By Justin Lemphers, President, Yukon Employees' Union
For more than seventeen months, Yukon Government workers have continued to deliver the public services that Yukoners rely on every day without a renewed collective agreement. Throughout that time, your bargaining team has remained focused, professional, and unwavering in its commitment to securing a fair deal for every member.
I want to recognize the tremendous work of our bargaining team. These members have spent countless hours at the table, reviewing proposals, analyzing employer positions, consulting with members, and advocating for improvements that reflect the realities facing Yukoners today. Their dedication, expertise, and persistence have been nothing short of remarkable.
Unfortunately, despite months of negotiations, the employer has failed to present an offer that adequately recognizes the value of your work. The latest wage proposal falls short of inflation and does not address the affordability challenges that workers and families across the Yukon continue to face. At a time when the cost of housing, groceries, fuel, and everyday necessities remains high, workers deserve an agreement that protects their purchasing power—not one that leaves them falling further behind.
We are also deeply disappointed by the employer's continued pursuit of concessions, including proposals affecting severance, and by the lack of meaningful assurances regarding member protections related to any future Health Authority transition. Our members deserve certainty, respect, and security. These issues are not negotiable principles—they are fundamental protections that workers have earned.
Throughout this round of bargaining, the union has approached negotiations in good faith. Regrettably, due to an apparent inability by the government to provide a clear mandate to the employer bargaining team on the health authority and monetary items, the employer team has too often arrived unprepared to engage on the critical issues that matter most to our members, and this apparent indecision has repeatedly delayed meaningful progress.
While these developments are frustrating, members should know that your bargaining team remains united and determined. The decision to pursue conciliation reflects the seriousness of the situation, but it also demonstrates our commitment to using every available avenue to achieve a fair collective agreement.
To every member: your solidarity matters. The strength of our union has always come from workers standing together, supporting one another, and refusing to be divided. In difficult times, employers often hope that frustration will weaken resolve. Instead, we must continue to demonstrate the unity that has carried our union through previous challenges.
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting workers across every community in the Yukon. You are not alone in feeling those pressures. Your bargaining team understands those realities because they live them too. That is why they continue to fight for an agreement that reflects the value of your work and helps protect your family's future.
The road ahead may not be easy, but we have faced difficult negotiations before. By staying informed, attending membership meetings, supporting one another, and standing united behind our bargaining team, we will continue to build the collective strength needed to achieve a fair agreement.
Bargaining Update Meetings
We have several urgent meetings organized for Whitehorse, Mayo, Dawson City, Watson Lake, and Teslin. Please attend one of these meetings and let your colleagues know that they are happening.
Whitehorse, June 24th
The Whitehorse noon meeting on June 24th is almost at capacity. Please choose a different time if you are able.