We’ve got you covered on
what happened at the meeting.
- No one died.
Ok, that's a given, but it's important to remember that APSA's AGM is a safe
place where all members are encouraged to share their questions. - There’s money in the bank, but no leftovers.
Association Director, Anne Mason, explained close
to $60k was spent on pension and salary & benefits negotiations. This
included consultant fees and committee meetings. Therefore, no funds could be transferred
into the Operational (unrestricted) Reserve.
1/6 of dues is set aside each year for
legal expenses. This year all $60k of it was spent. No remaining funds were transferred
into the Legal Reserve as we’ve done in previous years.
The money went to legal counsel fees for
the CUPE challenge, legal opinions on pension matters and what our representational
duties and responsibilities are, salary and benefits mediation and legal
assistance with advocacy cases.
Under capital assets (mainly computer
equipment), a laptop and monitor upgrade was purchased for the office. - We’ve been through a tough year.
Salary and benefits negotiations were the most difficult in decades. Pension
talks stalled early in the year due to the UA tying
pension changes to salary increases. You worked amidst multiple strikes and
CUPE challenged 560 of your positions. - Despite a tough year, we’ve had great success.
We won the CUPE challenge! The Labour Relations Board decided CUPE didn’t take steps
to include APSA positions in their bargaining unit before now and they didn’t
take into consideration the wishes of APSA members in those positions.
67% of you filled out our first membership survey! Based on your answers, we’re
planning new activities and revising services to meet your needs.
We have more:
vision care ($300 to $500),
professional development carry over ($2100 to $2800) and
money in our pockets (2% increase for 2012, 2% increase for 2013).
Before tax that is. Sorry, we can’t help with those pesky taxes. - It ain’t over til the pension plan sings.
The Employee Joint Pension Committee (EJPC), made up of APSA, CUPE and Poly
Party, are committed to wait until all
contract negotiations are signed before meeting with the University
Administration (UA). Poly Party’s contract is still being negotiated.
As Salary & Benefits are heading back into negotiations in 2014, a member asked
if the UA plans on holding the salary & benefits table hostage until we
agree to pension changes.
APSA’s Pension Advisory Committee chair,
Richard Blackwell, replied that the EJPC could decide, once again, not to
negotiate pension until contracts are signed. He hoped it wouldn’t come to
that. - Get to know these people. Or don’t. Your call. But,
wait, really do.
These folks are your new Board of Directors. Get to know them. They’ll
communicate your concerns and seek solutions at the Board level. Or just get to
know them because they’re neat and fun people and you know, they get tired of
only APSA staff emailing them.