APSA Annual General Membership Meeting

November 19, 2025

Introduction

The Administrative and Professional Association (APSA) held its annual general membership meeting on November 19, 2025. The meeting provided members with updates on the Association’s financial position, advocacy engagements, committee work, and governance matters. Members were also informed of the Association’s projection for the future. Below are the proceedings of the meeting.

Welcome Remarks – Lakshmi Gosyne

The meeting was officially called to order at 12:07 pm. The Associate Director of Communication, APSA – Lakshmi Gosyne, welcomed members to the meeting. Members were informed of the guidelines for the meeting, which included a zero tolerance for discriminatory behaviour. If a participant engaged in harassing behaviour, we may take any action deemed appropriate, including warning the offender or requesting the person to leave the meeting. Members were therefore advised to participate collegially and respectfully. In terms of housekeeping, in-person attendees were encouraged to raise their hands to ask questions or to vote, and members who joined via Zoom were asked to click on Q&A at the bottom of the screen to ask questions via Zoom. Raise your hand to speak if you are in person

Land Acknowledgement – Lakshmi Gosyne

I acknowledge that we gather here today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Mus’queam, Squamish, and Tsel wa’tut people....

Meeting Called to Order – 12:07 pm

Approval of the Agenda

Moved – Eric Tseung Seconded – Erik Tryggvason

Status: Approved 

Approval of the 2024 AGM Minutes

Moved – sumo Kindersley Seconded – Erik Tryggvason

Status: Approved

President’s Report

Member were informed that the full written report is available online for their review. 

A brief summary was provided, which highlighted the significant fiscal and operational challenges experienced over the past year. These challenges included the elimination of approximately 90 APSA positions, which had a substantial impact on the membership and also required a considerable amount of time and resources devoted to advocacy, representation and member support of the report. Members are encouraged to check the report online and ask questions where necessary.

Treasurer’s Report by Jasper Stoodley

A review of the APSA’s 2024/2025 financial statements and the current (2025/2026) financial position was presented to members at the meeting. The statements confirm that APSA is in a strong and stable financial position with total assets of approximately $1.5 million, reflecting a modest increase from the previous fiscal year. Below is a summary of the financial Statement:

  • Despite institutional layoffs and broader financial pressures, membership dues have remained largely stable. 
  • Benefited from reduced legal spending.
  • APSA benefited from strong investment income during the reporting period due to a higher interest rate and favourable returns on short and medium-term investments.
  • Part of APSA’s assets continues to be held in GICs to preserve capital and keep pace with inflation. 
  • Typically, investment portfolios are aimed at one-year terms; however, some investments were extended up to 13 months when the rates are good. 
  • Expecting a reduction in investment income in the upcoming fiscal year due to the lowering of interest rates.
  • Liabilities – attention was drawn to the internally restricted legal reserve, which represents approximately one-sixth of annual revenue. 
  • This is maintained to ensure capacity for grievances, arbitration, and potential large-scale legal actions.

Statement of Operations

The statement of operations showed the revenues and expenses of APSA. It indicated that membership dues were slightly lower year-over-year. The variance is attributed to retroactive dues received in the previous year; therefore, revenue from the core membership dues remains functionally flat.

Legal spending decreased significantly compared to the previous year ($150k compared to $370k). This is attributed to fewer arbitration files and several matters resolving prior to reaching formal arbitration. In the previous year, legal cases with SFUFA contributed to the high legal expenditure. 

Additionally, there is a reduction in the salary and benefits expenses for APSA staff due to a temporary staffing vacancy (the Senior Labour Relations Officer position was vacant) during the year. Professional development and social expenditures increased ($55,000) because APSA resumed in-person events post-pandemic.

Statement of Changes in Net Asset

The statement of changes in net assets provided the differences between the fiscal years. There is a $250,000 difference between the two years, and that is largely because of reduced legal spending. It reported a surplus of $200,000 and will remain invested to ensure APSA retains sufficient financial capacity for large legal matters, including potential court proceedings.

2025/2026 Budget

The 2025-2026 budget was presented to members for their information. The budget was prepared by the finance committee with assistance from the Executive Director and was approved by the Board in June 2025. The budget is balanced at just over $900,000 and reflects:

  • A continued hiring freeze is expected, and members’ dues are expected to decrease. 
  • Expecting potential step increases as we are in a bargaining year, hoping it turns out well for APSA membership. This will affect dues. 
  • Generally, APSA expects the membership dues to be flat.
  • Decreased investment income due to falling interest rates.
  • Added administrative support through outsourced bookkeeping.
  • Increased accounting costs associated with the plan for a full audit.
  • Expected increases in staff wages and benefits.
  • Higher costs related to bargaining activities and external consultants.
  • A slightly higher legal budget is anticipated to meet advocacy demands stemming from the layoffs. 
  • The association is open to developing a strategic plan and hoping the new Board leads on it.

Questions and Answers

Questions

  • Could you explain the difference between the PD line item and the Member PD line item (Line 19 and 21)
  • Can you explain what expenses would be included under the “Committees and Meetings” lines, as PD, legal, printing, etc., are included on separate lines?
  • What is the plan for the 200k surplus?
  • What is the new item, community donations?
  • What is the effect of 120 members leaving at the end of February (retirement program)?

Responses

  • The treasurer noted that one is PD for membership – courses organized by the AD Communication for members, and the Professional Development – Line 19 is for APSA staff. Examples of this include courses on Labour Law and Lancaster House courses.
  • Line 11 – is a miscellaneous category for miscellaneous committees or expenditures that do not fall within the general budget, for e.g., Salary and Benefits, Advocacy Committee, Pensions Committee, etc.
  • Surplus will be reinvested as we continue to build up a fund to potentially take cases up to the BC or Canadian Supreme Court. 
  • Community Donation – APSA donated $500 to the SFU students’ food pantry. It has also donated to schools in the past, for example, APSA donated to the Hazel Trembath Elementary school in Port Coquitlam, which was devastated by a fire that started in October 2024. It also donated to the family of an APSA member who passed away on the job. The community donations are focused on APSA – SFU activities, and they are approved by the Board.
  • The budget was approved in June. There was no knowledge of the retirement program. APSA is concerned about the program and is currently monitoring it closely. 
  • Referenced the BCGEU's recent agreement and noted that it shows that a salary increase is possible. Therefore, APSA is hoping that the retro pay and dues will help with a balanced budget.

Advocacy Report

The report indicated a continued increase in advocacy activity over the past year. Approximately 750 members sought advocacy support, which is a modest increase from the previous year. Many files involved brief consultations, while a smaller subset progressed into longer-term complex advocacy cases. The cases ranged from layoffs, termination without cause, ageism, bullying and harassment, among others.

Layoffs occupied the APSA team, the Advocacy committee, and the Board throughout the fiscal year. Approximately 90 continuing members lost their jobs, not including the non-renewal of temporary contracts. 

Advocacy engagements centred on severance negotiations, benefit continuation, and grievances where position eliminations were believed to be inconsistent with applicable agreements. 

Several matters remain active and are proceeding toward arbitration. Additionally, advocacy work involved addressing issues of overtime, additional workload, workplace stress, and morale.

Termination without cause is a new approach by the University, in which it classified affected positions as “managerial” or “true managers” (i.e., members who can hire or fire). A small number of cases (two in total) involve terminations without cause. APSA maintains that very few roles meet the true legal definition of managerial authority, and continues to challenge these decisions through available grievance and legal processes.

Bullying and Harassment cases have increased, and a lot of members are experiencing this. The increase appears linked to cumulative stress, workload growth, and organizational instability. Advocacy work continues in coordination with institutional complaint processes. 

Ageism – APSA is actively pursuing multiple cases involving members aged 65 and older who were denied access to pension and long-term disability benefits. APSA holds that this does not reflect the evolving legal context and continues to pursue remedies through formal channels. 

Acknowledged the essential contribution of volunteer advocates, the Chair, Mike Peragine and the administrative staff (Tracey Ferris, Lakshmi Gosyne, Aicha Etrew) who support case management and member representation. 

Question and Answer

Questions

  • Does APSA do similar advocacy work in quantity? Are we doing more or less than CUPE?
  • What is the typical actionable duration timeline in B&H discourse?
  • Is there advocacy around disability and the bureaucracy surrounding that?
  • What are the positions that can be terminated without cause?

Responses

  • The Executive Director noted that while a direct comparison with CUPE is uncertain, both APSA and CUPE are addressing similar advocacy-related issues. 
  • Clarified the APSA grievance and representation process, and emphasized APSA has an expressed duty to represent its members.
  • Explained that while approximately 750 inquiries are received, only a smaller portion develop into active cases. Some inquiries relate to matters such as maternity leave and other employment-related issues. 
  • Explained the bullying and harassment process. Noted that the nature of the case determined the timeline. For example, where the case involves just a complainant and a respondent, it typically concludes within a few months.  
  • Observed that advocacy regarding the cost of required medical documentation (doctor’s notes ranging from $35 to $300 was raised at JUAC. The response provided was to claim the Health Spending Account to cover these expenses.
  • Explained that positions that may be terminated without cause were generally identified as “true managers”. This is characterized by managers with the ability to hire and fire on their own without reliance on support from an Associate Director or Director.

 

Additional Committee Reports

Members were informed that all the remaining committee reports are available online.

Introduction of the 2025-2026 Board of Directors

The President, Mike Peragine, expressed appreciation to departing Board members (Jasper Stoodley, Nicole Manson, Cindy Woo, Patrick McClarty, Kim O’Donnell, Ben Boyle) for their service and contributions, including those who concluded their terms early due to changes in employment. The incoming Board of Directors (Ian Hayashi, Alana McGillvray, Christopher Piche, Eric Tryggvason, and Raymond Yim) for the new term were introduced to the membership. Additionally, the President acknowledged the services of continuing Board members (Stephanie Stewart and Ellen Yap).

Finally, extended appreciation to the APSA team – Andrew Boden (ED), Aicha Etrew (MSO), Tracey Ferris (SLRO), and Lakshmi Gosyne (ADC).

 

Members raised questions regarding the following:

Unionization motion raised at the previous AGM.

The Board noted in response that discussions are ongoing. Observed that the motion is non-binding, and that further review and consultation are required before any formal decisions are made. 

Voluntary retirement transitions. Suggested the creation of shared knowledge-transfer spaces and support forums.

Noted that APSA is aware of these concerns and will explore facilitation options in collaboration with the university.

Communication limitation - The member missed the announcement of new members. Is there a chance those might come back?

Noted that changes in institutional mailing systems have affected access to membership announcements. Work is currently underway to fix this glitch.

Is there an update on the timeline for the salary negotiations?

The Salary and Benefits committee has been established, and the member survey has been completed and analyzed. Proposals arise out of the survey and advocacy issues. Negotiations are expected to begin in early January.

With no additional business or questions, the meeting was formally adjourned at 1:12 pm.