Yukon Employees’ Union2285-2nd Ave.Whitehorse, YukonY1A 1C9

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Yukon Employees’ Union

NEWSMay 2015Breaking new trail for workers' rights & social justice.

Yukon Women have always made it WORK!When we began in 1965 as YTPSA there were lots of womenworking for Yukon Government in precarious casual or termpositions. These contracts were supposed to turn into fulltime permanent work after one year; instead the workersremained in these positions indefinitely, afraid to rock theboat by calling attention to themselves.

A few brave women were willing to take the risk. During aninterview with a YEU archivist in 2010, activist Ruth Thomsaid that in those days most women didn’t question theiremployment status or salaries. They were getting bypassedfor better jobs while the men had much better access to high-er paid & secure work. Most workplaces reflected tradition-al gender roles; women did clerical or care giving work, werepaid less than men and had few options if they faced dis-crimination or harassment on the job.

In 1985, Women’s Conference participants were determinedto make things better for themselves and all women. Theybegan standing up for themselves, particularly surroundingthe casual and contract work. Progress was slow, Ruth said,but progress came eventually. Achieving parity betweenmen’s and women’s pay became the next top-priority item.and strides were being made to achieve that by the mid-80’s.

It would be great to say that there was universal support forthe women from within YEU. Union history is full of fire-

works and we had our share of old boys & “dinosaurs” with-in our ranks. Thankfully, the women persevered and we areall beneficiaries of that work.

YEU still thrives with strong female leadership at everylevel. Vice President Sue Christianson is an example of yearsof dedicated activism. Thanks to the women who have gonebefore and smoothed the path, we will continue to look toYukon’s women to help make it work for everyone.

Ruth Thom at YEU’s 1990 Convention

“If you’re rocking boats, you might not have a jobtomorrow. Women had to put forward their thoughts, getin there and say what they wanted.”

It’s time to start making better choices; betterchoice.ca

So why is the federal governmentcutting healthcare spending by

$36 billion?Investing in our health care system is the better choice for all Canadians.

The Canadian Labour Congress thinks it’s time to start making better choices. We do too.

May 13th 2015 marked a positive step toward a more equitableYukon.  Lois Moorcroft, MLA for Copperbelt South presenteda motion to change the Yukon’s Human Rights Act:

Motion 792

THAT this House urges the Yukon government to advance equalrights for transsexual, transgender and gender-variant peopleby:

(1) introducing amendments to explicitly include “gender iden-tity” and “gender expression” under section 7 of the YukonHuman Rights Act as a prohibited ground for discrimination thenext time the act is reviewed;

(2) supporting full equality and respect for trans* peopleaccessing Yukon government jobs, programs and services; and

(3) using public education to fight intolerance, discriminationand violence against trans* people.

The motion received the unanimous support of all MLA’s in arecorded vote.

Page 2 YEU NEWS May 2015

Resolution GEN-016:Gender Identity & Gender Expression

Whereas PSAC believes in non-discrimination for all equi-ty groups covered under the Canadian Human Rights Act;and

Whereas PSAC believes in non-discrimination on thegrounds of gender identity because it is included in thePSAC constitution; and

Whereas PSAC is a leader in creating an inclusive workenvironment for our members; and

Whereas PSAC takes a leadership role in improving theworking conditions of all workers (union and non-union)when it comes to discrimination, non-discrimination andequity:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC lobby the federalCanadian government to add gender identity and genderexpression to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

RATIONALE:

Trans* people are often victims of discrimination, harass-ment and even violence. They are often denied employment,housing, access to health care, and other basic rights.

PSAC defends trans* rights and has successfully negotiatedlanguage in collective agreements. The PSAC has also longsupported the inclusion of gender identity in the CanadianHuman Rights Act and has lobbied for legislative reform. In2014, the PSAC presented a brief on this issue to the SenateStanding Committee on Human Rights. However, opposi-tion to inclusion of gender identity and gender expression inhuman rights legislation continues. More focused resourcesare required to increase the pressure on all political partiesin order to achieve success.

The above is one of several resolu-tions passed at PSAC NationalTriennial Convention 2015. All reso-lutions presented to the delegationwith respect to gender identity andgender expression were passed withunanimous support.

Moving toward Equality in Yukon

Have questions? Need Information? Wonder how to be an ally?

Visit www.pflagcanada.ca or call PSAC& learn about the Pride Committee

Myth #1: Transgenderpeople are confusedTrans* people aren't mislead-ing others or unsure abouttheir gender. They're certain about their gen-der identity and firmly reject the gender desig-nated to them at birth.

PSAC Pride Cttee rep Kat Traplin, MLA Lois Moorcroft & YukonTrans* Activist Chase Blodgett after Motion 792 passed

with all party support.

I have been to a lot of UnionConventions in my years as an activist.I’ve NEVER attended a convention aselectric as the 2015 PSAC NationalTriennial Convention. What a week! Ithas been called the most progressiveconvention in PSAC’s history and Iwould agree. Delegates were chall -enged to put their money where theirmouth is in more ways than one.

YEU sent 12 delegates, selected at ourTriennial Convention last October.

These delegates worked hard every day, attending breakfastcaucus meetings, evening committee meetings and equity cau-cus sessions on their lunch breaks. Many were first time dele-gates and several were young workers. They rose to the chal-lenge and shone. This was one of the very strongest delegationsI have had the pleasure of working with. Bravo.

Some groundbreaking resolutions were passed, including a fewthat came from the Yukon. Following a 2013 Resolution fromthe Yukon Racially Visible Committee to the National EquityConference, Delegates approved holding a conference ofracially visible members every three years in each PSACregion.

The conferences will be an opportunity for racially visiblemembers to network, mobilize and strategize to address theirspecific needs and to foster leadership in their union and work-places. Derek said “I'm humbled by the strong support by thedelegates that allowed this resolution to pass, and am so

encouraged that the PSAC stands by its members and walks thetalk on equity and inclusivity in the union.” He summed it up.

PSAC’s young workers brought a resolution to the floor thatreflects the realities faced by the next generation of workers.Young workers leave school with massive student debt, facestaffing freezes or precarious work. We are going to be wellserved by these young leaders as they take us into the future.

It’s been a busy time here, with ratification votes for theHospital, AGM’s and negotiations happening all over theplace. Our Community Vice-President Tony Thomas will bevisiting your community soon and I will be heading up thehighway next month to Mayo, Dawson, Burwash, BeaverCreek and all points between with National Vice PresidentChris Aylward. We hope to see you at the Bbq in Dawson Cityon Thursday June 25 if you’re in town.

YEU NEWS May 2015

YEU Delegates go National!

YEU PresidentSteve Geick

YEU Delegates at the 2015 PSAC National Convention

Maureen Stephens was raised in a strong union family. Herdad was an advocate for workers rights’ as president of histrade union.

At 19, she worked in a low paying non-unionized Whitehorsebusiness. She moved into management but was not satisfiedwith working conditions for all employees. She organized herfellow workers under the Teamsters with 100% sign up.

In the end she lost her job; she would not cross the picket line,but joined the workers instead.

This commitment to standing up for others whateverthe cost has characterized Maureen’s 25 years atYukon College. In the 90’s Maureen was invited to bea Shop Steward, later becoming Chief ShopSteward. Two years later she replaced DougGraham as YCEU President. She has been amember of negotiating teams and countless

committees. Maureen works with the Yukon Federation ofLabor on women’s issues, and has co-chaired the PSACRegional Women’s Committee. She currently sits on the WCBAppeal Tribunal. Maureen was and will stay active in theNDP. She helped organize elections and was the federal coun-selor, Yukon designate, under Jack Layton.

I met Maureen when she served on Local Y011’s ExecutiveBoard as VP-Support Staff. She often explained articles in our

collective agreement and the history behindthem to members. Her expertise and historicalknowledge will be missed.

We want to thank Maureen for her energyand enthusiasm. Her retirement leads to

the next chapter... we are pretty surewherever she goes it will be in a fabu-lous pair of Fluevogs!Birgit Martens, President Local Y011

Happy Retirement, Maureen Stephens - thanks for years of commitment and STYLE!

I’m Jamie Webber, YouthDirector on the YEUExecutive. I’m a fairly newunion activist but I want toshare some of my experi-ences since gettinginvolved with YEU.

I was elected to theHospital Workers’ bargain-ing team last year, whichmeant I had to learn a lot ina hurry. To help me betterunderstand the role I mightplay, I was chosen to attend

the CLC Winter School at Harrison Hot Springs. Through shar-ing experiences and discussing the issues young workers faceevery day, I realized how proud I am to be part of a labourmovement that fights for worker’s rights.

Shortly after Yukon’s Hospital workers voted to support astrike mandate, I assumed the position of president of this verydiverse local. I live in Dawson but most of the membership isin Whitehorse. The distance means we have some challengesto overcome but we hope to create a good path for future Localexecutives and strengthen the Local inside and outsideWhitehorse.

The experience of strike votes and a strike mandate wasintense. The learning curve was straight up, and I had to reallypractice my leadership skills and my diplomacy.

It was exciting and scary at the same time. Nobody wants tostrike but there’s a powerful feeling of solidarity when every-one stands shoulder to shoulder. I was proud to be part of it. At last fall’s YEU Convention I was selected as a delegate to

the PSAC National Convention in Quebec City in May. Wow -Robyn Benson is an inspiration and I had a chance to hear bothChris Aylward and Hassan Yussuff speak again. Thanks tothem I have a few new goals! I wish all members had the sameopportunity - the passion of the leadership and their fiercedetermination to stand up for our rights is amazing.

This year we have the chance to demonstrate true democracyin Canada by casting our vote and electing a new government. Young workers, protect your future; be active, VOTE!Participate in our union if you want it to stay strong throughyour career; we are the leaders of the FUTURE! Jamie WebberLocal Y025 President, YEU Youth Director

Congratulations to Yukon’s Hospital workers!Workers voted to ratify a new contract May 14th. Below,a member discusses pension details with YEU Director &WGH Pension Committee member Becky Nash at a ratification meeting.

Young Worker in Action! YEU Youth Director Jamie Webber

Page 4 YEU NEWS May 2015

Meetings & Events Local Y017 AGM: Wed. May 27, 7pm, YEU HallY010 Monthly Meeting: 2nd Tues., 5:30-7:30 p.m., Westmark Y017 Monthly Meeting: 4th Wed., 7:30 p.m., YEU HallY023 Monthly Meeting: 1st Mon., Noon, City Municipal Svcs Bldg

StaffChristie Harper, Union Advisor; charper@yeu.caSusan Koser, Union Advisor; skoser@yeu.caSharleen Patterson, Union Advisor; spatterson@yeu.caBeckie Huston, Intake Advisor; bhuston@yeu.ca

Shop Steward Round Tables: 3rd Wed, 9am - noon, YEU Dawson Union Bbq (all Locals), Thurs. June 25, Dawson CityYEU Monthly Exec Meeting: 2nd Thurs., 6:30-9:00 pm, YEU Hall

Tammy Olsen, Financial Officer; tolsen@yeu.caDeborah Turner-Davis, Media Relations & StrategicCommunications Officer: dturner-davis@yeu.caJosh Cuppage, Executive Assistant; contact@yeu.caLaura Hureau, Executive Director; lhureau@yeu.ca

Yukon Employees’ Union Office, 2285 2nd Avenue Whitehorse YT Y1A 1C9 PH: 867-667-2331 FX: 867-667-6521 Toll Free: 1-888-YEU-2331 Email us at contact@yeu.ca Visit www.yeu.ca, follow us on Facebook & Twitter or visit our blog; www.theunionbillboard.com

Offfice Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.