Following the announcement of the Yukon’s largest union being placed under trusteeship, a virtual town hall was conducted by representatives from the parent union to clarify the situation and address queries from members. Josée-Anne Spirito and Chris Aylward, the new trustee and administrator, both originate from the Yukon Employees’ Union’s parent body, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Public Service Alliance assumed control of the YEU after notifying members via email that the Yukon union’s bylaws are currently suspended, leading to the removal of the president, vice-president, and directors from their positions. Spirito emphasized that the decision to place YEU under trusteeship was not taken lightly, stressing that it was not due to any individual’s actions or financial concerns within the union.
During the virtual session attended by over 100 members, Aylward shared his experiences as an administrator, highlighting challenges faced in making progress due to increasing resistance and obstacles encountered within the executive meetings. The dysfunction within the organization reached a point where moving forward became untenable, prompting the recommendation for trusteeship.
Despite some members questioning the necessity for the trusteeship, Spirito revealed that numerous locals had not fulfilled delegate submissions, resulting in over 50 vacant seats for the upcoming leadership convention in October. She expressed the need to ensure adequate representation for the event through a democratic process and hinted at a possible postponement if necessary.
Spirito assured members that town hall meetings would be a regular feature throughout the trusteeship period to provide transparency and allow for inquiries regarding corrective actions being implemented. She also emphasized the commitment to advancing negotiations and securing favorable deals for YEU members, affirming that bargaining efforts would not be compromised by the trusteeship.