In response to the recent trusteeship of the largest union in Yukon, its parent union conducted a virtual town hall to clarify the situation and address member inquiries. Josée-Anne Spirito and Chris Aylward, appointed as the new trustee and administrator, both hail from the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) parent organization, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Public Service Alliance assumed control of YEU after informing members that the Yukon union’s bylaws are currently suspended, resulting in the removal of the president, vice-president, and directors from their positions. Spirito emphasized that the trusteeship decision was not taken lightly, assuring members that it was unrelated to any individual’s actions or concerns regarding the union’s finances.
During the online session, Aylward revealed that he encountered obstacles hindering progress in his role as administrator, leading to the recommendation for trusteeship due to dysfunction within the executive members. Despite some members’ skepticism, Spirito highlighted the importance of ensuring proper representation at the upcoming leadership convention in October.
Spirito reiterated the commitment to continuing negotiations on behalf of YEU members without any setbacks due to the trusteeship. She emphasized transparency by conducting town hall meetings to provide updates and address concerns throughout this period.