In response to the recent trusteeship placement of the largest union in Yukon, a virtual town hall was conducted by representatives from the parent union to provide clarification and address member inquiries. The new trustee and administrator, Josée-Anne Spirito and Chris Aylward, both hail from the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) parent organization, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Public Service Alliance assumed control of YEU following an announcement to members that the union’s bylaws were suspended, resulting in the removal of the president, vice-president, and directors from their positions. Spirito emphasized that the decision to place YEU under trusteeship was a serious one and not related to financial concerns or fund mismanagement.
Aylward, whose salary is funded by YEU and role by PSAC, shared insights during an online session with over 100 members. He expressed encountering obstacles in making progress due to internal challenges and a lack of cooperation, leading to the recommendation for trusteeship.
Acknowledging dissatisfaction among some members, including Jessica McIntyre, over the removal of executive members, Aylward defended the decision, citing the need to address dysfunction within the union for progress to be made. He viewed the trusteeship as an opportunity to rebuild YEU.
Despite concerns raised, Spirito highlighted the importance of member representation at the upcoming leadership convention in October, noting several vacant delegate seats across multiple locals. She reassured members that town hall meetings would continue during the trusteeship period to facilitate communication and provide updates on corrective actions.
Spirito emphasized the commitment to advancing bargaining efforts for YEU members, ensuring that negotiations proceed without disruptions. She underscored that the trusteeship would not impede the union’s bargaining priorities and expressed determination to secure favorable deals for members.