Following the declaration that the largest union in Yukon had been placed under trusteeship, representatives from its parent union organized a virtual town hall for members to provide clarification and address inquiries. The newly appointed trustee and administrator, Josée-Anne Spirito and Chris Aylward, originate from the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) parent body, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Public Service Alliance assumed control of YEU recently, after informing members via email that the union’s bylaws are currently suspended, and the president, vice-president, and directors have been relieved of their duties. Spirito emphasized that the decision to place YEU under trusteeship was a carefully considered one, not influenced by any individual’s actions, financial concerns, or fund misappropriation within the union.
The focus of their collaboration will be on ensuring that YEU’s local branches, many of which have struggled to meet the basic requirements outlined in the union’s bylaws, are brought into compliance. Aylward’s salary is covered by YEU, while his administrative role is funded by PSAC.
During an online session with over 100 members, Aylward shared that progress was initially being made in his role as administrator but encountered obstacles later on, leading to a standstill in mid to late May. He described facing resistance and excessive questioning, hindering his ability to implement positive changes, ultimately resulting in dysfunction within the executive team and the recommendation for trusteeship.
Aylward viewed the trusteeship as an opportunity to revitalize YEU, a sentiment not universally supported among members like Jessica McIntyre, who believed that the ousted executive members were merely seeking clarification on administrative procedures, which she deemed as appropriate behavior.
A convention to elect new leadership in October faces challenges as multiple locals have not nominated delegates, leaving over 50 seats vacant. Spirito stressed the importance of member representation in the democratic process and raised the possibility of postponing the event to address the issue.
Spirito expressed that the town hall was one of her initial actions as the trustee and assured members that such sessions would continue throughout the trusteeship period to facilitate communication and provide insight into corrective actions being implemented. She reassured members that bargaining efforts would proceed without interruption and affirmed the commitment of YEU and PSAC to securing a favorable deal for members at the negotiating table.