YEU welcomes our newest Local in Watson Lake
May 2008
On May 1, 2008, Yukon government employees working in Watson Lake held a founding General Meeting for Local Y028.
Members have been working for some time toward the establishment of a Local in their community. Congratulations to our members there, and to the new executive elected at the meeting.
The first Local YO28 Executive, left to right:
Michael Gormley, President
Shawnna Boone, Vice President
Kathy Vigeant, Chief Shop Steward
Scott Cole, Secretary-Treasurer
Laurie Butterworth, YEU President
Union Hall getting an extreme makeover
April 2008
Union Hall renovations are now in progress. The building upgrade will make the facility more efficient, accessible and enjoyable for all our members.
A special convention was held on April 5 to approve the design and vote for the funding necessary to complete the project. See the April Newsletter for a full report.
YEU steps in to help the
Share the Spirit campaign
December 20, 2007
The Yukon Employees' Union is donating space in our building to help organizers of the Share the Spirit campaign gather donated food and assemble Christmas hampers for needy local families. The hampers will be delivered between Dec. 22-23.
Share the Spirit is a children's charity run by the Whitehorse Kinettes Club. For more information call 393-ELFS (3537).
Independence of Workers' Advocate office threatened
August 23, 2007
Union protests government plans to reorganize the office of the Workers' Advocate. Click for August 23rd News Release
Union-Hospital reach home call agreement
November 9, 2006
YEU and the Whitehorse General Hospital have reached an agreement covering situations where Union members employed at the hospital are called at home to provide telephone advice. A joint WGH & PSAC/YEU Memo details the terms of the agreement. Note: The language of the draft memo posted here prior to December 11 has been further revised and reposted.
Whitehorse Correctional Centre hours-of-work dispute resolved
November 8, 2006
Representatives of the Yukon Employees' Union, the Department of Justice, and the employees and management of the Whitehorse Correctional Centre have achieved a resolution to the long-standing dispute involving hours-of-work. YEU issued a Press Release this morning explaining the agreement. Further details are available from the YEU office.
YEU activist Marianne MacKinnon passes away
November 1, 2006
Marianne MacKinnon passed away in Ottawa after a short battle with cancer on October 29, 2006. A committed trade unionist, she served on the YEU Executive and the PSAC Regional Women's Committee. See poster for details about the celebration of Marianne's life.
New Occupational Health & Safety Regs take effect
New Occupational Health & Safety Regulations took effect on November 1, 2006. They can be viewed and searched on the YWCH&SB website: Occupational Health & Safety Regulations.
Yukon Party wins majority
Yukon voters returned the Yukon Party to power on October 10, 2006.
The relationship between Premier Fentie's government and Yukon labour has been strained over the last three years, to say the least. During the first months of the new government's mandate, union leaders will try to determine if Mr. Fentie and his new cabinet have an appetite for constructive dialogue, or if the style of confrontation that characterized recent union-employer relations will continue.
YEU members employed by the Yukon government are tentatively scheduled to begin negotiations on a new collective agreement in November. The tone and progess of these negotiations will be a harbinger of the new government's style.
Other News
PSAC budget 2007-2009, dues increase and special strike fund dues
The PSAC Triennial Convention, as the union's supreme governing body, has established clear priorities for the union for the next three years. In order to meet these priorities, the Convention adopted a progressive budget and resolutions with dues increase that will allow the PSAC to better represent the interests of members, as well as all Canadians, at work and in their communities.
This means there will be an average dues increase of 29 cents per member per month. The actual dues percentage will rise to 0.8963% from the current 0.8889%. This increase will take effect on January 1, 2007.
The Strike Fund
Delegates at the 2003 PSAC Convention increased strike pay from $35 to $50 per day, without an increase in the current Strike Fund dues of 35 cents per member per month. The National Board of Directors also approved to pay the necessary premiums to ensure that the health and dental benefits of our members continue during a strike.
The PSAC has the best general strike benefits of any union in Canada, which puts our members in a position of strength at the negotiating table. In order to continue to pay for these benefits, delegates at the 2006 Convention gave direction to rebuild our Strike Fund through a special strike fund dues of $5.00 per member per month between July 2006 and December 2006, and $2.75 per member per month from January 2007 until the Strike Fund has a positive balance of $25 million and then the regular strike fund dues will increase from the current 35 cents to $1.00 per member per month. Members who earn less than $30,000 will pay a reduced amount to help rebuild the strike fund. They will pay $2 per month from July 2006 until the strike fund has a positive balance of $25 million.
YEU contributes $2,500 to Striking Ekati workers
 At the PSAC Convention this month, the Yukon Employees' Union pledged $2,500 to help the striking workers at the Ekati mine in Yellowknife. No resolution to the dispute between unionized workers at the diamond mine owned by BHP-Billiton is in sight. For more information, click this link to PSAC North.
Current Hot Issue Alerts
YTG not offering employee-volunteers WCB coverage for Canada Winter Games
YEU delegates active at PSAC Convention
Yukon Employees' Union delegates to the PSAC Convention held in Ottawa this May kept the issues of the north on the agenda. Members also bid farewell to retiring President Nycole Turmel and welcomed new President John Gordon.
Congratulations Jean François Des Lauriers on your spirited campaign for the leadership. Your willingness to let your name stand and your commitment to northern PSAC members was most appreciated.
First rural outreach trip a success
Representatives of the Yukon Employees' Union and the Public Service Alliance of Canada held a series of information meetings and training sessions in the communities of Carmacks, Pelly, Stewart Crossing and Dawson City. The events took take place between May 10 and 13.
Union representatives met with members on May 10 in Carmacks, Stewart Crossing and Pelly.
Meetings in Dawson City took place between May 11 and 13. See the Course Description for training session information, and the Notice of Meeting for a description of issues and discussion topics discussed
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It's your union. Take control. Get involved.
YEU delegates in Ottawa for PSAC Convention
Nine Yukon Employees' Union delegates to the PSAC Convention in Ottawa earlier this May worked to bring northern issues to the forefront. Their efforts were underlined by Jean François Des Lauriers' campaign for the leadership.
Although John Gordon won the election to succeed outgoing President Nycole Turmel, Des Lauriers' campaign kept northern concerns on the convention floor.
Prominent among these issues was the ongoing strike by workers at the Ekati mine in Yellowknife. YEU stepped forward to pledge $2,500 to support our brothers and sisters on the picket lines.
Thanks to all delegates for devoting their time and energy to make YEU's presence felt at the convention.
April 28, 2006
A moving tribute to workers
Yukoners gathered at noon today for a moving ceremony honouring Yukon workers killed and injured on the jobsite. Opening remarks by YFL President Alex Furlong brought home the message that such workplace tragedies are personal, and touch all of us.
A beautiful and impressive mock-up of the proposed Workers Memorial was on display. Guests were invited to light candles of rememberance to float in the water-filled base at the foot of the scupture.
YEU joined the Yukon Workers Health and Safety Compensation Board, and the Yukon Federation of Labour among others, in supporting this initiative. We enourage all Yukoners to offer a contribution, however modest, to ensure that a permanent memorial can be constructed in the near future.
April 27, 2006
Ekati workers on strike
Talks in Yellowknife between the PSAC and Ekati mine owner BHP-Billiton have broken down. Unionized workers at the diamond mine have set up picket lines.
YEU supports our PSAC co-workers in their job action.
For more information, click this link to PSAC North.
April 5, 2006
Fallen workers to be honoured
Since 1991, ceremonies have been
held across Canada to remember
the workers who have been killed
or injured. On April 28, YEU in
co-operation with the Yukon
Federation of Labour and the
Yukon Workers Compensation
Health & Safety Board, will again
be active in the commemorative
ceremony. But this year we are
committed to doing more.
The Yukon’s 2006 Day of
Mourning ceremony will emphasize
the toll that job-related
injuries take on our community;
injuries that were all preventable.
YEU has joined YWCHSB and
YFL to sponsor the ceremony, and
to encourage the active involvement
of all Yukoners, whatever
their vocation - because we are
all working people.
YEU is participating
in a campaign that will run
throughout April to raise awareness
of the Day of Mourning and
its significance, and to encourage
our members to attend the ceremony
on April 28.
Pins to raise funds for
permanent memorial
Day of Mourning pins bearing the
Candle of Remembrance shown at
the top-right of this article will be
distributed through displays at
offices and retail outlets. These
pins draw attention to the issue,
and raise funds to be contributed
toward a
permanent memorial for Yukon
workers killed on the job. We
encourage our members to support this project by wearing a pin.
A full-size model of the Workers’
Memorial will be on display at
this year’s Day of Mourning ceremony.
Commissioned by the
Yukon Federation of Labour, the
sculpture was designed by Dan
Lebrun and sculptor Bela Simo. It
is being produced by Bela.
The event will be held in the foyer of the main Yukon government administration building. The
formal portion of the ceremony
will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will
last 20 minutes.
All those who arrive at the event
early will be invited to add a candle
of remembrance and commitment
to the memorial.
Please wear a Day of Mourning
lapel pin, attend the event, and do
your part to make the Yukon’s
workplaces safer.
February 10, 2006
WCC workers protest shift changes
Whitehorse Correctional Centre employees, union members and supporters rallied on the front steps of the Yukon government administration building on Friday, February 10 at noon. The event was organized to protest arbitrary and damaging changes to shift schedules recently imposed by management. Demonstrators gathered to raise public awareness of the negative consequences of the Yukon government’s move.
YEU spokesperson Brent Mekelburg said that WCC management rejected all attempts by the staff to negotiate a constructive and workable solution. Alternate schedules were offered by the employees that met the requirements of the facility, addressed provisions of the collective agreement, and still protected health and safety.
 “The government’s decision to impose a shift schedule of 7 consecutive days is opposed by nearly all staff members”, he said. “It creates an unsafe environment for both inmates and employees through institutionalized understaffing.” This schedule replaces the long-established 12 hour, 4 days on, 4 days off schedule.
The scheduling issue further exacerbates the problems imposed by an obsolete structure, which routinely houses between 70 and 90 inmates – WCC was constructed to incarcerate 45.
Former YEU President Dave Hobbis told the protesters that even though the government will not listen now, they will have to listen soon because this matter will certainly be raised during collective bargaining later this year. NDP MLA Steve Cardiff also addressed the crowd, reminding those in attendance of his party's commitment to working people in the Yukon.
The event was very well attended, with a large contingent of workers from the correctional centre.
February 3, 2006
YEU issues health alert for WCC
The Yukon Employees' Union has posted an Official Union Health Alert warning to our members working at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre about the dangers of second-hand drug smoke.
Management has directed staff to disregard an existing policy requiring searches of visitors entering and leaving the centre. As a result, incidents of illegal drug use within the facility have increased, leading to potential health risks.
October 25, 2005
Butterworth Elected YEU President
Laurie Butterworth has been elected President of the Yukon Employees' Union at the 2005 Triennial Convention.
Butterworth won the majority of the votes on the first ballot to secure the position, with Mike Travill finishing second and Craig Battaglia third.
This is the first change at the top for the Yukon Employees' Union in a quarter century. Past President Dave Hobbis did not seek re-election. Loralee Kesler was elected 1st Vice-President.
The full composition of YEU's newly elected Executive includes:
Laurie Butterworth, President
Loralee Kesler, 1st Vice-President
Steve Geick, 2nd Vice-President
Jo-Anne Smith, Secretary
Mike Travill, Treasurer
Brent Mekelburg, Youth Director
Diane Allen, Director
Sue Christianson, Director
Richard Gordon, Director
Naresh Prasad, Director
Russ Carpenter, Director
Mark Bowers, Director
The new position of Equal Opportunity Director was also established. This position will be elected from the Equity Group representatives who were delegates.
October 18, 2005
New PSAC North Site website online
PSAC North recently announced that their new website is online.
Some sections are still under construction, but will be updated as information becomes available. The website was created and will be maintained by the staff in theYellowknife and Whitehorse offices.
If you have any suggestions or concerns, please contact your Regional Office. Your ideas will always be welcomed and appreciated!
Check it out at www.psacnorth.com.
July 1, 2005
New Yukon government employee Grievance Procedure now in place
The new procedure for processing grievances came into effect on July 1, 2005. This new approach, developed jointly by YEU and the Public Service Commission, was established in the 2003-2006 Collective Agreement.
Visit the Fact Sheets section of this website for more information, downloads and forms.
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