repeal of Bill 40. Bill 40 was the Sask. Party government’s Crown corporation privatization law. It allowed the government to circumvent voters by selling-off 49% of any Crown without asking Saskatchewan people.
“Workers and the SFL fought the Sask. Party government’s Bill 40 from day one,” said SFL president Larry Hubich, “we held townhall meetings, small rallies, big rallies, and worked with coalition partners to keep our Crown corporations 100% public for Saskatchewan people,” he added. READ MORE
May Pizza Social
Big thanks once again to all the volunteers including Pat Dice and Donna Teszeri for another flawlessly executed pizza social last week. We registered 155 attendees and if you believe the plate count, closer to 200 attended. Pizza was as good as always.
The two Amazon gift card winners had completely different numbers and happened to be seated next to each other when they won.
40th Anniversary Committee
2018-2019 ASPA Executive
The 2018 – 2019 ASPA Executive members are listed below. Click HERE to access a PDF version of this list.
ASPA – Roughriders BBQ
Register here for the event: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/aspa-roughriders-bbq-tickets-46026526580
2018 AGM Summary
AGM 2018
The ASPA Annual General Meeting took place Wednesday, April 18, 2018. For the third year, service awards were given out prior to the AGM for 5 year increments of service, up to 30 years, as in the first year 30+ years of service were recognized as well. There were 155 members in attendance at the AGM – a few for whom it was their first ASPA AGM and a few for whom it would be their last, either because of retirement or taking advantage of the voluntary exit program. Read More
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
