Update as of May 26th, 2023
Members Vote to Ratify New Collective Agreement
Extraordinary attendance was observed at contract ratification meetings held across the Yukon last week. After today’s ballot count, we can say that Yukon Government workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept the tentative deal, ratifying their new contract.
This Collective Agreement, retroactive to January 1, 2022, will be in effect until December 31, 2024. Yukon Employees’ Union and the Public Service Alliance of Canada represent this bargaining unit, numbering approximately 3500 members. Read Media Release
Update as of May 26th, 2023
Tentative Agreement Reached with Government of Yukon
A tentative agreement has been achieved between the Government of Yukon’s unionized workers and the employer. Both the union and employer have accepted the unanimous, non-binding recommendations of the Conciliation Board’s Executive Panel following meetings held on the May long weekend. Read Media Release
Contract Ratification Meeting Schedule
While originally planned as strike vote meetings, members will instead receive a tentative contract, recommended by the Bargaining Team, for review. The changes proposed to the previous contract will be explained and questions answered after which a contract ratification vote will follow. Click HERE to see the schedule for these meetings.
Update as of March 15th, 2023
In accordance with the Yukon Public Service Labour Relations Act, a three-member conciliation board has been officially established.
The Union representative will be Gary Cwitco, the Employer representative will be Catharine Read and Jacquie de Aguayo will be chairperson, agreed to by both parties.
Each bargaining team will present their submissions to the board through virtual hearings slated for April 29 and 30, with the possibility of an additional day of hearings if the chairperson of the panel becomes available on April 28.
After the hearings, the board will consider what has been presented and discussed, and will provide a non-binding report to the Labour Relations Board Chairperson within fourteen days, or within a longer period agreed to by the parties, or as directed by the Labour relations Board Chairperson.
The non-binding report will be made public and members will have access to this report.
This is a necessary next step in the bargaining process.
YG Updated Bargaining FAQ Page
Update as of February 16th, 2023
After over a year of slow negotiations, talks finally broke down on January 13, 2023. This prompted the bargaining team to move to the next step required by the Yukon Public Service Labour Relations Act – requesting the establishment of a conciliation board.
A conciliation board is a panel of three people: one selected by the Union, one selected by the employer, and a mutually-agreeable chairperson. Both sides are expected to formally argue their positions to the board, and the board then issues a non-binding report on how to proceed. The ideal outcome is that the board’s recommendations move the parties toward an agreement.
The conciliation board is the last legally required step before disruptive labour action can occur. If the board is unhelpful (as is often the case elsewhere) then the only option that members have left to shift the employer’s position is to take direct action – to strike.