Following the announcement of the largest union in the Yukon being placed under trusteeship, representatives from its parent union conducted a virtual town hall for members to provide clarification and address queries. Josée-Anne Spirito and Chris Aylward, the newly appointed trustee and administrator, both originate from the Yukon Employees’ Union’s (YEU) parent body, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Public Service Alliance assumed leadership of YEU recently, suspending the Yukon union’s bylaws and removing the president, vice-president, and directors from their positions. Spirito emphasized that the decision to place YEU under trusteeship was a serious one, not driven by any individual’s actions or financial concerns within the union.
She stated that the primary focus of their collaboration would be to ensure compliance of YEU locals with the union’s bylaws, as many have been struggling to meet these requirements. Aylward, whose salary is funded by YEU while his role is backed by PSAC, recounted encountering obstacles during his tenure as administrator, hindering progress.
Describing a situation where he faced constant questioning and encountered roadblocks to his initiatives, Aylward highlighted the dysfunction within the executive members that led to the recommendation for trusteeship. Although some members, like Jessica McIntyre, questioned the reasons behind the executive members’ removal, Spirito stressed the importance of ensuring member representation and the need to address vacant seats ahead of the upcoming leadership convention.
Spirito assured members that town halls will be a regular feature during the trusteeship period to facilitate communication and address concerns. She also emphasized that bargaining efforts will not be negatively impacted by the trusteeship, with a continued focus on securing favorable deals for YEU members at the negotiation table.