The health minister is accusing two unions representing health-care workers of bargaining at the Health Human Resource Steering Committee table while the unions argue they’re doing their job in their push for better wages and working conditions.
Earlier in October, the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) announced the unions have quit the committee, which is set on hiring and keeping health-care workers in the territory. The unions cited a lack of proper consideration and meaningful contribution.
When speaking with reporters, Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee accused the unions of using the steering committee as a negotiating table for wages and contracts, saying “this is not the table for that.”
By email to the News, YEU president Justin Lemphers said conversations around changes and improvements for workers may overlap with bargaining tables.
He questions the minister’s assertion given it doesn’t reflect what’s happened to date.
For example, he said the Yukon government previously came to YEU with a proposal for nurses outside of the bargaining table.
In a video posted to social media channels, Lemphers said the government is choosing not to listen or talk about the union’s role in seeking improved pay and work environments.
“I got a question for Minister McPhee. Do you know what the unions do? That's what we're here for. We're here for our membership,” Lemphers said.
“They're talking about cost implications. Well, that falls directly back to wages.”
McPhee, as well as the committee’s co-chairs, represented by the Yukon Hospital Corporation and the Yukon government, have expressed disappointment in the unions’ decision to leave the committee.
McPhee, who isn’t on the committee, told the legislature the door remains open for the unions to return the table.
“We firmly believe that we are stronger with them at the table,” McPhee said.
According to Lemphers, there’s been no direct outreach from the Yukon government to YEU on this front.
Lemphers said YEU declined an invitation to an upcoming committee meeting.
He’s still looking for someone to define what role the unions actually have at the committee table and the expectation for them.
Also, Lemphers wonders, if labour voices are so valuable, then why were the unions initially left out? He said neither YEU nor PIPSC was invited to the committee’s first meeting.
A Yukon Hospital Corporation spokesperson said the unions have been part of the committee since it began.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
