2021 Triennial Minutes

YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION

9th TRIENNIAL CONVENTION 2021 MEETING RECORD October 27-to-29, 2021 Yukon Arts Centre Whitehorse, Yukon ________________________________________________________________ Present: SEE NUMERICAL & ALPHABETICAL DELEGATE LIST (Appendix) Executive: Steve Geick Tony Thomas Khairul Alam Teresa Acheson Derek Yap Roberta Wurtak Derrick Andersen Sherry Masters Lisa Keenan Shawnna Boone Charlene Smith

President Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive

Staff: Michelle Parsons Deborah Turner-Davis Dan Robinson Tammy Olsen Beckie Huston Roseanne Elias Haley Philipsen Lynne Pajot Jim Crowell Jessica Kish Richard Wagner

Executive Director Director of Communications Senior Labour Relations Advisor Financial Officer Intake Officer Membership Services Officer Executive Assistant Education Officer Labour Relations Advisor Labour Relations Advisor Labour Relations Advisor

Daniel Kinsella James Verge Justin Lemphers Theresa Baird Guests: Michel Gignac (will become delegate 70 during proceedings) Y021 70 Katherine Keller (will become delegate 71 as above) Y021 71

Sharon DeSousa

PSAC National Vice President

Others: Emilie and Jeff Hamm, Upstream Events Joyce Bachli, Joyce’s Notetaking

Sound & Technical Support Recording Secretary

The convention was called back to order October 27, 2021, at 1:32 p.m.

1.0 1.1

Convention Opening First Nation Prayer and Welcome

Steve Geick: Okay, welcome back everybody. I am going to ask Roberta Wurtak, our equity director, to introduce our elder, Roberta.

Roberta Wurtak: Hello, I’m honoured to introduce you to Betsy Jackson. She is an elder and citizen of the Ta’an Kwäch’än First Nation, and she is a member of the wolf clan. Betsy was born and raised in the Whitehorse area. She has three children, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Betsy is a knowledge keeper. She shares her teachings willingly and takes her role as an elder seriously. As an elder, it is her honour to pray for the healing of all people and to share her culture.

Betsy Jackson: Good afternoon, everyone. This prayer is very important for the work that you are doing. So, I came, and I am holding three feathers. One represents women. One represents the youth, and one represents to us the Union throughout the Yukon and all that they touch.

[Prayer by Elder Betsy Jackson] I came and I am women, youth rest of us, the union throughout the Yukon and all that they touch.

Elder Jackson offers prayer. Gunalchîsh!

1.2

Opening Remarks – YEU President

Steve Geick: So, we’re going to move on to some opening remarks. So, good morning, and welcome to the 9th YEU triennial convention. I want to say a few things. First, I want to acknowledge that it’s an honour to live, work and learn on the traditional lands of the Kwanlin Dün and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

We have done everything that we can to ensure that this convention continues in a way that is acceptable to everyone. We will repeatedly ask for your input on technical difficulties and anything else. Please follow the procedures that have been outlined this morning and refer all convention technical issues to the YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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appropriate places. Something that I do want to talk about is COVID in general, and I know there’s a lot of discord. There’s a lot of different opinions on the messaging that we came out with last week; and so, I do want to try and make some space for this at convention; and what I would request now is that if you have comments, concerns or anything in general about the message that went out, please e-mail them to me at my e-mail: SGeick@yeu.ca. Time permitting, we will enter into some form of not really debate, but just something so that all members can voice their concerns. We will do it respectfully, and we will do it in a timely manner; that is, if time permits. If we cannot find time to put this into the agenda, then I will answer your comments, questions and concerns one at a time. I am really hopeful that we will be able to have this discussion during the time of convention, and we’re going to do our best to get there.

1.3

Solidarity Forever

Steve Geick: Forever.

So, moving right along, we are going to have Solidarity

[Video and “Solidarity Forever” is played] 2.0

Call to Order - YEU President Steve Geick:

President Steve Geick officially called the 9th YEU triennial convention to order.

Steve Geick: One of the things that I have done at every convention I have been to is there has always been a local that wasn’t in existence when the call went out for delegates; and once again, we have that. So, just for a little history really quickly: The Yukon Arts Centre – the place where we are – the local became defunct probably about eight months ago or nine months ago. They have since got the local back in and have a full executive. So, at this time, I would like to ask for a motion and a seconder to seat Katherine Keller and Michel Gignac, the President and the Vice-President of the local as delegates from their observer status. This will require a unanimous vote.

Motion Katherine Keller and Michel Gignac from observer status to delegate status, this must be unanimous.

Motion #01-2021 Motion to seat Michel Gignac and Katherine Keller as delegates.

MOVED: Tamera Johnson

SECONDED: Justin Lemphers

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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3.0

Guest Speaker (NEVP Sharon DeSousa)

Steve Geick: So, moving right along on the agenda, I would like to bring up Sharon DeSousa.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. Sister, brothers, friends, I would like to first acknowledge that I am speaking to you from the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. I’m excited to join you here for YEU’s triennial convention that is taking place later than originally planned; and like you, I really wish we were meeting in person, but I’m looking forward to listening to the discussions that will take place over the next couple of days.

Let me start by first sharing that our National President, Chris Aylward, sends his apologies for not being able to be here and wanted me to thank you on behalf of PSAC for all the work that you do for the membership and our union. He sends along his sincere greetings of solidarity in wishing you all the very best as you discuss and make decisions to strengthen the Union’s engagement in your members’ workplaces and in their communities.

Triennial conventions are all about setting the course for the next three years, but they’re also a time to look back on all you’ve accomplished. I want to thank you for your engagement and your commitment, for everything you do day in and day out, defending the rights of our members, protecting their health and safety and helping to achieve good collective agreements. This has been especially difficult to do throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of you have been providing public services during a very stressful and challenging time, and I want to commend you on your resilience. I especially want to commend the health heroes, who work for the Yukon Hospital Corporation. Many of you had to deal with low staff levels and massive technological changes, all under COVID-19 protocols. As frontline workers, you’re balancing the same childcare, eldercare and remote work issues as many of us, but with greater fear of spreading the virus to the family and your loved ones.

On top of this, you experienced one of the most difficult rounds of bargaining with an employer, who was unwilling to budge and acknowledge the value of your hard work. You put yourself at harm’s way every day for your communities. So, I congratulate you on securing a strong contract, one that has made your workplace safer, late last year. I know that the pandemic has been difficult with travel restrictions and lockdowns and the other necessary public health restrictions put in place. The evidence is clear that vaccinations are the only way to end the pandemic and to stop the rise of new, more aggressive and deadly variants. They are the only way to stop the devastation that has had especially disastrous consequences for those at the greatest disadvantage. That’s lowwage workers, women, indigenous communities, black and racialized people, people with disabilities. Those that are vaccinated are much less likely to contract YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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the virus, much less likely to pass it on; and those who do get it, much less likely to become seriously sick or die.

At the same time, our union has recommendations and concerns about mandatory vaccination policies, such as the one announced by the Yukon Government. We can’t have a policy that overrides our members’ human rights.

We won’t tolerate a vaccination policy to be used as a tool to fire workers. What we need is a policy that sets out fair and clear processes for dealing with exceptions and accommodations. I want, in turn, to commit to you that PSAC will work with YEU and every other PSAC component to protect the rights of our members, their right to a safe workplace, their collective agreement rights, their human rights and their privacy rights. I know I don’t have to convince you of how important it is for us to stay vigilent in our ongoing difficult situation. I, once again, want to thank you for all that you’ve done as a union, as union representatives in your workplaces and communities to help people be safe and all that you keep doing as we struggle again to get through another wave.

This convention comes after a 36-day-long Federal election campaign in the middle of a pandemic, an election most of us did not want; but I am proud to know that many members – like you – still took the time to talk to friends and family about the issues that matter, and most importantly, took the time to cast their vote. Our work does not end on election day. I can tell you that keeping the Liberal Government to account for all their promises they have made will be a top priority for me and our union. We will need your help to ensure they deliver on their promises they made, especially reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening Yukon’s economy, offering pandemic relief for those who are still recovering from the pandemic, making healthcare more patient-focused and creating more affordable housing. We also want to ensure that they are consulting with First Nations communities on all of this work to ensure that truth and reconciliation is a priority for this government.

Another promise we need to hold them to account for is childcare. In the 2021 Federal budget, they confirmed 30 billion over the next five years to build a universal system of childcare. PSAC welcomed this announcement, as this has been a political priority that we’ve been campaigning for for decades. Several agreements were signed with provinces and territories in the months before the election, including the Yukon, which was the third jurisdiction to make a deal with the Federal Government. That agreement provides 10 million over four years to expand the number of regulated, not-for-profit childcare spaces and to reduce parent fees by half. with the commitment of getting to $10 a day within five years.

That’s pretty significant, because in the Yukon, the average daily cost of daycare is about $43 more than $1200 per month, unbelievable. This agreement also provides an additional 2.8 million to support early childcare educator recruitment and retention efforts and to create 110 new childcare spaces within the same timeframe. We also need to follow through on the promise to create childcare that is culturally appropriate for indigenous families. The childcare available now is not accessible, affordable, inclusive or equitable. It’s not enough to have YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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childcare. It has to be high quanlity. I hope YEU can take up this challenge to put pressure on the government to ensure that they follow through. The people of the Yukon deserve to have access to affordable and culturally-relevant childcare, no matter where they live in the Territory. This will be the first new social program since medicare. So, let’s make it what workers – especially women workers – need and want.

Later this year, the collective agreement with the Yukon Government will end, and the bargaining process for these members is already underway; and I want to thank all of you who participated in the YG bargaining input conference held this summer. It is only with your participation that we are able to fight for a fair contract that meets the needs of our members. During that conference, we saw the emerging issues members are facing going into this round of bargaining. The inconsistent use of leave policies, unfair work-from-home decisions and the lack of care for our members’ physical and mental health are top in negotiation priorities for this next round of collective bargaining. I want to congratulate your newly-elected bargaining team and commend them for stepping up to the task.

Bargaining for your fellow members is time-consuming, difficult work that is sometimes made even more challenging with a reluctant employer; and that is why I want to encourge everyone here to enthusiastically support your bargaining team. Unfortunately, good arguments do not win a day in bargaining. It takes the strength and power of the membership to make real gains, and that’s why we must always organize our members to back up the demands that we have on the table. Good contracts are achieved when members we organize demonstrate their support through meaningful and powerful actions, fight from the start.

Bargaining teams, with your support, knowing you have their back, is key to ensuring negotiations are successful and that you get the contract you deserve.

I know organizing members isn’t easy, and it was especially difficult during the pandemic. It’s hard to engage members in conversations to maintain regular communication of any kind, to convince them to get involved, to stand up to the employer, to stay strong and act in solidarity with others; but the fact that conditions make it tougher just means we have to try harder. We must get more creative, but also, more disciplined about teaching members about measuring our progress. We must be more effective in pressuring our employers by using every opportunity to engage members in our union. We must get better at convincing members that they can make change if they join together and fight for better working conditions.

The other thing we must get better at is addressing inequity in this country, as well as our union. The pandemic showed how pervasive and entrenched it is.

Indigenous, black, Asian, other racialized people, experience far higher rates of infection and mortality than others because of health, social and economic inequities. People with disabilities and other vulnerable populations also suffer more. Women experience higher job and pay losses than men and so far, have failed to benefit equally from economic rebound. These gross inequities don’t exist by accident, but by design. It’s our job as a union to expose systemic YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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oppression and reverse it. It’s our job to develop and push for change through collective bargaining. It’s our job to organize disadvantaged workers into our union and give them collective bargaining power to win better wages, benefits and security. It’s our job to campaign for laws and public programs to eliminate the gap between the have and the have-nots. This is why I’m happy to report that the PSAC National Board of Directors now has in place a very ambitious, member-focused antiracism action plan. Members will be able to access training, provide input and help lead the fight against racism in our workplaces. We’re also making changes in our own union. We’ve held anticipation-racism training sessions for the National Board of Directors, and we’re committed to doing more ongoing training. We’re working to roll out more training to all staff, and we’re determined to do everything necessary to eradicate systemic racism in our union.

We’re also working to improve gender equity in our union by implementing recommendations from the PSAC Gender Equity Task Force, which was also approved by the National Board of Directors. Women make up at least 60 percent of PSAC’s membership; and yet, women do not represent 60 percent of the seats of our national union leadership or the bodies. Racialized women, indigenous women, women with disabilities, young women, LGBTQ2+ women are also under-represented, meaning that these voices are absent or not as numerous as they should be when it comes time to decide priorities for allocating resources, shaping our campaigns or other important matters; and this must change. Change, however, just doesn’t come by changing the composition of your leadership, and the task force set out several recommendations to address systemic barriers within our internal structures, as well as fighting for gender equity through everything we do day-to-day, through grievances, workplace campaigns, public campaigns, legal action, representation; and of course, collective bargaining. These findings and recommendations are based on the consultations with hundreds of PSAC women from across the country, which I am confident will help to put gender equity back into the forefront of everything we do.

I know we have to count on YEU’s support as you move forward to implement any anti-racism action plan and the gender equity task force recommendations.

As YEU and PSAC move forward together from this convention, I hope that we can look at how we do our work. I hope that we can come up with ways of doing it that will make us even stronger, united, an active force for positive change.

On that note, I want to be take a moment to recognize your National President, Steve Geick, for his commitment to YEU and to PSAC. Steve has been a critical part of PSAC’s leadership, and I want to thank him for his positive participation at the National Board of Directors and in board committee work. As you know, PSAC REVP for the north, Jack Bourassa, retired this year, and Lorraine Rousseau was elected at the PSAC North convention; and I know that Lorraine is very eager to work with YEU, the leadership, as well as all of you, to find ways for PSAC to support the issues facing YEU members in the workplace and in your communities.

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I know getting through the pandemic has been tough. It has caused so much loss and heartache, but the last year-and-a-half has also been filled with many acts of kindness, compassion, organizing victories and demonstrations of solidarity and strength. Let’s build on that to move forward. There are challenges shared ahead, but YEU, your leadership, your locals and your members will get through the struggles, get stronger and even more united and know that through it all, PSAC is with you. We have your back.

Thank you once again for having me here today, and I hope the next time, we can meet in person. Have a wonderful convention.

Steve Geick thanked Sharon DeSousa and presented her with a gift.

4.0

Introduction – YEU Executive

Steve Geick: All right, moving right along, introduction of the YEU executive. We’ll just start with whoever’s on my left and work our way around the table, and please come up to the mike and introduce yourself, Sherry.

Sherry Masters:

Sherry Masters, Y01A, KVA, I’m a director.

Tony Thomas: Hello, Tony Thomas, I’m Vice-President of Communities, Y010, Community Vice-President.

Derek Yap: University.

Hi everyone, I am Derek Yap, Treasurer, Local Y011, Yukon

Teresa Acheson: I’m Teresa Acheson, and I’m a Board member with YEU. I joined for my second term, starting in 2019. I’m local president of it used to be Y023, now Y046, and I’ve been able to chair the Local Liaison Committee for this last term.

Khairul Alam: Hello, good afternoon, everyone. My name is Khairul Alam, and I am on the executive at YEU, and I am the Chair of the Building Committee, and also, a member of the Public Relations Committee. Thank you, everyone.

Derrick Andersen: Hello, Derrick Andersen, currently with Y025, Whitehorse General Hospital, and I’m on the Board of Directors for YEU. Charlene Smith: Good afternoon, I’m Charlene Smith, delegate 11, YEU executive secretary; also, the Chair of the Public Relations Committee during the last four years. Thank you.

Shawnna Boone: Shawnna Boone of Local Y045, Watson Lake Union, which is the YTG union and Town of Watson Lake mixed together, and I am just recently executive director, thanks.

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Roberta Wurtak: Roberta Wurtak, delegate 6, Local Y017 and Y044, I am the equity director for Yukon Employees’ Union.

Steve Geick: And there you have your existing YEU executive. There is one who is not here, Lisa Keenan. and I think we are trying to bring her in.

Lisa Keenan:

Hi, Steve.

Steve Geick:

Hi, Lisa, would you like to introduce yourself?

Lisa Keenan: I have been a director for YEU executive for three months.

I’m treasurer for Local Y010. I’m on the joint Education, Labour, Management Committee.

Steve Geick: 5.0

Thanks, Lisa.

Adoption of Hours of Session [900-to-1630]

Steve Geick: All right, we will move right along to the adoption of hours of session. The hours of session for today are 9:00 until 4:30; tomorrow, 9:00 until 4:30, and on Friday, 9:00 until end of business. Can I have someone to move and second that, please?

While that’s happening, I just want to thank everybody once again for their patience in this. I think that we’ll find that this moves along quite well after we’ve had a little time doing it.

Motion #02-2021 Motion that the hours of session be adopted as presented.

MOVED: Stephanie Coulthard

SECONDED: Brigitte Parker

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. 6.0

Adoption of Agenda

Steve Geick: Moving along to the adoption of the agenda, can I have a mover and seconder for the adoption of the agenda?

Motion #03-2021 Motion that the agenda be adopted as presented.

MOVED: Charlene Smith YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

SECONDED: Sheri Shuskeski 9

Steve Geick called the question.

Point of Order Stephanie Coulthard: I just wanted to get clear that when voting is open, we don't have an option to discuss in the app. They close the discussion panel. So, if people aren’t able to vote, they need to contact the technical line.

Steve Geick:

Okay, your point is well-taken. Thank you very much.

CARRIED. 7.0

Adoption of Rules of Order

Steve Geick: Moving on to the adoption of the Rules of Order. May I have a mover and a seconder?

Motion #04-2021 Motion that the Rules of Order be adopted as presented.

MOVED: Derrick Andersen

SECONDED: Derek Yap

Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: As we are going through these – it’s actually a point of privilege, not order – because these proceedings are being recorded, do we need to go through this process of actually opening the mikes, or because everyone has signed in and has their names and their motions and seconders recorded in the chat, is that captured? Does that form the record? I’m just trying to see if we can make this voting process more efficient. Thank you.

Steve Geick: Justin, unfortunately, we can’t, because there is also a transcript recording going on, as well, separately. So, we do need to open the mikes to allow people to move and second, and Sharon is nodding at me adamantly, so, yes, we do.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. 8.0 8.1

PSAC Harassment/Scent Free Statements Harassment Policy

Steve Geick: Okay, I would now like to ask Michelle Parsons to read the PSAC harassment statement.

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Michelle Parsons: The PSAC’s statement on harassment: Our union is made strong by members working together to improve our working lives and to preserve the rights that we have struggled to achieve. Mutual respect is the cornerstone of this cooperation. The PSAC Constitution confirms that every member, staff person and non-staff support people, e.g. technicians and interpreters, are entitled to be free from discrimination and harassment, both in the union and at the workplace, on the basis of age, sex, colour, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, marital status, family status, criminal record, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, social and economic class or political belief. Members, staff and non-staff support people are also entitled to be free from psychological harassment.

Content displayed on the event platform, as well as any and all discussions on the platform shall be respectful. Conflict, in and of itself, does not constitute harassment. Rather, harassment includes online bullying, content or language that is threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, indecent or objectionable on the event platform and on any other related electronic network. To be clear, content or discussion of a racist, sexist, ablest homophobic, transphobic or otherwise discriminatory nature will not be tolerated or accepted. Content and discussion must not be offensive, graphically in tone or in nature. Should you experience harassment at this event, contact the identified anti-harassment resource person to discuss the situation. Early and informal resolution processes are strongly encouraged. Whenever possible, members are expected to engage in a respectful dialogue to resolve the matter. The anti- harassment resource persons are available to facilitate this discussion. If this conversation is neither successful nor possible, the appropriate process, as outlined in harassment policies, guidelines, collective agreements, the Constitution and/or regulations will be fully and quickly engaged.

Harassment in all its forms detracts from our common purpose and weakens our union. Let each one of us treat each other with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect.

For this particular event, our anti-harassment resource persons are Jim Crowell, one of our labour relations advisors. His phone number is listed in your materials – or myself. You can either approach me in person if you’re here at the Arts Centre or by phone, and that’s also listed in your materials. Thank you.

Steve Geick: five-minute break.

Thank you, Michelle. We’re going to take an unscheduled

Convention adjourned at 2:50 p.m.

Convention resumed at 3:00 p.m.

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9.0

Ratification of Committees

Steve Geick: Welcome back, everybody. After listening to Justin’s point of privilege, I’d like to test the floor and ask for a mover and a seconder, and the motion would be to allow one vote to ratify all of the committees; and if that motion is successful, then, I will name the committee, the member, and we will have a different vote to actually ratify the committees. So, do we have a mover and a seconder for a motion to ratify all of the committees in a single vote?

Motion #05-2021 Motion to allow one vote to ratify all the committees.

MOVED: Stephanie Coulthard

SECONDED: Sheri Shuskeski

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: Now, I will read off the committees and their names, and then, we will have a poll to adopt them.

So, the Credentials Committee: Charlene Smith is the Chair, and Derrick Andersen is the co-Chair.

Bylaws and Resolutions Committee is Tony Thomas as Chair; Roberta Wurtak as co-Chair; Sherry Masters and Derrick Andersen.

The Finance Committee consists of Derek Yap as Chair and Theresa Acheson as co-Chair.

And the Nominations and Elections Committee consists of Darcy Kasper.

Can you please open the poll?

Sorry, can we have a mover and seconder for this, please?

Motion #06-2021 Motion to ratify all the committees MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Stacey Goegan

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED.

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Steve Geick: Now, we’ll take you to your regularly-scheduled 15-minute break and get things set up so that the Credentials Committee can give a report.

So, we’ll see you in 15 minutes.

Convention adjourned at 3:10 p.m.

Convention resumed at 3:25 p.m.

Steve Geick: report?

Charlene Smith, do you have a Credentials Committee

Charlene Smith:

Yes, I do, Steve.

First Report of Credentials Committee 32 delegates 16 guests 9 staff 2 tech Total 59 Motion #07-2021 Motion to adopt the Credentials Committee Report.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Khairul Alam

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: You were able to say who made the motion, then who seconded it. Usually, that’s in the discussion screen, and there was nothing available to see. So, I was just curious how you could see it, and I cannot. So, I just wanted to note that, thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, give me one second here.

All right, we’ve figured that out. We have two seconders, and it has been moved and seconded twice. So, please open the poll.

Yes, we have a point of something.

Point of Privilege Steve Geick: Point not raised, okay, then. So, now we are voting on the adoption of the Credentials Committee report.

Steve Geick called the question.

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Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: I know that we’ve been at other proceedings where the Credentials Committee has been de facto moved and second by the Chair and Co- chair; and just with an eye to efficiencies, can we adopt that, going forward?

Steve Geick:

Your point is well taken, Justin, and we have, so thank you.

CARRIED. 10.0 Elected Officers’ Reports 10.1 President’s Report Steve Geick: Okay, I am going to now ask Tony Thomas to take the Chair, and we will get into the President’s report.

Steve Geick turned the Chair over to Tony Thomas.

Tony Thomas: report?

Good afternoon, everyone. Can I get a seconder for Steve’s

Point of Privilege Charlene Smith: I’ve just asked the moderator why the credential numbers are so low, that he provide reference to the actual participants list.

Tony Thomas: So, the question is: Charlene wants to know why there are discrepancies in the lists.

Okay, so, with the convention’s indulgence, point well taken. What we’re going to do is we’re going to continue on with the President’s report; and whenever we get clarifications on those credential numbers, we’ll let you know.

Steve, would you like to speak to your report?

Steve Geick:

Very briefly.

Motion #08-2021 Motion to adopt the President’s Report MOVED: Steve Geick

SECONDED:

Steve Geick: What I wanted to speak on is basically just the grievance summary report. You’re going to notice that even though there is an extra year –

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Point of Order Stephanie Coulthard: Don’t we have to second the report before Steve speaks to it?

Tony Thomas: time.

I apologize, Stephanie, I thought I’d got a seconder the first

MOVED: Steve Geick Tony Thomas:

SECONDED: Sheri Shuskeski

Steve, would you like to speak to your report?

Steve Geick: Yes, I will continue speaking to my report. So, the only thing I wanted to bring to people’s attention was the grievance summary report. There is an extra year included in this, because it was a four-year term; but if you look at the numbers, you will see significant increases in a number of things that are important to note. When you look at the group grievances, that has basically doubled if you take out that last year. Policy grievances are up by a third. So, what that says to me is that we are getting more people involved; and the fact that we are doing more policy grievances is a good thing.

Health and safety training and awareness, an increase again there. Some of these things might be attributed to COVID actually, the number of grievances. because let’s face it, we’ve been working through a whole different world in these last two years at least. And so, I want to just give a little shout out to the health and safety committees, the members who are bringing these things to our attention; because once again, like everything we do, unless we actually hear about them, we can’t do much about them. So, congratulations to everybody who’s jumped on that bandwagon for allowing us to take these matters on.

And that is all I have to say about my report.

10.1.1 Questions & Comments – President Tony Thomas:

The floor is open for any questions for Steve.

So, I’m not seeing any questions for Steve, so can we open up the vote to accept Steve’s report?

Tony Thomas called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick resumed the Chair.

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10.2 1st Vice-President’s Report Steve Geick: Thank you, brother. Do I have a seconder for Tony Thomas’ report as the Community – Point of Privilege Roberta Wurtak: I was just wondering if it’s possible to avoid using ‘brother’ and ‘sister’.

Steve Geick: Point well taken, thank you, Roberta; if people could refer to each other by either their first name or pronoun that someone has suggested for themselves, then we will keep our eyes on that and do that. Thanks, Roberta.

So, now, we need a seconder for Tony Thomas’ report.

Motion #09-2021 Motion to adopt the report of the 1st Vice-President.

MOVED: Tony Thomas Steve Geick:

SECONDED: Derrick Andersen

Tony, would you like to speak to your report?

Tony Thomas : Briefly; it’s been said already, but I’d like to pass along my condolences to the affected victims in Faro. I was just in Faro last week. It’s really hard to process, but once again, I’d like to pass along my condolences to those people who were affected.

When I first took this position in 2014, it was basically from scratch. From 2014 to the present, it’s not where we, as YEU, wants it to be, but it’s progressing quite well, and that’s due to probably some of the additions we have that have made things a lot better for me as a person who’s trying to integrate our members in the communities to be union. So, one of the things we’ve done at YEU is we’ve hired an education officer, Lynne Pajot, who has been exceptional for us in terms of her course content and the ability to communicate. So, for that, I have noticed the uptick in participation with my members in the union, and one of the great things is the fact that Lynne has been able to come to the communities. I know she has been to Dawson twice. She’s been to Watson Lake, and she’s made commitments to go to other communities or bring people in. Let’s say, for instance, I think it was two years ago in November, we had stuff in Dawson, and we were able to bring people in from Mayo and people in from Old Crow. So, that’s one of the things I’m really happy about in terms of where we’re progressing as an organization in terms of trying to make the union whole by bringing in the communities; and not only that, we’re starting to see community people actually taking notice and wanting to be part of it. Our current executive has two members from the communities, one from Watson Lake and one from Dawson, and that’s the only way we’re going to grow this thing is to try to get YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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people on the executive and see how we, as an organization, operate and work for our members.

There’s lots of work to do yet. Like I said, it’s not where I want it to be, but I am happy with the progression. What I’m really happy with is more or less… I’m trying to articulate myself and not say the wrong thing actually. So, I’m trying to make sure I do this right. We’re starting to make our union more reflective of society. When I look at our executive, it’s quite cross-cultural. We have probably more women sitting on our executive than we do have males. Am I right, Steve?

Steve Geick:

Yes.

Tony Thomas: So, I’m pretty happy about that. Like I said, as far as the community work is concerned, lots of work to be done yet. I’m sure there are people I miss on my tours, but I make myself readily available. My number is out there if you ever have to talk to me, text me, phone me, come by. Whatever you need to do, I’ll be there for you. Other than that, thank you for your support in these past four years.

10.2.1 Questions & Comments – 1st Vice-President Steve Geick:

Thank you. Are there any questions for Tony on his report?

(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: Now, because the Finance Committee report is next and that entails the audited financial statements and two years’ worth of budgets, I am going to move that on until tomorrow unless people want to be here until ten o’clock tonight.

Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: So, I notice that there is the absence of an elected official’s report, and I noted that there are some details that might be in the purview for the Health Committee that we cannot discuss. However, for the benefit of transparency, especially for folks who are new to this convention, I would like to see some kind of statement and recognition from the executive about why we are missing an elected official’s report.

Steve Geick: Absolutely, the report that Justin is referring to is that of the Vice-President, who was Paul Johnson, and Paul resigned from both his YEU position and his Yukon Government position. I believe the date was August 14th, YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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somewhere in the middle of August. So, that is why there is no report from the Vice-President.

Point of Privilege Steve Geick: So, if the delegation would grant me a minute here, we have a request from Gerard Tremblay, who, I believe, is the Chair of the PSAC Equity Committee, and he has a quick – sorry Access Committee, not Equity Committee, and Gerard would like to have 10 minutes of our time.

So, if we can open up a mike for the interpreter.

You have the floor, Gerard.

Gerard Tremblay: My name is Gerard Tremblay, and I work for Highways and Public Works. I’m a carpenter, and I am Chair for the Access Committee. Many people don’t know or maybe are unsure what the word ‘access’ means, access for people with disabilities, people who need support in the workplace, equality; and how access happens, that’s what we discuss in our committee.

I wanted to talk about and tell you about the Access Committee now that I’ve been on that I think it’s five years now. Before I was a member, and I had a lot of things to learn, and then, I started considering things; and as the process went on, I understood more and more and more. I also started improving and making gains and seeing this as our committee and I enjoyed this process and working together with the Access Committee. I have learned so much. The people and the members I work with are very great. We have a great support for each other, and it’s been an amazing process.

I wanted to ask people who have disabilities that work within the union, I need to lobby for more members. We need more members to join our Access Committee.

We need more people who understand. Maybe, you know, have ideas and feedback about accessibility, which would help our membership. I’d really appreciate it if we could have more members join our Access Committee.

I want to really thank Barb Fayant. She’s been involved with us and been a tremendous support with technology and with her ideas and her opinions. She has just been an amazing woman to work with, with such strong support for our membership; and that’s all I have to say. Thank you, everyone.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Gerard.

So, that brings us to the end of the day. Before we all sign off, I personally want to thank all of you for giving me a little leniency here. I’ve never stared at so many electronic devices and so many people putting thumbs up. I wasn’t sure if people were cheering or what was going on.

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So, I’m expecting tomorrow will be much better and run smoothly. So, go and have a good night. Please take the time – if you haven’t already – to look through the budgets. And I just want to make mention that the audited statements are audited statements, and we cannot make any changes to those audited statements. So, they will be up for approval. Discussion is fine, but there really is not a lot of debate to happen. So, please take that into consideration with the audited financial statements. And we shall see you back here at nine o’clock tomorrow morning; and once again, thank you for your patience. You have been great. Have a good night.

Convention adjourned at 4:05 p.m. until October 28, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

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Convention resumed October 28, 2021.

10.3 Finance Committee Report Steve Geick: …a few things to say. I know for sure that we have one delegate registered that has identified as youth, and youth is 35 and under. We do have a youth spot for a director on our executive, and it would be really helpful if there are any other youth out there – people who are under 35 – if they could let us know that they are delegates and identify as youth.

We’re going to start back in shortly. The Finance Committee will be up first. That will cover off Derek Yap, the Chair, and Treasurer report all in one fell swoop; and then, we will go back to getting in on the directors’ reports.

So, with no further ado, I call this session to order. May I have the Finance Committee up?

Sorry, yes, before we get there, we will do the Credentials Report.

Just everybody hold on for five minutes, please. Thank you.

Good morning once again. Thanks for that little break. Again, you guys are being great with your patience. We had a little lighting issue.

Anyway, we’re ready to get started again. So, the report of the Credentials Committee for this morning...

Derrick Andersen: Co-Chair of the Credentials Committee. Just a breakdown, delegates will be in one category; guests, YEU staff and techs will be in a second.

Second Report of Credentials Committee 52 delegates 22 guests, staff and techs Total 74 Motion #10-2021 Motion to adopt the Credentials Committee Report.

MOVED: Derrick Andersen

SECONDED: Roberta Wurtak

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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10.4 Treasurer’s Report Steve Geick: Now, we will move on to the Treasurer’s report and the budget. Just before, I just want one more time to remind people that the audited financial statements are audited financial statements. They can’t be debated. If you have questions about them, that is fine.

Chair of the committee.

Derek Yap: Good morning, everyone. I want to start by saying it’s been an honour and privilege to be the Treasurer over the last term, and I want to thank the executive for helping me out and standing by me, and I especially acknowledge Teresa Acheson for being a sharp second pair of eyes and helping me get through all of these preparations.

On the staff side, I really want to thank Tammy Olsen and Michelle Parsons for helping us out and for making some slight changes to the presentation so that it makes understanding what we’re doing with our money a lot easier. So, thank you so much for that.

Also, another thing is that the staff worked really hard to build some new agreements and arrangements. So, now, we have a formal arrangement with the YEU Building Association that puts out very specifically the funding arrangement between us and them. So, there’s just a lot more clarity, openness and transparency; and I hope to uphold that with the presentation of this report.

So, to start, basically in summary, I just wanted to say that there will be no dues increase for the next term, and we don't plan any deficits, and we have a complete balanced budget across the board up until 2023/2024; and we have the audited financial statements from 2017/2018-to-2020/2021 underneath the ‘financials’ tab, tab 3 in the convention binder. It’s the first entry. I’m not going to take a large amount of time covering these, because as Steve said earlier, they’ve already been audited. They’re not up for debate, and they basically show a true accounting of the way the money has come in and gone out of our organization.

I will take questions, though, if you have any, and I thought I would start with just the last statement for the year ended March 31st, 2021. That’s the last entry.

Thank you, Teresa mentioned if you have questions, you might want to mention that in a discussion tab. You can state you’re lining up to the mike.

So, I’m just going to scroll down to the first page. Justin has raised a point.

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Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: Just looking for some clarification here. We heard in the preamble – thank you, Derek, for that – that there was not going to be a dues increase. However, I just want to check my understanding here that if the convention votes on a resolution, which amounts to a dues increase that we might actually see a dues increase. So, can you please comment on that and provide some clarity?

Derek Yap: Thank you for the question, Justin. Yes, for the biggest spending that we have planned, which is the creation of one new LRA position and the possible creation of a second LRA liaison shop steward position, we’ve already built that into the upcoming budgets. So, that’s already reflected, and there is a resolution that asks for $100,000 to explore the possibility of us acquiring a new building, and that is also built into the budget. We have a really fortunate position, in that we have a lot of cash flow, and so, we’re able to accommodate those two large spending items. I don't believe that many of the other resolutions come with a price tag. I think perhaps when we’re doing resolutions debate, then we can discuss that matter further; and if needed – Point raised.

Point of Order Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I’ve tried to follow along on the screen, like, opening up another tab. Is it possible to share-screen the document that we’re looking at so that we can follow along? I just don’t want to get booted out again. Thank you so much.

Steve Geick: Okay, I’m getting the nod that that isn’t possible. It is confirmed that is impossible. Sorry about that, Lisa.

Derek Yap: Yes, I’m sorry, everyone, but technically, it’s not possible for us to share the documents on-screen. So, I’ll just take my time, and please identify if you’re having any problems accessing documents, and we’ll pause until everyone is together in this.

So, going back to the presentation, like I was saying, I just wanted to look at the 2021 audited financial statement and take us through right on page 1 in the Statement of Financial Position, under ‘assets’, you can see in the first line in 2020, our cash position was $567,000 more or less. In 2021, our financial position is $872,000. So, you can see that our cash position is doing quite well.

If you scroll down to the next page, you can take a look at the revenues tab; and underneath you can see in 2020 the actual revenue coming in from dues was 2.791 million dollars. We budgeted in 2021 for a 2.5 million dollar intake from membership dues, but we actually ended up getting 2.81 million dollars. So, that YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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$300,000 extra money that we received in dues accounts for the increase in cash flow that we have.

Okay, if we can take time and perhaps e-mail these reports to delegates, would that be possible just so they can follow them off-line?

Steve Geick:

Give me one second.

Derek Yap:

The financial documents, the ones under the financial tab.

Speaker: If we do a screen-share, we can only screen-share one document at a time. Would you like to screen-share the current document?

Derek Yap: Yes, that would work. This is the audited financial statement for 2021. So, the coordinators of this convention are trying to share the document that I’m speaking to at the moment, and we’ll take time – as I switch documents – to share those documents as we move through the presentation. Again, if you have any questions or if you’re having difficulties, please place your comments in the discussion tab, and we’ll make sure everything works together.

Steve Geick: So, while we’re waiting for that to happen, yesterday we mentioned that hopefully, we will have some time to have a discussion around COVID and the statement and policy grievance that we filed last week; and so, by end of day, we’ll have a good idea of the available time. I think – if things go the way they’re looking they’re going to be going – we will have time tomorrow after lunch at some point. Not guaranteed, but we’re going to try.

Derek Yap: So, I’m just asking the facilitator to scroll all the way down past the auditor’s report. Okay, yes, you can see there’s the current cash position that I spoke to.

If you could continue to scroll down, please, down to the next page underneath the signature line to the Statement of Operations. Yes, just scroll down a little bit more, please. Sorry, up to revenues, that’s it. So, there in front of you, you can see the numbers I was reporting under the ‘membership dues’ and how in the first column is the budget line. We basically made very conservative estimates when we were creating this budget as an executive, because we didn't have a chance to take it to convention. So, here we are, and you can see we budgeted for a 2.53 million dollar intake, but we actually received 2.8, and that is why we have the cash flow. That should cover off the two most costly resolutions that we are presenting this convention.

So, Teresa has reminded me that we should go through all of the audited financial statements in turn so we can vote and approve them all. So, I will open the floor again for any questions that you may have for these audited financial statements.

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Basically what you see there in the 2021 statement is very similar to the ones that appear in 2018, ’19 and ’20. The arrangement of the financials is the same, and each statement – in turn – has been audited by Avery and Cooper.

Steve Geick: I’ll give everybody 30 seconds or so to digest that and any comments again or questions, and then, we’ll move on to adopting them.

(No audible response) Derek Yap: Yes, with the permission of the delegates, I think we may have to create a motion to accept all four financial statements at one time. So, could we do that, from March 2017-to-March 2021?

Motion #11-2021 Motion to accept the four audited financial statements from March 2017-to-March 2021 with one vote.

MOVED: Derek Yap

SECONDED: Lisa Vollans-Leduc

Steve Geick called the question.

Point of Order Charlene Smith:

I had seconded the motion prior to Lisa Vollans-Leduc.

Steve Geick: Okay, I’m just getting a response from our technical advisor on my right here. That was noted. Unfortunately, you couldn’t get it up on the screen. So, point well taken, thank you.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the Committee?

Derek Yap: statements.

Okay, I thank the delegates for bundling the audited financial

Motion #12-2021 Motion to accept the four audited financial statements from March 2017-to-March 2021, as presented.

MOVED: Derek Yap

SECONDED: Teresa Acheson

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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Derek Yap: Thank you, everyone. So, let’s move on to the second part now. So, if you move out of the audited financial statements and look at the convention 2021 budget forecast, maybe I’ll take some time to have that forecast put up on the screen as a share, please.

The video is not working according to the discussion tab.

Steve Geick: Once again, I just want to thank everybody for the patience that you’re showing. This is all new to us, and it’s definitely a challenge, and we seem to be working through it as best we can. So, again, please have some patience. There we go, look at that. Ask for something; it arrives.

Derek Yap: Okay, delegates you should be able to see the budget forecast. As I mentioned earlier, the first column – the 2021/’22 budget was…

So, delegates, I ask for your patience, then, until you actually see the budget forecast on the screen.

Steve Geick: And just to be clear, this is something that Upstream have had to figure out in the last 10 minutes. So, thanks, Jeff, for getting it done quickly.

Derek Yap: Okay, delegates, it appears that the forecast is now on your screen in front of you. There’s no need to scroll. It’s all here in one place. So, just to reiterate, in the 2021/’22 tab, the executive worked together to already approve this budget; and then, we were able to work through the numbers for 2022/2023, and then, 2023/2024, which will move us into our next cycle.

Basically, what we have is an expected surplus from this budget year, moving into 2022/’23, and there will be a slight surplus in our last year, 2023/’24; but as I said earlier, we have a balanced budget scenario here, even taking into account the new positions and the proposal for the new building, and it’s a much better position than what we were in the last convention, where we contemplated deficit budgets. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but even though we predicted deficit budgets in our last convention cycle, in reality, what happened is that we actually accumulated surpluses.

That has a lot to do with us not having many expenses due to COVID. We had a healthy dues intake year-over-year, and we had a fairly good performance with the investments that we undertook.

Taking you all back to 2017 when Teresa was Treasurer, she spent some time talking about how we were going to adopt the new investment model for surplus funds that we had in our accounts. Rather than paying RBC a set fee for basically no extra investment revenue, we switched accounts to Wood Gundy. Wood Gundy is the company that PSAC National deals with. They helped us out a lot, and through their advice, it enabled us to take the money that we have in our accounts and generate more revenue from there. So, that revenue from YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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investments also helps us maintain our strike fund and make sure it’s very strong in case there are any problems that way, and it also gives us some leeway to think about increasing positions at the YEU Hall and for us to consider a new building. [unintelligible] Derek Yap: I apologize if people are unable to see the report on their screens. You can still access it through your convention binder from the main screen.

10.4.1 Questions & Comments – Treasurer Derek Yap: forecast.

At this point, I’ll open the floor to questions about this budget

Steve Geick: discussion tab.

Are there any questions for Derek? Please put them in the

All right, one more time, because the next thing we’re going to do is adopt those budgets. So, if anyone has any questions, please put them into the discussion tab.

Derek Yap: So, I’m just going to check with the Chair of Convention. I had a chance to move this motion already, and Teresa already had a chance to second it, is that correct?

Steve Geick:

That is correct.

Motion #13-2021 Motion to adopt the budgets as presented.

MOVED: Derek Yap

SECONDED: Teresa Acheson

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: We’ll stand down the Finance Committee, and if everybody wants to take a five-minute break, we will then…

Basically, the finance is the Treasurer’s Report. So, in adopting the budgets and the audited financial statements and Derek’s intro, that compiles the Treasurer’s Report.

So, if everybody could take just a quick five-minute break, and then, we’ll start back in with directors’ reports.

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Convention adjourned.

Convention resumed.

Steve Geick: The Treasurer’s report was up next. Charlene is on her way.

So, what we’re going to do is hold off on Charlene’s report until she gets here; and the next report up is Teresa.

11.0 Directors’ Reports 11.1 Director Acheson’s Report Steve Geick:

Do we have a seconder for Teresa’s report?

Motion #14-2021 Motion to adopt Director Teresa Acheson’s report.

MOVED: Teresa Acheson Steve Geick:

SECONDED: Lisa Vollans-Leduc

Teresa, would you like to speak to your report?

Teresa Acheson: Yes, I’ll briefly speak to my report. I was glad to join the executive again partway through this term in 2019. If you remember, I was at the last convention, and I had sat as Treasurer by the end of it and decided I needed to take a break to help my local through bargaining time.

We got that done, and then, there was an opportunity for me to rejoin the executive in 2019, and I have enjoyed the time again back with the executive and working together for the members of YEU; and it’s definitely been challenging with COVID, and of course, an additional year served by all the executive members. And I specifically want to thank the rest on the Board that started their term with just three years and stuck it out to finish the four years that was needed so we could have this convention. And it’s been wonderful to work alongside such a dedicated group of individuals, who really do take to heart what we can do for the membership.

11.1.1 Questions & Comments – Director Acheson’s Report Steve Geick: Are there any questions for Teresa on her report? Please note in the discussion tab.

Seeing no comments in the discussion tab, can we have the poll, please?

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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11.2

Director Masters’ Report

Steve Geick:

Do we have a seconder for Sherry’s report?

Motion #15-2021 Motion to adopt Director Sherry Masters’ report.

MOVED: Sherry Masters Steve Geick:

SECONDED: Justin Lemphers

Sherry, would you like to speak to your report?

Sherry Masters: Briefly; I’ve really enjoyed being a director for the last year Seeing how YEU worked, being on committees, the Education Committee, it was fascinating, and being able to help to put courses forward for the membership and education and watching how hard the executive works for its members, and that’s it. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Sherry.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 11.3

Director Alam’s Report

Steve Geick: So, the next report we have is that of Khairul and the Building Committee. Just to let you know, Khairul has taken over the Building Committee just in the last little while. So, the report is written by Richard Wagner, who was the Chair of the committee. So Khairul.

Motion #16-2021 Motion to adopt Director Khairul Alam’s report.

MOVED: Steve Geick:

Khairul Alam

SECONDED: Daryl Stenson

Khairul, would you like to speak to the report?

Khairul Alam: Hello, everyone, I am Khairul, Chair of the Building Committee. So, we have made many improvements to the YEU hall during the past four years. The following has been done in the union hall: all windows have been replaced with triple, low-E argon gas. Many windows were leaking and were past their prime. Three contractors were phoned for a price. Our current windows have a rating of only 3.4-inch insulation factor. The new ones will have 7.3-R rating. It won’t take long to recoup the original cost over time through savings on heating costs, and it will make our offices a lot quieter for our staff.

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Our exterior doors on the main entrance were replaced and all handicap operators were replaced front and back.

Roof leaking in the Executive Director’s office was fixed, and the wall repaired.

Minimum mold as found and was removed.

The lift elevator was serviced and repaired. Only general maintenance was required.

Yukon Air Care did an air quality test in the hall, and all ducts were cleaned out, and all filters were replaced.

Smoke detectors have been installed throughout the building.

Bike rack was installed on the north side of the building. Also, we have installed one mailbox beside the bike rack.

New door sweeps were installed on the exterior door in the Lucy Jackson room.

Flags and all exterior lighting were inspected and bulbs were replaced.

Building Condition Assessment report was done in conjunction with PSAC and was performed by WSP Canada Inc. from Vancouver. Key findings were as follows: Elevator needs fixing. That is done. Kitec piping in building needs to be replaced.

The previous Executive Director had joined a lawsuit in Canada against the manufacturer regarding that Kitec piping system.

HVAC controls systems are problematic and need to be addressed in the future.

The overall condition of the building is in serviceable condition.

Mechanical Engineering Services did a full evaluation of the HVAC system. The following was recommended: VOC concerns in the downstairs office: Remedy is increase the airflow exchanges in downstairs.

No heat or air exchanges in the office upstairs: Remedy is install heat and air exchange.

Humidity in the whole building is too low: Remedy is install humidifier in building, integrated in the controls.

Meet all the ASHRA and CCOHS requirements as per the regulations.

Thank you, this is my report. So, have a good day.

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11.3.1 Questions & Comments – Director Alam’s Report Steve Geick: discussion tab.

Are there any questions for Khairul? Please put them into the

Justin Lemphers:

Heh, Khairul, thanks for the report.

Khairul Alam:

Yes.

Justin Lemphers: Before I ask the first question, I just want to say I’m very pleased with the bike rack. It has been several years – when was I first on executive? It goes back a while. I think it was 2011 when Steve was first elected, but it’s been a long time coming. So, I’m very pleased to see that.

Khairul Alam:

Yes.

Justin Lemphers: However, the bike rack makes me think about the climate emergency that we are in; and I don't want to ask what considerations YEU has put into making the building more energy efficient in terms of supplementing to the power supply. I think I want to ask instead how that’s progressing, because I really hope there’s progress in there. So, I don’t know if that’s something you can speak to, Khairul, or if that’s a question for Steve; but I’m just looking for some kind of indication that there is consideration into reducing the energy footprint of the building beyond fixes like the windows. Thank you.

Khairul Alam: Because the thing is this building is too old, and if we cannot save energy, we will pay more money on utilities, heating bills, unnecessary spending. So, we have to stop it. That’s why we did it.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. I appreciate that. It’s more I’m looking at has there been an investigation into solar? If so, is that information available for the membership, or is the building in its current state not suited for it? I’m just looking for some more indication that the executive and YEU – as an organization – are taking proactive steps to reduce its energy footprint beyond the – they’re not cosmetic, but the structural fixes. Thank you.

Khairul Alam: Exactly as I have said, the building is too old; but there are still some issues in the building. So, we are in progress to solve those problems, like, water; because it’s already in my report that it is piping issues, some piping leaking; and the ventilation, we will have to look forward into it.

So, Steve, do you want to add to this?

Steve Geick: Sure, Khairul. Thanks for the question, Justin. During the process of having the building assessed, there were several suggestions put in by the company that did it, including solar panels and that type of thing. The YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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decision was made to not go forward with those improvements right now. We are looking at – as you will see, there will be a resolution coming up to allow the Building Committee to spend some money, looking at different options; because the building as it stands, we have outgrown it severely. We have people – another benefit of COVID – if you will – is that people have been able to alternate when they’re coming in and when they’re working from home.

So, it has been discussed, and at this point, because we will be moving into a new building, that we will not be doing solar panels. Some of the other changes that will be made that will help with that are adjustments to the HVAC system and that type of thing. So, we did consider it.

Justin, supplemental?

Justin Lemphers: Yes, thank you for that explanation, both Khairul and Steve.

The only following concern that I have is just when was the assessment done, because where we are in our climate emergency, I strongly feel that we need to be considering the cost of inaction versus the cost – I know that there’s a requirement to be diligent with members’ funds. There’s also a cost to the environment and to the sustainability of life on this planet, and if we are going to be a leading labour organization – as we have been – I would hope that the cost of inaction is calculated in some way, shape or form, and it’s not purely a financial determination of whether or not this is affordable now. If there are measures that can be taken in the interim, that those are examined and given consideration. And I’m not saying that the committee has not done that work. I’m just saying that I’m not aware.

Steve Geick: Thanks for the question, Justin. Yes, there are ongoing things that we are taking into consideration; and up until the time – well, there are a few things in play, and it is not just a financial question. So, what we are doing is – like I said – we will be looking for a new building. That is not to say that we will not implement some of the – and I’m sorry, I don’t have the report in front of me, so I can’t tell you exactly when it was done. I believe it was done within maybe two-and-a-half years, and that’s just a guess. Sorry, I don’t have the actual number, but the recommendations are being looked at; and again, I don’t have the report in front of me, so I can’t tell you exactly what those are – I can get that information – but they will be implemented. This isn’t just a financial decision, because it’s going to cost too much to install solar panels on the roof when we’re looking at selling the building. That’s just an example. So, I hope that answers your question.

Supplemental, Justin?

(No audible response) Steve Geick:

Okay, I’m going to take the silence as no supplemental.

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Are there any other questions in the discussion?

Justin Lemphers: So, thank you for that explanation. I really appreciate it. Now I’m just looking for reassurance that the new building design, that energy efficiency and all possible mitigation is being built into the concept so that maybe – because Canada has so few net zero buildings, maybe you could be the leader and actually have the first labour net zero building.

Steve Geick: Thanks for that, Justin, and yes, that will all be taken into consideration. It will depend somewhat on whether…

So, the resolution that calls for some funding to the Building Committee, this is to look at options, potential designs, that type of thing; and once we have approval to move ahead on that, there will be a committee formed, and that is going to be one of the things that is very, very high – if not the highest – priority in what we do, whether we build or lease. I fully agree with you we are part of this climate crisis, and we do need to set an example. So, thanks for your questions and comments.

All right, I’m just going to check and see if there are any other questions.

(No audible response) All right, seeing nobody else at the mike, can we please have a poll for the acceptance of Khairul’s report?

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: All right, we’re going to take our morning 15-minute break now, and when we return, we will start with the Secretary’s Report. Thank you very much once again for your patience. Thank you.

Convention adjourned.

Convention resumed.

10.5 Secretary’s Report Steve Geick: Welcome back. The next order of business is the Secretary’s Report. Do we have a seconder for Charlene’s report?

Motion #17-2021 Motion to adopt Director Charlene Smith’s report.

MOVED: Charlene Smith YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

SECONDED: Roberta Wurtak 32

Steve Geick:

Charlene, would you like to speak to your report?

Charlene Smith: Yes, I would, thank you. Good morning, I’ve been your executive secretary for the last four years. My report is pretty thorough as to the activities that I have participated in; but I do want to say that whoever is our next Chair on the Public Relations Committee, I do hope that they will work just as hard as the current committee has in new initiatives, the projects, such as the Laundry Project. We would really like to see that back up and running. It’s been affected by COVID, and we’ve had to look at reinventing the program a little bit; but I do hope that that program specifically can happen again, because it was very well valued by our community. Thank you.

Steve Geick: Are there any questions for Charlene? If there are, please use the discussion tab.

(No audible response) Seeing no requests in the discussion tab, can we have the poll, please?

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 10.6 Equity Director’s Report Steve Geick: The next report we’re going to move on to is that of the Equity Director, Roberta Wurtak. Do we have a seconder for Roberta’s report?

Motion #18-2021 Motion to adopt Director Roberta Wurtak’s report.

MOVED: Roberta Wurtak Steve Geick:

SECONDED: Shawnna Boone

Roberta, would be you like to speak to your report?

Roberta Wurtak: Yes, just briefly; so, it’s been, like, a really wonderful four years, working with the team. We’ve become a family over the four years, and I did try to document as much as I could some of the things that I have done; but speaking to other people, I realize I’ve missed a lot of stuff. So, it’s been a really busy four years. We’ve been COVID-hit. Then the children were found, and it just caused, like, a lot of my job to get really crazy busy for a while. I was sitting on many different committees, because as the Equity Director, I feel it’s really important that you sit on as many committees as you can. So, like, I was working a lot with the Indigenous Committee, and it was just really a big struggle at times to try to support the members in YEU; but we’re here after four years, and we’re all still in one piece. We’ve survived COVID. We’ve learned a lot more skills. I’ve YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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learned a lot of leadership skills, working with YEU, the executive, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next few years.

Steve Geick:

Are there any questions for Roberta?

(No audible response) All right, there is nobody at their mikes.

Point of Order Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I just would really like to thank you, Roberta, for what you bring to the table with Yukon Employees’ Union and all the hard work that goes into being an Equity representative for the entire component. You’re a wonderful human being, and I value your perspective. I have a lot of respect for you taking that time, knowing the work that you do and the number of committees that you have also committed to in order to fully represent equity for Yukon Employees’ Union. It’s very much appreciated, and thank you so much.

Roberta Wurtak:

Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Can we have the poll up, please?

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: We’re now going to call the Resolutions Committee up. One thing I now have, my technical advisors to my right. So, the committee of four will not be able to be seated and maintain social distancing. So, what you will see is Tony Thomas, the Chair, and Roberta Wurtak, the co-Chair.

12.0

Resolutions Committee Report

Steve Geick: Once again, we haven’t done this virtually before. So, your continued patience will be much appreciated during the resolutions debate.

Chair of the committee.

Tony Thomas: Good morning, everyone. All the resolutions and bylaws today will be moved by myself ahead of time. I’m assisted by Roberta Wurtak. I’ll get to it right away.

So, for some of you who are using your hard copy, it’s Tab Number 4, and it’s the purple section in your book. So, let’s play bingo.

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So, the first resolution is Number G5, and the title is: Yukon Community Women’s Shelter – no, sorry.

My apologies.

Steve Geick: Sorry, there’s just a little bit of confusion, because Tony is working off a paper copy, which doesn’t have the same…

One second, please.

Resolution #B1 Tony Thomas: So, we’ve rectified the issue. So, my apologies, we’ll start with Resolution B1. The title is: Resolution 8, Section 2.

The originator is Yukon Regional Women’s Committee.

The language of origin is E. I will not be reading out the ‘whereas’. So, I will only be reading out the ‘be it resolved’: YEU Regulations be amended to include notification from YEU to RWC [Regional Women’s Committee] while others are notified for Bargaining input and Bargaining Conferences for the respective Bargaining units.

The committee’s recommendation is concurrence.

The rationale: Notification ensures time is given for submissions.

Steve Geick: All right, is there any debate on Resolution B1? Please indicate in the discussion tab.

There are a number. So, we’ll just get that settled, and then, we’ll…

All right, first up we have Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. Just a clarification, I wrote ‘debate’, but I actually meant motion. So, I’d like to make a motion to amend.

Steve Geick: All right, give us a second here. Actually, Justin, you’re making a motion to refer back with instruction?

Justin Lemphers:

Yes, thank you, a motion to refer back with instruction.

Steve Geick:

Can you slowly say what the instructions are?

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Justin Lemphers: The instruction would be to expand from Regional Women’s Committee to all committees.

Steve Geick:

All right, give me one second, Justin.

All right, we will take that into consideration, and we will return with an answer.

What I’m trying to check on is whether or not the other committees are mentioned, and that will take a few minutes.

So, you have a motion before you to refer back to the committee with instructions. Those instructions are to expand – and correct me if I’m wrong, Justin – to expand notification to all PSAC committees.

Justin Lemphers:

Yes, correct.

Motion #19-2021 Motion to refer Resolution B1 back to committee.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Daryl Stenson

Steve Geick called the question to refer back.

Point of Order Teresa Acheson: This changes the intent of the resolution; and if you look at that section of the regulations, in that section of the regulations, there’s already wording in there that speaks about Regional Women’s Committees being able to send delegates to bargaining groups. This resolution was just to add notification, but I don't believe we can actually change the regulations, and I guess, change the intent of the resolution.

Steve Geick: Thank you, your point is well-taken. That’s what I was trying to determine, because I don’t have the regulations in front of me.

So, if I can beg the floor’s indulgence until I can confirm that, which I will do right quickly. We’ll just hold that motion; because, in fact, if the Regional Women’s Committee is the only one that is mentioned, then this would, in fact, change the intent. So, let me confirm that, and we’ll get back to you.

Point of Order Justin Lemphers: Thank you. Point of order, just to speak to the previous point of order, my understanding is that a motion to refer back to committee must not substantially change. However, it can broaden a resolution. I do not believe that adding additional committees substantially changes the resolution. It still includes YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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the Regional Women’s Committees. It just adds additional committees, whether or not they are already explicity stated in terms of notification. Thank you.

Steve Geick: Thank you for that, Justin, point well taken. We will review that right now. I’m just going to consult with my technical advisor.

After conferring with Sharon DeSousa, the point is not well taken. It does not include anything in the definition of or glossy of terms, that broadening the resolution is considered to be a change.

Supplemental, Justin?

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. So, just coming back to the original idea here, I don’t understand how – and I’m asking for the Chair’s indulgence with an explanation here – I don’t understand how adding additional notifications to other committees would defeat the original intent, which is notification to the Regional Women’s Committee.

Steve Geick: By introducing other committees, when the resolution speaks directly to the Regional Women’s Committee, by adding more committees to that resolution, it is deemed to be changing the intent.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you for that explanation. At this point, I think I will challenge the Chair.

Steve Geick: challenge.

All right, the Chair has been challenged. Please state your

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. With the indulgence of people listening in, the reason that I am challenging the Chair is because my interpretation of both the original resolution and the direction that we’ve received from the Chair is that there is no fundamental change to the original resolution, that simply notifying additional committees expands the impact. It does not limit, and therefore, I’m looking for support from the floor to support the challenge on the Chair’s ruling.

Thank you.

Steve Geick: All right, you have a challenge to the Chair. The Chair’s explanation has been that the resolution is specific to the Yukon Regional Women’s Committee and by expanding that, it is not broadening the resolution and is not part of that rule. So, the Chair’s decision is that changes to the resolution would constitute a change to the intent. So, this may take a second, because we’re going to need to create a poll. So, if you can just indulge for a few seconds…

Justin Lemphers: If I might while the poll is being created, Steve, would you please kindly explain the mechanics to our new delegates about what will happen?

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Steve Geick: Absolutely; if the Chair is upheld, then, the changes that were suggested would not be in order; and if the floor agrees with the challenge, then it would accepted.

Just give me one second.

It needs to have a seconder to it, so would someone like to second Justin’s challenge.

Motion #20-2021 Motion to challenge the Chair’s decision that referring Resolution B1 back to committee is out of order.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Lisa Vollans-Leduc

Steve Geick called the question on the challenge to the Chair’s decision.

So, just for everyone’s information, this vote will require just a simple majority.

Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: Thank you. I’m hearing some concern from delegates about what they’re actually voting on. So, I would request that we roll back the vote, because there are some delegates that don’t understand the process of supporting either the motion or the recommendation of the Chair. So, if it’s possible – and I’m not sure it is at this point – can the delegates get a fullsome explanation of the mechanics here?

Steve Geick: Okay, I did tell the delegates that if the motion to challenge the Chair was upheld by the delegates, that the decision would be reversed, and the original referral back would then be voted on. We can’t stop the poll. It’s already in process.

Justin Lemphers:

Okay, that’s adequate, thank you.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Steve Geick: The motion has been upheld with a 56 percent in favour and 44 percent against. Give me one second, please.

Point of Order Justin Lemphers: Thank you for the result. I just want to point out that the question that was asked and the question that was written were different, and that’s why I was asking for clarification, because the question that was asked was would the motion be supported. But the question that was written….

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Do you know what, I have misread this, and this is a little bit embarrassing. So, I am going to retract this point, and thank you for humouring me.

Steve Geick: All right, Justin, we are all experiencing some difficulties doing this virtually, so I appreciate your patience.

Now, I can't remember if we actually voted on the...

Now we’re back to voting on the original motion. So, if we can put that poll back up.

Okay, give me a second, please.

So, on the original motion, is there any further discussion?

Point of Order Justin Lemphers: This may have been resolved while I was crashed. I don't believe we’ve actually entered into discussion on the motion, and therefore, I was looking to go into discussion of the motion before we vote on the motion.

Steve Geick: Yes, your point is well taken. So, it is now open for discussion. If you have anything, please put it into the discussion tab.

Okay, there is more than one. So, I am going to wait until I have the list.

All right, first at the mike, we have Teresa.

Teresa Acheson: I was Chair of the Regional Women’s Committee this last year, so, I just want to speak in favour of this resolution that’s come forward. And I actually want to thank the office staff from PSAC, who helped bring this to the attention of the committee; and for those of you who don’t have it in front of you, I thought what would be helpful is I am actually going to read out to you section 2 from the Regulations that this is speaking to. So, this is what is already in the regulations for YEU. It says: The Regional Women’s Committee may send up to four YEU members of each appropriate bargaining unit to their respective bargaining committees where they will be afforded full delegate status; and furthermore, these delegates may purpose and/or submit bargaining input on behalf of the women in our union.

This resolution has been brought forward to make sure that notification is given to the Women’s Committee when bargaining is open, and that’s a piece that’s been missing. So, although the Women’s Committee has this right to send delegates and input, they haven’t been notified that the bargaining unit is notified, and that’s YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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what this resolution is trying to rectify so that they get that at the time and are able to participate.

So, I would ask that the delegates vote in favour of the committee’s recommendation on this resolution. I hope that helps clear things up for the delegates that are watching.

Steve Geick:

Just before we move on, yes, we will need the timer.

Next at the mike is Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. I rise in favour of this motion. I do want to clarify what I was hoping to do, and that is I fully agree that the Regional Women’s Committee needs notification. However, as a labour organization, we need to be mindful of the fact that we promote equity, and that’s equity for all.

So, what I was hoping to achieve was that all committees would receive notification when there is an opportunity to submit bargaining information or really anything that’s happening within this organization.

So, thank you to the work of PSAC staff and to the Regional Women’s Committee for bringing this forward. My hope is that when we look at these initiatives, that we look not just at the effects on a single body but the broader application to our labour movement; and once again, in favour. Thank you.

Steve Geick: speak on this?

Thank you, Justin. Are there any more people who wish to

(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question to adopt resolution B1.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #B2 Tony Thomas: Thank you, Steve. Next up is B2. The title is: YEU Executive Section 1(a). The originator is the YEU executive, language of origin is E, and the ‘be it resolved’ is: BE IT RESOLVED: that YEU by- law 6 be amended by adding One (1) Community Director.

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that all other applicable by-laws be changed to reflect this change including but not limited to Section 2 subsection C, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that One (1) delegate credential for PSAC National convention, other than the Community Vice President be reserved for a community member to be voted on during the election process for the Community Vice President and the Community Director.

Committee recommendation is concurrence.

Rationale: Communities outside of Whitehorse need to have a strong voice in the YEU. As of now, there is only one dedicated position on the YEU executive that brings voice to the communities outside of Whitehorse.

Steve Geick:

We will open the discussion tab for discussion and debate.

Okay, we only have one person coming to the mike, and that is Teresa Acheson, so, Teresa.

Teresa Acheson: Question for the committee: Can you clarify this is adding a director position, a director of communities, or is this replacing one of the existing directors on the YEU Board?

Tony Thomas:

This is in addition, Teresa.

Teresa Acheson: Thank you, I want to rise in favour of this resolution. I’m actually really pleased that over the last year and even throughout this, we actually have had community directors on the YEU Board; and currently, I believe we have at least three voices representing communities outside of Whitehorse, and it really does help broaden our perspective and ensure that we’re inclusive of members across the Territory.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you, I am rising in favour of the motion. I’m so happy to see this. It’s been a while since we had Tony become a fully-paid position, and I just see this as a natural progression. So, for anyone who doesn’t know the history, I’m batting 50 percent right now on Chair challenges, because last time I challenged the Chair, it led to the creation and enstatement of Tony Thomas as a paid Vice-President. Previously, there was one paid and one unpaid VicePresident. So, in the progression of equity, we saw Tony move into paid; and that was to recognize the fact that the communities were really strugglng for service and representation. So, this additional director position really is a natural evolution, and I’m so grateful to see it come forward. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

All right, is there anyone else at a mike?

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(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #B3 Tony Thomas: Thank you. The next one up is B3, title: Local Liaison Committee; originator YEU Executive, language of origin is E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads: ... that a new e) be added to by-law 8. Section 4. Standing committees to include Local Liaison Committee The Committee recommends concurrence.

Rationale is: It has been a part of the last three YEU strategic planning sessions that YEU locals need more support in organizing and developing capacity.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I rise in support of this resolution. I know that previously when I sat on the executive, I don’t know, that was probably 2004 or ’05, we used to engage with the different locals, and each executive member had, like, a portfolio – you could call it – of different local executives that we were meant to liaise with. So, I like seeing that this is put in here to make sure that it happens as part of the bylaw to ensure that we can support each other and educate each other as we go along. I see that there is a noncurrence resolution, and I think that could have been avoided if there would have been, like, more education, training and support through this liaison position right away. Local executives have a lot of power that may not be inherently known about. So, I think this liaison position could really help boost up the leadership within our local and within our component and engage people in a good way. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Lisa.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

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Resolution #B5 Tony Thomas: Thank you. The final bylaw is Resolution #5; Title: Delegates to YEU Convention.

The originator is the YEU Executive.

The language of origin is E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads: That a new c) be added to YEU by law 10. Triennial conventions be added to read c) In the case of 2 or more locals be amalgamated each local shall retain their original delegate entitlement prior to amalgamation. Those seats shall be voted on by the members of the original local.

The Committee recommends concurrence.

The rationale is: Due to these amalgamations, it potentially reduces the delegate entitlement to YEU triennial conventions.

Steve Geick:

Is there any discussion or debate?

Stephanie Coulthard: I have a question about this resolution. My question is whether this is only for the triennial conventions that immediately follow amalgamation, or is it for all future triennial conventions?

Tony Thomas:

Stephanie, I would say all.

Stephanie Coulthard: I think I am in favour of this resolution, but I would just point out that it will make it really difficult for figuring out delegates for all future triennial conventions, based on the setup of existing locals, because new people will consistently be hired, and which local would they have been hired into; but in general, I am always in favour of broadening the discussion at convention. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Are there any further…

Teresa Acheson: So, I am rising against the committee’s recommendation on this one. I’m actually from one of the merged locals with the City of Whitehorse, where we’ve merged Local Y022 and 23, 22 being much smaller; and of course, together, the reason we’ve merged, I believe why other locals and committees have merged is because it was difficult to administer the locals with fewer numbers that you may have had. And although I hear what Stephanie was saying, it’s nice to have more representation of members at conventions, the dilemma with this is I see over time, we are going to be creating inequities between locals of similar sizes. And if we would look at representing bargaining certificate numbers – I know in the City, we still have two separate bargaining certificates, and that’s essentially what most locals belong to, it is going to get YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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quite confusing. For example, with our local, we retain the delegates. We will essentially have at least probably two extra seats for a local the size of 400; then, another local in YEU at the size of 400 numbers.

So, the next following convention after a merge, I think it makes sense; but over time, I think it’s going to create inequities between our locals.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Sherry Masters: I stand in favour of this resolution. It’s very important for the communities to have this resolution. We get amalgamated a fair amount, and so, then, our delegates are getting less and less and less In the communities. We just need to retain those voices at convention. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

All right, please post the poll.

Shawnna Boone: I agree with Sherry Masters. Our locals are smaller In the communities. We don’t necessarily have the numbers to really increase it that much. It’s just more a support for men and organization within ourselves; and we still need representations of both unions, I feel. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Sherry.

Daryl Stenson: YEU?

Has anyone considered proportional representation within

Steve Geick:

Not to my knowledge.

Daryl Stenson:

I believe it should be considered. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: Rather than start into the general resolutions, it is now 10 to 12:00. So, I’m going to suggest that we recess until 1:30. Thank you.

Convention adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

Convention resumed at 1:30 p.m.

Steve Geick:

So, we past Resolution B5.

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Resolution #G1 Steve Geick: We will begin with Resolution G1 in general. Just a note with the general resolutions, it requires a plus-one majority, not two-thirds.

Chair of the committee.

Tony Thomas:

Thank you, Steve. Welcome back, everyone.

So, we’re going to start with Resolution G1. The title is: New Labour Relations Advisor for Shop Stewards The originator is YO10; language of origin is E. So, we’ll move down to the ‘be it resolved’: … that YEU hire an additional Labour Relations Advisor specific to the immediate needs of Shop Stewards; Be IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that YEU Executive hire a second Labour Relations Advisor (if deemed needed) specific for Shop Stewards.

The Committee recommends concurrence.

Rationale: Shop Stewards have limited volunteer time and deserve the same quick support and advice they provide to our members Steve Geick:

Discussion and debate?

Derek Yap: I’m just wondering if the Credentials Committee needs to present before we continue.

Steve Geick:

Yes, we should do that. Point well taken, thank you.

Third Report of Credentials Committee 51 delegates 20 observers, techs and staff Total 71 Motion #21-2021 Motion to adopt the Credentials Committee Report.

MOVED: Charlene Smith

SECONDED: Derrick Andersen

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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Justin Lemphers: Question to Chair of the Committee: On the second ‘be it resolved’, (if deemed needed), since this is convention and the delegation is deciding, is the delegation deciding whether or not this is deemed needed, or will it be another body in the future?

Tony Thomas: level.

I think that would more or less probably be the executive

Justin Lemphers: Okay, I’m just looking for certainty. Sorry to put you on the spot there, Tony. I understand that we think it’s the executive level, but I’d like to know for sure if we support this resolution if the executive will make that determination or if it’s actually the convention that will decide whether or not a second LRA needs to be hired.

Tony Thomas: I may be speaking out of turn, Justin, but I’m surmising it will be at the executive level where we would discuss it, and we would determine whether we think it’s needed, and then, if we thought it was needed, then we would definitely bring it to the floor at the next convention.

Justin Lemphers: Okay, thank you for that explanation. I just want to make sure the convention understands that if we vote for the resolution that it includes both of these and that it will be the executive that makes the determination on the second ‘be it further resolved’. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Justin.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Hi, thank you. I rise in support of this resolution as it’s brought forward. Thank you for those questions, Justin. I hadn’t even considered that. For another labour relations officer specifically for shop stewards, I think that can also be supplemented with additional training for shop stewards under their collective agreements and what is grievable. This will greatly support our competency on the floor and knowledge-sharing. I do think there are also other areas where we could use additional staff within the organization. As far as I know, we have one communications officer, and that is a gigantic job; and when we’re trying to get outreach to get more volunteers out, I think marketing and additional coms focus could really support that. And I am hopeful that we are able to grow our organization. I see that we have a lot of money in our budget and considering this has already been costed, I’m curious to know if we can get a breakdown of what the additional cost will be for one more labour relations officer or advisor and how much it will cost for a second labour relations advisor, because we’re kind of agreeing to hiring both of these positions here. That’s how I understand it; and if not, maybe we need to devise the resolution, based on the questions that Justin asked earlier. Thank you.

Jan Slipetz: Yes, I just wanted to say I strongly support this. Having worked with the Union Hall for two months this past summer, helping new shop steward trainees, and also, talking to a lot of members, as well as shop stewards, YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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we really need help. We don't have time to spend hours looking at stuff. You know, we have busy lives. We work fulltime. We have families, we have chores, and we have a personal life; and I’ll tell you, there’s no simple question. That’s one thing I discovered in the two months I was there. It is always complex and very time-consuming, and I really think a shop steward easily picks up the phone, talks to a labour relations advisior or whatever you want to call that person, and they are there to support that shop steward. We are so busy with all our members and all our questions. They’re going to be busy, I can tell you that much. At least I was.

So, I just strongly support it, and that’s basically all I wanted to say.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Jan. Do we have any further speakers?

(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question.

Point of Order Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I was just curious to know if we were going to get a costing on how much that labour relations advisor is going to cost or if I had to reframe it in a different way in order to get that. So, I guess this is a point of order or a question of privilege.

Steve Geick: Either way, Lisa, it’s really hard to forecast that. We have put money aside, and I can't remember at exactly which level, because it would depend on the person’s experience and everything else, right? There’s a wage grid per se, similar to most collective agreements, where someone would start at a particular rate, and then, move up to be the top level.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I understand that, but it has been costed already according to the budget.

Steve Geick:

Yes.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: So, there must be some amount of money in there, based on other labour relations advisor positons, I’m assuming.

Steve Geick:

Yes.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: So, I’m looking at the ballpark.

Steve Geick:

Okay, give me one minute, please.

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All right, Lisa, I’m back. So, there has been $104,000 put aside for that position. If someone came in at higher than that, it would be covered under current funding.

So, there would be no increase in dues.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Excellent, thank you so much.

Steve Geick:

No problem.

Just to clarify now, the poll is open. So, if there is anyone who hasn’t voted, please vote now.

Steve Geick called the question CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Resolution #G2 Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Tony Thomas: Okay, the next resolution is G2, entitled ‘Local Presidents with Over 1000 Members’; originator Local Y017. Language of origin E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads as: Yukon Employees Union will find a way to cover the wages of Local Presidents with more than one thousand members so they can work fulltime supporting their Local’s members. This would allow for a presence of the Local and increased awareness and engagement.

Steve Geick:

Point, Teresa.

Point of Order Teresa Acheson: I believe there is just a mistake from the paper copy that the committee is working from versus the resolutions in the package. This resolution you just read off, I believe, is a non-concurrent, and our Rules of Order say we deal with concurrent resolutions first.

Steve Geick:

Yes, point well taken.

We will move on to Resolution G3.

Resolution #G3 Tony Thomas: Thank you. Teresa. G3, entitled: ‘Abolish Strip Searches in Youth Detention Facilities in Canada’; the originator Local Y017; language of origin E. YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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The ‘be it resolved’ reads as: YEU/PSAC demand all territories and provinces cease the practice of strip searches in youth ‘jails’ immediately, and demand that the federal government will abolish the practice of strip searches in all facilities where youth are held by virtue of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The committee recommends concurrence The rationale is: Strip searches are conducted on youth admitted to correctional services, the practice is invasive, degrading and can further traumatize already traumatized youth.

The committee stands in concurrence. One of our members stands in nonconcurrence.

Steve Geick:

All right, we have Lisa Vollans-Leduc.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I’m rising to speak in favour 100 percent of this, and I am saddened to see that somebody has recorded against. I would like to hear from that member, either through this convention or outside of here just to fully better understand how come; because right now, the way I see it, there’s a problem with racial – racialized people, black people, indigenous people are unfairly targetted in this justice system. It’s a known fact. In 2018/’19, 45 percent of youth held in custody – those are kids under the age of 18. I want to remind everyone kids as young as 12 years old are being held in these facilities, and strip-search is an automatic happening, and it’s disgusting. It’s abusive, and it further traumatizes kids. I know I had to leave where I was working, because I could not stand one more day working in a facility where this was happening, and governments were allowing it to happen. I could have maybe been fired if I would have refused to have conducted these strip searches, and I was prepared to take a stand to be on leave without pay if a youth was ever admitted to the facility while I was there.

Indigenous people are standing up. There are class action suits against youth in care. There are going to be class action suits against our governments and against people working inside youth detention centers. I see them clearly as an extension of residential schools, and they’re sanctioned. If the justice system was fair, then the numbers of children would be reflected in how they are distributed. I guess the representation would be the same in the communities in which they live as they would exist inside those custody facilities, and it has to stop now. I strongly believe in this. I will fight everything I can for this. I told the kids that I used to work with that I would fight to try and end this type of assault against kids, against kids as young as 12 years old.

I hope that we can get majority support and pass this resolution and start standing up for these kids, who have the least amount of voice and opportunity to speak up for themselves. Thank you.

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Steve Geick: Andersen.

Thank you, Lisa. Next at the mike we have Derrick

Derrick Andersen: My reason for voting non-concurrence with this was I was thinking about the safety of not only our members who work as Corrections Officers within these facilities, but other people who are held in the correctional facilities, as it is not uncommon for people to try and bring things into the facilities. So, I know that the youth corrections facility does not have a body scanner right now; and in speaking with members of the corrections facilities, I understand strip searches are an unfortunate means to try and detect not only contraband, but sometimes weapons coming into the facilities. And in speaking with members of Corrections to try and find out how this is done, I was informed that it’s same-sex officers doing the strip searches. Now, I don’t have this firsthand information. I’m only getting this from actual members. I don’t work in Corrections. So, again, I’m only thinking of the safety of our own members and other people held in custody. Not performing a strip search could allow deadly contraband, fentanyl and other narcotics coming in or weapons. I know it can traumatize already traumatized youth coming in. My understanding is they have counselling services that can be made available to them, which is an after-thefact situation, but again it’s an unfortunate event of being in the facility.

And to speak to Lisa’s point about the disproportionate number of people going in that are native, black and other racial minorities, I can’t speak to the numbers that are in the facilities. That’s not my point. I’m speaking for searches across the board to whatever members are in there, Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Derrick. The first person would be Leslie James.

Leslie James: Good afternoon, I’ll keep my comments very short. As a frontline paramedic – not here in the Yukon but in a different jurisdiction – I had the misfortune of having to respond to a wounded Corrections Officer, who was wounded by a child of approximately the age of 13, who had a weapon in a cavity and later used that weapon on the Correctional Officer. So, while I hear Lisa’s comments and I understand them and in many ways, I agree with them, I think the fact that weapons are often placed in places we wouldn’t necessarily imagine and they have been used against our colleagues in the corrections system, it is something that I would ask that you give consideration to. It’s a less-than-ideal tool, but if there is no other methodology available to prevent that from occurring, then it’s still a viable tool.

Steve Geick:

Okay, next we have Lisa Keenan. Please open Lisa’s mike.

Okay, a point has been raised by Kyrn.

Kyrn Evans: I apologize. I accidently sneezed when I touched the iPad, sorry. I’d like to speak after Lisa Keenan or the next person.

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Lisa Keenan: I understand where this is coming from. Like, I know that strip searches against young children and everything seems like something that would be, like, scary and bad; but I actually had a stepson who was in the youth jail, and he told me he knew then how the other children were bringing in drugs, and somebody pulled a knife on him. It was very upsetting as a parent to hear things like that happening inside the youth jail. Nowadays, like, youth are gathering – I heard – just the other day in Yukon in Whitehorse, and attaching another young child. Like, these are not the youth that we know that we used to have back in the day. Some of these kids are very, very bad children; and until something else is set up, I believe Derrick mentioned a machine that detects metal or an x-ray machine or something, like in the airport you pass through, I really feel, like, unfortunately, strip searches are not a great thing, but it’s the only thing that we have right now. And I would rather have the children inside the youth facility okay than somebody being a little degraded because they were strip-searched. They shouldn’t – unfortunately – have been there in the first place. That’s how I feel, thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next we have Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. I rise in support of this motion; and I want to talk to folks about a few things. First off: real versus perceived risk. So, I – as a racialized person – going through airport security am often perceived as a risk; and that creates problems for me. The problem that we have when we start thinking about youth and perceived risk is that we’re considering all of those youth guilty, guilty of something; and we should all know from media reports about our criminal justice system that not everyone that’s in the justice system (I shouldn’t even call it a ‘justice system’; it’s a legal system) is guilty. There are often people who end up in that system because they have done no wrong. They have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or t;hey have been placed in that system through powers that are greater than they are, and that is an unfortunate reality.

In looking at this at a local level, all I’d have to do is think about how Yukon Justice and our legal system here was slapped for holding people in solitary confinement for undue periods of time. And I understand that these are two different issues, but I think they are both issues, which overstep what they’re actually intended to do. It’s a corrective measure. It’s a measure to make sure that people are safe; but if we start adopting such extreme corrective measures as de facto process, then we really start degrading the people that we’re meant to be helping through the legal system. Remember, people end up in this legal system as a support mechanism. We have a legal system that is supposed to not just be about incarceration, but also, about giving people the skills so that they can come out of that system more productive and more valuable. And I don’t see how adding the ability to strip search – whether or not de facto (I’m not saying that), I’m just worried about the fact that it could be, that if we normalize this and we accept this, then we’re accepting that this could be used against people who YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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are completely innocent, and I think that we need to do what we can to safeguard the interests of everyone and find alternative measures to strip search. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next we have Kyrn Evans.

Kyrn Evans: I would just like to say that I understand where Lisa and Justin are coming from, and every word that they have said between race, between, you know, youth, adults, it doesn’t matter; but I have to agree with Derrick, and I agree with Leslie on this one, because despite age, I have many friends and family who have been involved as Corrections Officers, Youth Officers in Whitehorse and outside of Whitehorse, and there is more harm done to those within the facility staying there for the betterment of themselves or because they were guilty for something they had done and which they shouldn’t have done. I have a 13-year-old. Just on the normal day-to-day stuff, you catch them…

So, I get where this is coming from when it comes to they’re younger. They are more vulnerable, but they did something at that point in time. You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but we need to look at our actual legal system or justice system. This – right now – is the only option we have unfortunately. I am so up for change. If we want to really diminish how a person is doing regardless of age or race when entering a facility because they’re supposed to be innocent; but until we actually have machines to do it, the people inside, working – the staff and other people there – need to be safe. and that’s the final thing is the safety. If proven guilty, you did what you did, and that’s just a part of it right now until we’re able to actually change the bigger picture So, it’s not about race. It’s not about age. It’s about protecting everyone else in there and the staff. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next at the mike we have Sheri Shuskeski.

Sheri Shuskeski: Hi, thank you very much. I just wanted to say ‘thank you’, Lisa for your comments, and I appreciate that most of our youth that are in a facility are, indeed, marginalized and disenfranchised. However, I can’t support a resolution that potentially puts our members at risk. As a frontline in emergencies, I’ve seen injuries myself that have come from facilities from weapons that are either brought in or made, from overdoses due to drugs that have been smuggled in. I do agree that the majority of that comes from adult facilities, but some of it does come from our youth facilities; and I can’t support anything that puts any of our members at risk. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next we have Charlene Smth.

Charlene Smith: Thank you. Having worked with youth for over 20 years between Ontario and Yukon, I know that the safety of our members is important, as well; and therefore, I am standing beside Derrick in supporting his nonconcurrence with this. Our members are at just as much risk as youth in these YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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facilities, and I think rather – instead of abolishing something like this, that we stand together and lobby against our governments in ensuring that devices are in place, such as at WCC, to have alternative methods of doing these searches on our youth that are coming in so that we are protecting our members. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next we have James Cleary.

James Cleary: I stand in favour of the motion. Children, who are in there, some, sure, have been convicted. Others are merely alleged to have done something. Strip searches are an extreme measure that research has very clearly shown causes serious trauma. I fully sympathize and recognize that safety of the workers is important, and I could not agree more with that. Where I disagree with the non-concurrence of this motion is that the resolution doesn’t call for no safety or for no scanners. It only calls for that there be no strip searches, which doesn’t necessarily mean there is no saferty, for example, if there are scanners. So, on that basis, I do think that those are not incompatible.

If I could offer one critique of the resolution, it would be that perhaps there could be a provision where the strip searches would only be considered in extreme individual circumstances where the extreme invasion of privacy and harm caused by the strip search is proportionate to the level of risk and reasonable suspicion and there could be some, perhaps, like recorded way of just making sure that it wasn’t just, like, a frontline worker, that it would be reviewed somehow.

Anyway, I do stand behind this motion and support it fully as it’s written, because I don’t see it as being incompatible with safety, because it does not preclude those other safety options from being implemented Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next at the mike we have Alex Garcia.

Alexander Garcia: I rise in support of this motion. I very much appreciate the comments of James, Justin and Lisa regarding the safety and wellbeing of the youth and children who are being subjected to this; but I want to address the issue of safety for our members, and the point that I’d like to just very quickly make is that being forced to routinely and systematically degrade children is harmful to the mental wellbeing of our members. This harm can manifest in many ways, including substance abuse, depression and other mental health issues; or it can maniffest in internalization of racism and assist in justification to do mental gymnastics to find a way to legitimize that this is something that should be done, that is acceptable to do; and both of those result in harm to the individual and to the members. And so, in consideration of the wellbeing of our members, as well as the children in these facilities, I support this motion as it’s written. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next at the mike we have Katherine Keller.

Katherine Keller: I’d like to agree with this motion and especially the point that Derrick Andersen made about accommodation of safety, as well as lack of strip YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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searches. I’d actually like to add, as well, that I believe that enforcing a lack of strip searches will, in fact, encourage these institutions to look for the other options that we all agree exist, including these machines in airports that do the scanning.

I agree for the safety of our members, but I think a lot of these youth could be our future members, and we have to look out for them, as well. Thank you very much.

Steve Geick:

Next at the mike we have Stephanie Coulthard.

Stephanie Coulthard: Hi, I am speaking in favour of this motion. I strongly believe that the only way to seriously influence the system to make changes that are going to be safer for these children in these facilities is to look at abolishing so that we are forcing them to consider better options within these facilities. So, I encourage everybody to vote in favour of this resolution to protect the safety of children and to protect the safety of the members working in these facilities.

Thank you very much.

Steve Geick:

Next at the mike we have Tamera Johnson.

Tamera Johnson: I want to say that I agree with what everybody is saying. We have to remind everyone that it has to be safety first for everybody, for our members who are working in the facilities, to the children who are at the facility, for the youth who are at the facility. So, with what Alex and James said, is it possible to send the resolution back to the committee with instructions to temporarily suspend strip searches while other options are investigated, such as getting the Youth Correctional Centre a body scanner like Derrick suggested? I’m not sure how that works. I see both sides of this, and I’m afraid of the motion getting defeated for lack of clarity and wording, because we have to think of safety first for everybody.

Steve Geick: Thank you Tamera. Such a referral back would change the intent of the resolution. So, it would be ruled out of order. Thank you.

Tamera Johnson:

Fair enough.

Steve Geick:

We’re about to move into the second time.

I am going to ask one more time if there is anybody else who has not spoken for the first time who wants to speak.

(No audible response) Steve Geick: All right, so the question is: Both Lisa and Derrick have both spoken for a second time. They are both entitled to speak again.The question is – and we have no way of tracking this – who spoke for the second time first?

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Please open Justin’s mike.

Point of Order Justin Lemphers: This is a point of order. Thinking back to what feels like a lifetime ago at the North Convention, I know that the Rules of Order were changed on debate and that people were allowed to speak more than once to an issue without closing debate. Are those rules still in effect? So, effectively, if we hear Lisa, and then, Derrick speak a second time, debate is not closed. Can you provide some clarity?

Steve Geick:

That is true. The question is the order in which they speak.

Justin Lemphers: Okay, just for everyone else, then, just so that the whole delegation understands, everyone will have an opportunity to speak a second time, should they choose to do so, and it will not close debate.

Steve Geick:

You are correct, point well taken.

Justin Lemphers:

Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Now, just give me one more second.

Okay, we can only go with what we have recorded here, and what it appears is that…

All right, so, next at the mike will be Lisa. Lisa, are you there?

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Yes, I’m here. For 16 years, I worked at a young offenders facility. When I hear people asking questions about: What about the health and safety of our members, I am one of your members. In 2016 in December, I was injured on duty. That injury – as Alex – thank you so much for pointing that out. I was injured because on the one hand, I was working with our union on equity rights, human rights. I was learning so much. I was so engaged, and then, the next day, I was going to work, and I was having to strip search kids when they entered the building, regardless of whether they were guilty or innocent, regardless of whether or not they had just come from RCMP cells, regardless of whether or not they just came from a medical appointment or they had to attend court. And so, I couldn’t have those two thoughts exist in my brain at the exact same time.

And then, we were working with a kid who was chronically self-injuring, engaging in suicidal ideation and behaviours, and it culminated, and I got injured at work.

I went and got treatment for that. I got help for that, and I praised my union for standing beside me and my employer.

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So, Leslie James this morning – and I apologize for naming a member. I’m not sure of his delegate number – we do not do cavity searches. We do not. Medical professionals engage in that if it’s needed at all. Those people who are showing up at emergency, who have been injured by a young person in custody or an adult in custody have gone through the strip search process already. So, that, in itself, shows you that this is not an effective tool to do what they are planning to do. A kid is not going to stop commiting crime. An adult is not going to stop commiting crime or being engaged or involved in areas where they’re being accused of committing crime simply because they’re being strip-searched. Every training that I’ve ever had to do as an employee has been to make me a better worker. I had to go through restraints training. I have never once had to be strip searched by one of my colleagues to ensure that I understood the exact impact of what I was going to be performing on another human being. It boggles my mind that we’re not all enraged that this happens to kids as young as 12 years old. I don’t know anyone who would strip search their own child to make sure that they were safe. It would not happen. You would call emergency services to support you in ensuring you that your child was safe. Please support this resolution. We need to do everything we can to stand up for those who have no voice. Thank you.

Steve Geick: We have one first-time speaker who hasn’t spoken yet. So, Derrick before you speak, Teresa Acheson.

Okay, Teresa has withdrawn, so Derrick Andersen, Derrick Andersen: Just supplemental to what I said first, and Lisa, sorry you went through what you had to go through, let me first say that. Strip searching people that go into our facilities, whether they be youth or adult, unfortunately, is a necessary process. I wish it didn’t have to happen. In speaking to Corrections members at the main facility who got a body scanner a few months – I’m not sure how long ago it was – my understanding from them is that using the body scanner doesn’t negate strip searches or body searches. They use it hand-inhand. So, even if they had scanners at the youth facility, it doesn’t mean it’s going to get rid of strip searches; and to touch on what Justin said, doing strip searches on anybody going through a facility doesn’t mean it’s an assumption of guilt. It’s actually a duty of care, a duty of safety to the people already in the facility and to staff to make sure that nothing is coming into the facility; and again, I wish it wasn’t a necessary process, but unfortunately, from hearing from some of the people who have already spoken, it is to both the individuals in the facility, staff members and… You know, I really wish that our members weren’t traumatically affected mentally by doing this to youth, and I wish I knew a better way for it to be done, but I don’t. I just know that the safety of everybody involved in the facility and our members is of the upmost importance; and of course, the wellbeing of the people going into the Corrections facility is of importance, too, but we’ve got to maybe offer better counselling and treatment and assistance for them while they’re in there. Thank you.

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Steve Geick: We have two more second-time speakers, and I think then after that – unless there’s any objection – we will call the vote.

So, we have Lisa Keenan.

Lisa Keenan:

I just want to call the question.

Steve Geick:

Okay, is there a question, Lisa?

Lisa Keenan:

I just want to call the question.

Steve Geick: to ask a question.

Oh, you’re calling the question, sorry. I thought you wanted

Motion #22-2021 Motion to call the question.

MOVED: Lisa Keenan

SECONDED: Teresa Acheson

Steve Geick called the question.

Point of Privilege Teresa Acheson: I am just asking if the Chair would take a moment to explain ‘calling of the question’, as we do have some new delegates; and maybe just to confirm what this vote is versus when they’re voting on the resolution or the committee’s recommendation.

Steve Geick: Point well taken. So, the point of calling the question, what that does is it ends debate, and then, the poll would be up for the previous question. I don’t know if that helps.

Tamera Johnson: So, if the question is called and it gets seconded and it’s nondebatable, there should not have been a vote on calling the question, or am I incorrect?

Steve Geick: No, you are incorrect. All that does is there’s no debate on this question of calling the question.

Tamera:

Okay, now that makes sense, thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

CARRIED.

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Steve Geick:

Now we will put the poll up for the actual resolution, please.

Steve Geick called the question on the motion.

DEFEATED, 46% in favour; 54%, not in favour.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc, Justin Lemphers and James Cleary recorded against.

Point of Order Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I would like to be recorded against the floor’s decision.

Steve Geick:

So recorded

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #G4 Tony Thomas:

G4, entitled ‘Exploring Options for a new YEU Building’.

Steve Geick:

Point, please, Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. Also, I also would like to record against; and in doing so, would also like to suggest that the Chair offer some instruction to convention of what ‘recording against’ is and either we open discussion or we take a moment to allow other members to record against. Thank you.

Steve Geick: So, when someone records against the vote, it goes into the transcript and records that the individual recorded against the vote.

Point of Order James Cleary:

I would like to record against.

Steve Geick:

So noted, thank you, James.

So, if there is anybody else who would like to record against, please put your name, delegate number, and ‘I want to record against the vote’ into the discussion window, and I will read them so that everyone knows it is happening.

What I’m going to suggest is I’m going to give everybody a fifteen-minute break to do that, and then, we’ll come back.

Convention adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

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Convention resumed at 3:07 p.m.

Steve Geick: G4.

All right, we are back, and we are moving on to Resolution

Tony Thomas: Okay, once again entitled ‘Exploring Options for a new YEU Building’. The originator is the YEU executive; language of origin is E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads as: The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 to look into options for a new YEU building Committee recommendation: Concurrence.

The rationale: The membership of YEU increase yearly and there are plans to increase the staff of YEU to meet those demands. There is no room for any expansion Steve Geick:

All right, discussion and debate.

(No audible response) Darcy Kasper: I’m wondering if we can get some explanation on how the $100,000 number came up and what the rationale is.

Steve Geick: Darcy, it’s actually not a point of order. That would be a question that you should put into the discussion window, please.

Brigitte Parker: I have a question also about the motion, the same as the previous speaker: What are we expecting to get for $100,000 expenditure, and what’s the deliverable on that 100,000? Is there a report at the other end? What does that look like? It seems a bit excessive for some research.

Steve Geick: Basically, it’s more or less for a feasibility study. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll spend $100,000. It’s looking for support for up to 100,000.

So, it’s more or less a feasibility study to see how much it would cost and what we’re looking at for a new building.

Once again, it doesn’t mean we would spend the 100,000. It just means up to 100,000.

And just if I can talk about that. Before anything was entered into as far as building a building, leasing a building, any decisions like that, this resolution does not talk about that. Before we could do that, we would have to either bring it up at the next convention for the actual permission to build or if it happened before the next convention, we would call a special convention to deal with just that one item. The people who are at this convention would be delegates to that, and they YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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would decide on the actual expenditure of monies to lease, buy or build a building. Does that help?

Brigitte Parker: Yes, thank you, that is a good clarification. This is my first convention. I don’t know how this works, but could we amend the resolution to have that ‘feasibility study’ or whatever those words are in the resolution itself, because ‘look into’ is pretty vague.

Steve Geick: So, in order to do that, you would have to make a motion to refer back to th committee with instructions, and the instructions would have to be the exact wording that you want entered, and it cannot change the intent of the resolution.

Brigitte Parker:

Okay, thank you for the clarification.

Steve Geick:

You’re welcome.

Steve Geick called the question Julianna Scramstad: I was hoping to move a motion to refer back with instruction. I’m not sure that it will be considered in line with the current situation but I think it should be, because we’re in a state of climate emergency. So, this is further to what Justin was kind of talking about earlier; but if the wording could be changed to the original part, and then, after, it would say… Oh, sorry, there is no wording until ‘into’: ‘into green options for a new net zero emissions YEU building” to ensure that that intent is captured in the way that this exploration is done.

Steve Geick:

Do you have a seconder?

Motion #23-2021 Motion to refer back to the committee with instructions.

MOVED: Julianna Scramstad Steve Geick:

SECONDED: Stephanie Coulthard

Can I have the language?

Julianna Scramstad: Yes, so, it would read: The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend…

Steve Geick: Julianna, your audio is cracking up. So, could you please enter the language into the discussion tab?

Julianna Scramstad: Yes.

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Steve Geick:

Thank you.

So, I am going to read it, and then, please correct me if I don’t have the language.

The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 to look into green options for net zero emissions YEU building.

Is that correct?

(No audible response) Steve Geick: It is. Okay, as written, it does change the intent, because it does say – it limits it to a new net zero emissions YEU building, which changes the intent.

So, we will move back to the original.

Point of Order Tamera Johnson: I see Julianna did have the word ‘new’ in her original referral.

In her referral back, in her wording, she did have: ‘into green options for a new net zero emissions YEU building’. When you read that out, you missed the word ‘new’ from her wording.

Steve Geick:

It still changes the intent, because it limits it to that option.

All right, so we are going to go back to the original motion.

Charlene Smith:

I have a question.

Steve Geick: So, Charlene, that’s not a point of order or a point of privilege. So, your point is not well taken Moving back to the original list, Khairul.

Khairul Alam: The building we have is not in good shape. We need to fix it, because the thing is we are still using it. The more time we take to fix it, the more damage it will be, and the more money we will have to put into it to fix it; and then, for the new building, what is the deadline? Is there any deadline? So, we’ll have to fix that one within a month or within a year or within five years? We will have to decide that part, and then, we will have to make a plan when we are going to move to a new building; and if it is too late, we’ll have to stay in that existing building and if we don’t fix it right away, it will be very pricey to fix it. So, we’ll have to make a decision, and I think go for a motion to speak about it.

Thank you.

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Steve Geick:

Thank you, Khairul. Derek Yap.

Derek Yap: I stand in support of this motion. I just want to follow up on what Khairul is saying. The longer we stay in this old building that is not fit for the purpose and is crowded full of staff, we’re beginning to put people into closets and storerooms. It’s not appropriate for them, and it’s not a good work space.

There are many problems with leaking, with roofs. Even though we’ve changed out windows and doors and adjusted the HVAC, there are still concerns about air flow and the quality of air throughout the building. So, I would like to support the motion to spend some money to work on some feasibility studies for a new building. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Next up is Jan Slipetz.

Jan Slipetz: Hi, I just wanted to say I don’t support this motion. Number one, we have a housing crisis in Whitehorse. Any property we have downtown, we need to build housing for people. We’ve got enough commercial stuff going on right now in Whitehorse. These are just my thoughts anyways. Any new land coming up, let’s house the people. Like, let’s get some housing built.

Where I’m coming from as far as an old building, there’s a lot that can be done to retrofit an old building. That’s what I would prefer. Let’s retrofit the building.

We’ve got a good locaiton. My suggestion is: I know PSAC is downstairs. Would they be willing to find a smaller office? Can we use the whole building for YEU? Let’s retrofit it. We can do a lot with energy efficiency nowadays. That would be my suggestion. So, I stand against this motion.

Steve Geick:

Thank you. Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers:

Motion to refer.

Steve Geick:

Okay, would you state the language, please?

Justin Lemphers: I would like to – just capturing what Brigitte identified earlier: ‘Look into options’ is vague. So, I would like to replace it with: To look into options to engage in a feasibility study for a new YEU building, and I have rationale.

Motion #24-2021 Motion to refer back to committee with change in wording.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Lisa Vollans-Leduc

Justin Lemphers: So, the rationale is: Just looking at the last term of the executive and the number of people who have rotated through, we’ve seen quite the transition; and my concern here is that if we do not have explicit language, despite understanding what the intent is, that the intent could actually be lost.

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So, with my referral back, I am proposing that we make this absolutely explicit that it is for a feasibility study, rather than maintain the wording ‘look into options’.

Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Justin?

Justin Lemphers:

Yes, that is correct, thank you.

Steve Geick: All right, give us a second to get a poll together on the referral back to committee, changing the language to read: The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 to look into a feasibility study.

Point of Order Charlene Smith: I believe that the wording then changes the intent of the resolution, because it does not include a new YEU building in just feasibility study.

Steve Geick:

Okay, sorry, it should read…

Charlene Smith:

But he did not state that. He just said, “a feasibility study”.

Steve Geick:

In that case, then, your point of order is well-taken.

All right, we are back to… I don’t remember where we were back to. I think we were about to set up the poll…

Okay, sorry, there’s one more speaker. Jordan Corbeil.

Jordan Corbeil: Hello, so I originally submitted this question before Justin suggested his alternative there. One point that I wanted to try and make was: I don’t know that there’s enough information that explains the stages of the existing building comprehensively. I wonder if this feasibility study that looks at a new building could also give us more information about options that might exist for the existing building, such as adding another floor or speak to the condition and possible upgrades that need to happen. That’s my only point, thanks.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Point of Order Justin Lemphers: Thank you. Perhaps I miscommunicated on the motion. It was intended to be replacement language. So, there was no intent to cut off the ‘for a new YEU building’. It was to replace and look into options, and my apology YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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if I hadn’t made that explicit. So, just so that there’s no misunderstanding this time, the EIR should read: The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 to deliver a feasibility study for a new YEU building.

Steve Geick:

Okay, I’m going to just take one second.

Okay, so, as this will be a separate referral now, we will need a seconder, Justin.

Motion #25-2021 Motion to refer back to committee with change in wording.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED: Brigittte Parker

Steve Geick: So, now, we have a referral back to committee with the following instructions (I think). Somebody correct me if I’ve missed something.

The YEU Building Committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 to deliver a feasibility study for a new YEU building.

We have a seconder, and now we will open it for debate and discussion.

Sorry, that’s right. It’s not debatable.

So, as soon as we have a poll ready, we will put the poll up, and you can vote on it.

Steve Geick called the question CARRIED – 88 percent for, 13 percent against.

Steve Geick: The committee will take that into consideration, and we will get back to you it at some point. Thank you.

Resolution #G5 Tony Thomas: Okay, next up is Resolution G5, entitled: Yukon Community Women’s Shelters. The originator is Yukon Regional Women’s Committee.

Language of origin is E, and the ‘be it resolved’ reads as: YEU request that Yukon Government prioritize funding to support victims of abuse and violence, increase and provide stable funding for women’s shelters, and ensure there is safe, affordable community housing throughout Yukon for those fleeing abuse and violence.

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The committee recommends concurrence The rationale is: Women’s shelters often suffer from inadequate funding to meet the demand in their communities and turn women and their children away every day; it is time to prioritize funding for victim servicing agencies in annual budgets.

Steve Geick:

Open the floor for discussion and debate

(No audible response) Steve Geick:

No one is coming to the floor for debate.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #G6 Tony Thomas: Next up is G6. The title: Text to 9-1-1. The originator is Yukon Regional Women’s Committee.

Language of origin is E, and the ‘be it resolved’ reads as: THAT YEU & PSAC lobby the territorial government for immediate implementation of Text to 9-1-1 where applicable as a safety response to COVID-19, including political pressure upon service provider to upgrade technology and equipment, government funding for technology as well as any applicable legislation initiatives.

Committee recommendation: Concurrence.

The rationale is: Access to emergency services for all Canadians is a human right; text to 9-1-1 service is available in some capacity in each of the southern provinces.

Steve Geick:

Can you open up debate, please?

James Cleary: Hello, sorry, I’m pretty new to all this. A motion to amend. I think the ‘be it resolved’ is great. I would just like to delete the part that says ‘as a safety response to COVID 19,’ which wouldn’t limit it just to COVID-19. Say COVID-19 gets sorted out in a week or two – it’s probably not going to happen, but just in case it does – it would keep it relevant. Thank you.

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Steve Geick: So, what I’m hearing from you, James is that you’re referring it back to the committee, and the instruction would be to remove ‘COVID-19’, and that is it?

James Cleary: Yes, to remove ‘as a safety response to COVID-19’; to refer back to committee to delete ‘as a safety response to COVID-19’, yes.

Motion #26-2021 Motion to refer back to committee with change in wording. to remove ‘as a safety response to COVID-19’.

MOVED: James Cleary Steve Geick: referral.

SECONDED Justin Lemphers

So, we will need a poll. There is no debate back on the

Point of Order Brigitte Parker: This is not about this motion in particular, but when you open discussion, we don’t have time to type fast enough to get a response up on screen before moving on. I’d like just to get a little more time so we can type stuff up on the screen under the discussion space. That’s all, thank you.

Steve Geick:

Okay, point well taken.

Steve Geick called the question on the vote to refer back to the committee.

CARRIED. Steve Geick:

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #G7 Tony Thomas: Okay, next on our list is G7 for resolution. The title is ‘Victim Services Funding’. This is coming from the Yukon Regional Women’s Committee.

Language of origin is E, and the ‘be it resolved’ reads as: PSAC lobby for all three levels of government in Canada to prioritize funding for victim servicing agencies in annual budgets and ensure that persons harmed by the crime have access to stable, consistent, and properly funded supports for basic human rights and needs, including shelter, food, and legal aid.

The committee recommends concurrence.

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The rationale is: Women’s shelters often suffer from inadequate funding to meet the demand in their communities and turn women and their children away every day. It is time to prioritize funding for victim serving agencies in annual budgets.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, please open debate.

James Cleary: Thank you. I like the general intent of the resolution.

Certainly, more funding could go to victim-serving agencies. However, I disagree and cannot support the current phrasing of the ‘be it resolved’. Perhaps there are some mechanisms to make it so that it would work. My main issue is that it says: ‘all three levels of government’ when it leaves out indigenous governments, and there could be an implication that that is not a level of government. So, I find that problematic.

In addition, in the ‘be it resolved’, it says: ‘persons harmed by crime’. I think this should be more focused, such as ‘victims of violence or abuse’. I’m not trying to make light of a serious issue. I really just mean this. I’d like to highlight an example. A poor example if someone steals, like, some property from me, like my lawn mower, I’m technically a victim of crime, but not violence or abuse; and I’m not sure I should be eligible for scarce resources intended for people, who are victims of more serious crimes, like violence. I think this is a major problem with it. I don’t think it’s focused enough; and also, the phrasing about ‘all three branches of government’. Yes, I think that’s problematic in its current wording.

Thank you.

Jan Slipetz: Hello, I support this motion, but I just wanted to say there’s a bigger picture here. If we start voting for the right government federally, we won’t be wasting our time on these motions. Currently, we have Liberals and Conservatives in. This is the least of their priorities. Start voting an NDP Government in; we won’t be having this discussion. This will be happening.

All I’m saying is that we have to start voting federally and territorially for the government that’s going to support our resolutions; and that is at this time NDP. And this is the elephant in the room, and I’m going to say it: Until we start voting, you know, it’s kind of like going around in circles. So, I just wanted to say that.

Until we get the corporate interest out federally and territorally, then we will start making progress. So, basically, yes, of course, I support this resolution; but guess what? We shouldn’t even have to be discussing this with the right government in power.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Jan.

Justin Lemphers:

Thank you, motion to refer with instruction.

Steve Geick:

Your instruction, Justin.

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Justin Lemphers: James read my mind on the issue of reconciliaton. So, my instruction would be to remove ‘all three levels of government’; or just the ‘three’, so: all levels of government.

And further to that, a second part of that would be to ensure that persons harmed by violence and abuse have access to… So, remove ‘crime’ and replace it with ‘violence and abuse’.

Motion #27-2021 Motion to refer back with instructions.

MOVED: Justin Lemphers

SECONDED Stephanie Coulthard

Steve Geick called the question to refer back.

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: I think a point of privilege; because I agree with what James and Justin just said; but I don’t think the wording is still correct with Justin, because if we just put ‘violence and abuse’, does that include mental abuse, and that’s something that’s extremely huge, not just in Whitehorse, but globally. So, I think that ‘mental abuse’ should be included. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. Just to quickly respond to you, Kyrn, with the indulgence of the Chair abuse is abuse, just like health is health, which includeds mental health. Abuse would include mental abuse.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: I just want to make one small comment, and it is in no way to suggest that people should not do this; but I do want to bring to the attention of the delegates that if there is not an opportunity to bring these back because first thing tomorrow morning, we are going into elections; depending on timing, once the committee has made their decision and brought it back to the floor, if there is not time to do that, these will be lost. And some will be dealt with by the incoming executive. If there is any monetary value attached to them, the incoming executive cannot deal with them. Thank you for indulging me on that.

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Point of Privelege Justin Lemphers: Thank you, Steve, I really appreciate that reminder about the timeliness of convention; and I think that it’s a really good opportunity to remind the delegation that PSAC does hold workshops and YEU on how to write a resolution. This is important, because as we have seen, ambiguous wording leads to reading that requires interpretation. So, it’s really critical that we take the time to not only write the resolutions properly, but consider them properly, as well; because if we accept a poorly-worded resolution, that becomes the business and the mandate of YEU for at least the next two years. So, the time that we take to do this right on the front end and during convention is essential.

Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you for your point, Justin.

Resolution #G8 Tony Thomas: Once again, Resolution G8, entitled ‘End Human Trafficking’.

The originator is Yukon Regional Women’s Committee, and the language of origin is E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads as: PSAC place priority to educate employers and members and take political action to prevent human trafficking from occurring, work to end the hidden pipeline for human trafficking, protect victims and endeavor to help victims rebuild.

The committee’s recommendation is concurrence.

The rationale is: The extent of human trafficking is difficult to assess due to the hidden nature of the crime and the reluctance of victims and witnesses to come forward; PSAC strives to promote human rights and defend against the exploitation of individuals in slavery.

Steve Geick:

Please open debate.

James Cleary: In my opinion, this ‘be it resolved’ has multiple serious issues. To start, like, I think ending human trafficking in general, we can all think of ways that we would like that to end, such as child sex exploitation. It’s detestable, and it certainly would behoove us to do what we could to end that.

Recognizing that this ‘be it resolved’ is something that will go forward and that would be the mandate of the YEU, et cetera, I think it’s really important that it is phrased correctly – in my opinion – before I could possibly support it.

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To place priority, that language, I don’t really like it, because it doesn’t really mean much. It only means to place in a priority versus actually doing anything.

So, I might suggest it needs clarifying and making it a top or even a high priority.

Another thing, I take issue with – I think that there is room in this to… Like, there are certain forms of prostitution right now – consenting adults – that get considered as human trafficking, when perhaps – as a society – we might want to consider that that should not be criminalized. I don’t like the ‘be it resolved’ right now, because it does not clarify what forms of human trafficking – what it means specifically by ‘human trafficking’. In my opinion, I don't want the union going forward and advocating the criminalization of consenting prostitution for adults.

Also ‘end the hidden pipeline’ is language that I do not feel comfortable with. ‘The pipeline’ suggests that there is one pipeline. It’s a definite article and refers to a singular; when it is clear from evidence that there are many pipelines of child sex exploitation and slavery, et cetera. That there would be only one pipeline or even one main pipeline is absurd, and I don’t think that language belongs in the ‘be it resolved’. Unless it was essentially rewritten completely, I do not support this ‘be it resolved’ at all. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you.

Teresa Acheson: I am also Chair of the Yukon Regional Women’s Committee, which is the body that submitted this. So, I thank the delegates for considering this. I am rising in support of the committee’s recommendation of concurrence. I would like to see that PSAC is going to be placing priority to help educate our employers and members and take action to prevent and end human trafficking.

The Women’s Committee has tried various different versions of wording and did do a lot of work into trying to prepare these resolutions. We’re bringing this through this body as Yukon Employees’ Union; but again, this is on the hope that it is going to go forward to PSAC, as well, to get action.

We’ve tried to really be specific that we are addressing human trafficking, not sex workers or others who are in that employment; but it is the slavery of people specifically put into something that they have not chosen and are not compensated for like we think of, “I have applied for a job. I’m looking forward to my job, and I’m getting compensated for my job.”

So, we’ve tried to write it in such a way that we are really going to help really change our society, employers and members, and that we make sure that we want to help rebuild the lives of the victims of this, that we’re doing all that we can to ensure that they have those same rights that we do as workers of gainful employment and having the opportunity of a job that they love and that they have chosen to do.

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So, the Women’s Committee has tried the wording of this different ways, and I do hope that the body here is going to support this.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you. This one’s tough, and it’s not because I am against the intent of the resolution. Teresa, I really appreciate the work that the Women’s Committee put into this, both at PSAC North and currently. It’s the wording that really is the challenge; and I understand that finding the correct wording is difficult. I think that if you’d actually used the wording that you chose, which is along the lines of stopping slavery and stopping non-consensual sex work or language like that, then it would be a lot cleaner and a lot easier to support, because human trafficking, we all think of it in a negative connotation.

Here’s a wild hypothetical, but maybe not that wild: Think about the missionaries who were just kidnapped in Haiti; and if PSAC were to support this recommendation, that means that they couldn’t pay someone to move those missionaries out of Haiti, out of a difficult situation, because that’s human trafficking.

So, I get what the intent is, but I think the wording of this is clumsy, and it’s not actually saying ‘We need to protect people from harm’. It speaks to victims, but it doesn’t actually say we need to stop the harm that’s associated with it and what the harms are seen as.

So, I’m not in favour and I’m not against. I guess I’m just speaking so that if someone else wants to make a motion to refer, they’ve got some ideas to do so.

But yes, I just struggle with all of this. Thank you.

Steve Geick called the question CARRIED. Steve Geick: So, we only have one resolution left. It is a non-concurrent resolution, G8, and Chair of the committee.

Sorry, just before we do this, I just need to quickly find the resolution.

Resolution #B2 Tony Thomas:

Steve, it’s actually B2.

Steve Geick: Okay, there we go. So, you will be voting on the committee’s recommendation of non-concurrence. If that is overturned, then this resolution becomes the property of the floor, and a new motion would have to be put forward to move it to concurrence, and then, be voted on.

Chair of committee.

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Tony Thomas:

Thank you. Title: Local Presidents with Over 1000 Members

Originator, Local YO17, language of origin E. The ‘be it resolved’ reads as: Yukon Employees Union will find a way to cover the wages of Local Presidents with more than one thousand member so they can work fulltime supporting their Local’s members. This would allow for a presence of the Local and increased awareness and engagement.

The committee recommends non-concurrence.

The rationale: Financial implications, local bylaws already have this in place if they want to hire someone.

Steve Geick:

Please open debate.

Leslie James: Good afternoon, fellow delegates. My name is Leslie James.

I am the President of Y010; and while Y017 was the local that initially submitted this – As I was saying, while Y017 was the one that initiated this, Y010 also submitted this resolution, and it was also the only one that we submitted to this convention.

There are a couple of reasons for that. One: We represent just shy of 2,000 members at this time, and we are – I would say – overburdened at this time. Our current executive has worked incredibly hard, and I’m super proud of them; but as a local president, you are a visible contact for the membership, and to be perfectly honest, sometimes getting information from the R.I. – because they are so overworked – is very, very challenging. And as the president, I’m often the goto for that information. Also, whenever we have a situation when the stewards aren’t available, it kind of defaults to being our issue.

We are not able to appropriately represent our members on a strictly volunteer basis. I’ve worked with other unions where not only were the local presidents in a fulltime or paid position, but also, the stewards were reimbursed, as well; and right now for the committee to say: Well, you have an option under your bylaw to hire someone, be that as it may, you’re not hiring the president. The president still has enormous responsibility. I look to Darcy as a model for how to do things, because that man is oncall all the time. He’s always available to his members. He works tiredlessly, and I think for those of us who want to do the best we can for our members, this is something that should be given appropriate consideration; and while I respect that the committee has recommended non-concurrence, I would be like to see the non-concurrence overturned and have an opportunity for the members to debate it, discuss it; and I, of course, obviously support this motion.

And I will now cease my comments, and hopefully, someone else can speak to it.

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Derrick Andersen: Just to speak to Leslie’s comments, the committee’s idea of saying that it is in local bylaws, to have that, Leslie, is that you have the power to change your bylaws to say that the president’s position could be a fulltime paid position. So, you have the power to incorporate that yourself without having to fall back on YEU to pay for the position. Y010 would then be self-sufficient in paying your position. Thanks.

Point of Order Darcy Kasper:

I think it comes back to the locals can hire; $700 or –

Steve Geick: Sorry, Darcy, that is not a point of order. It sounds like you are trying to enter debate. So, if you could enter that into the discussion tab, please.

So, your point is not well taken.

Shawnna Boone: I concur with the YEU’s decision. Locals with over a thousand members already get an additional $50 perhaps month per member after 400 members. If there’s a funding issue, the local can ask for additional dues to be collected. According to these bylaws, Section 5, entitled ‘Dues’ or number 5 ‘Dues’, Section 1(b) reads: A local may have an additional amount of dues deducted if authorized by two-thirds majority vote of the membership in attendance at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Such additional dues shall be collected by the union in a manner prescribed by those bylaws and rebated to the local.

I do not believe that the YEU should be funding locals’ presidents, because then we’ll have… I just don’t think it should be done. Thanks.

Steve Geick:

Thank you. Justin Lemphers.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you, Shawnna, for reading that section. I actually had a question for the Chair on the bylaws and the calculation of locals. So, hear my thoughts on this. Since the locals have the ability to influence dues, but the motion or the recommendation of the Resolutions Committee is non-concurrence because there’s financial capacity, did the Resolutions Committee actually cost this, or was there just a determination made that because locals have the ability – whether or not it’s feasible – that it cannot be supported?

Steve Geick: No, Justin, I’ll speak for the committee. The committee did not look into that. Part of the issue is we have no idea if the pay structure set out is so, would it be the local president’s substantive position? Would it be some created salary? That all falls under those financial implications.

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And secondly, before enacting this, this arrangement would need to be bargained with whoever’s employer it was. Does that help?

Justin Lemphers: Yes, that helps. So, I will enter into debate at this point.

Again, I understand the limitations now with that explanation from Steve and with the section of the bylaw. I really hope that in this case… It seems that the resolution is the limitation. So, maybe there’s an opportunity here to refer it back; or if nothing else, this can be instruction for a future resolution to come forward. I do appreciate the challenges that the local presidents face, having once been the president for a local Y010. In fact, there are a number of us here at this convention that have shared that role over time, and it’s a lot of work. I can only sympathize with how much is required of the position.

For me, bottom line what it comes down to is membership service. If we are an organization that wants to do our best to support our members, then how are we going to do that in a way that is fiscally responsible and doesn’t enable the employer to continue to perpetuate ridiculous abuses that leads to burn out now on a day-to-day basis. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Stacey Goegan.

Stacey Goegan: Hi, I would like to enter into the debate. So, it was proposed that we go through the bylaw. If we’re going through the bylaw, that would mean that dues would be increased. I can tell you right now, our members where I work complain about the fact that they pay so much in dues, and they don’t really see a response. Unfortunately, the way that it’s going in continuing care, we have an increasing number of grievances. We have an increasing number of just wrongs that are going on within our subsection. I’m constantly in contact with Darcy, and I feel bad for him; because most times, he feels bad that he’s not able to get back to me soon enough. I feel like at this point, we could really use the extra help and really be able to access our president more. It would take a lot of my load off for questions and whatnot. Currently, we do have to panel our questions through the LRAs, and I feel like the LRAs at this point are insufficient. Like, it’s hard to get ahold of them.

I guess the point to this is, like, with us having a membership of over 1,000 people, we are putting in dues to the YEU, and I feel like we should have a fulltime president who is able to answer our questions and able to support us on a fulltime basis, instead of working, you know, his regular 40 hours a week, and then, trying to do an extra 40 on the union. I feel that having a larger group, we’re making larger contributions to YEU. and therefore, we should get larger support.

So, that’s just the point that I wanted to make. Thank you.

Steve Geick:

Thank you. Now, Teresa.

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Teresa Acheson: I am also local president for Y046, City of Whitehorse municipal employees. I definitely sympathize with other local presidents in the amount of time that it takes and that you put into it. Certainly, I know from the regular local presidents’ calls that we’ve had, the dedication of members like Darcy and Leslie and others. And I know my local has made some initiatives, and I believe we’re going to have – in our bargaining proposals – the ability again to have paid positions in our local.

Similarly, with what I’m seeing with the growths within our union and YEU in our locals, we do need to have more support internally in our locals. We’re relying a lot on YEU with the paid positions there and with the staff to support us; but I am rising – just so you know – in support of the committee’s recommendation of nonconcurrence. I do agree they have made the right call on this, that it’s not something for just YEU to figure out; but I do think that we can do more and definitely look more at what we can do within the locals and hopefully, there are other ways to address the labour and the work that locals need to do. I know the university has a parttime position, and I’m actually surprised that we haven’t had paid positions in the larger locals up till now, because we even see it in the locals my size, and the members see it. So, I think there is a way to address this, but I do support the committee’s recommendation of non-concurrence.

Steve Geick:

Tamera Johnson.

Tamera Johnson:

I’d like to call the question.

Motion #28-2021 Motion to call the question.

MOVED: Tamera Johnson

SECONDED: Kyrn Evans

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED. Steve Geick: The motion to call the question has been sustained. We will return to the original poll.

Point of Order Derek Yak: I’d just like to ask the Chair if actually, we need two-thirds of the delegates to vote in order to have it continue Steve Geick: Your point is well-taken, Derek. It did take a two-thirds vote, which we didn’t get. So, debate will continue.

Leslie James: Sorry, I wrote that when Derek was talking, and it was just the same. So, just ignore mine.

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Steve Geick:

Thank you, Leslie.

Darcy Kasper.

Darcy Kasper: I just wanted to tell everyone, too, We have put it forward to bargaining. So, this was another part of us working on all this stuff together. We had to bring it to light to everyone just the amount of hours that do go into the position in the larger locals. I don’t know if COVID was the cause last year that it did, but Steve and I worked very closely on many issues. So, I’d like to thank him for that kind of support and the LRs. Also the demand into the workplaces that we’ve been able to go in and do ‘welcome to your unions’ on a monthly basis at one, and I’m working with another large unit to start it next month. So, I’ve got to support a manager as long as I can do my job. That’s it.

Steve Geick:

Thank you. Darcy.

It was just brought to my attention that we are past the hours of session. I am going to…

As it is past the hour, there is one speaker left on the list. I will allow that, and then, I am calling the question.

Derek Yak: I stand with the Resolutions Committee on non-concurrence.

I just want to point out that yes, it’s a good bargaining demand, and the university actually pays half of the time for our local president to work on union duties. So, I might suggest to the people who have a large number of members that they can go to the bargaining table and ask that their employer pay for the time of the local president. Thank you.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED 61% in favour of accepting the recommendation of non-concurrence upheld; 39% not. The non-concurrence is upheld.

Steve Geick: So, that brings us to the end of the day. I want to extremely thank everybody. Again, we had some little glitches. So, we will recess now and tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m., we will start elections.

Convention adjourned at 4:42 p.m. to October 29, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

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Convention resumed October 29, 2021, at 9:43 a.m.

Steve Geick: Good morning, everyone. Sorry for the delays this morning.

There were a few things that had to be readjusted. Thank you, once again, for your patience. We are ready to get this started.

So, without further ado, we are going to call this meeting back to order, and the first order of business will be turning it over to the credentials committee.

Fourth Report of Credentials Committee 50 delegates 12 observers, techs and staff Total 62 Motion #29-2021 Motion to adopt the Credentials Committee Report.

MOVED: Charlene Smith

SECONDED: Derrick Andersen

Steve Geick called the question.

Tamera Johnson: I just have a question: Since we had a 45-minute delay to the start, will we be extending the hours of session by 45 minutes due to the technical issues or not?

Steve Geick: As the time of session was voted on at the beginning of this, for today, the hours of session that were adopted is nine o’clock till close of the business. So, we will have time to get things done.

Tamera Johnson:

Perfect, thank you very much.

Steve Geick:

Can I see the poll, please?

CARRIED. 13.0 ELECTION OF OFFICERS Election of President Steve Geick: So, at this point, we are going to move into elections, and it is my pleasure to turn the Chair over to Sharon DeSousa. Please let the Record show that Sharon is now in the chair.

Sharon DeSousa: Good morning, everyone. Thank you very much. I do recognize we had a few technical issues this morning, but we are very excited here to do the Yukon Employees’ Union elections this morning. So, thank you very much for your patience.

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And before I start, I want to take the opportunity to introduce the Nominations Committee and thank them for their assistance. The members of the committee are: Darcy Kasper, who is the Chair, and Michelle Parsons, the technical advisor.

And today, we will be conducting 15 elections, the first being president, then vicepresident. Then I will move into the caucus on communities, where we will elect the vice-president of communities, the community director and the community seat at the PSAC national triennial convention. Then, I will move to the equity director, the young workers’ director, secretary, treasurer and the six directors at large, which will be done individually.

I will provide delegates with the list of candidates that have been nominated and seconded in writing prior to the deadline, and then, I will call for nominations from the floor three times. Then I will declare nominations closed, and I will ask each nominee a few questions. For example, I will ask: Will they speak for themselves, or will their nominator speak for them.

Also, since we are all participating virtually, you will obviously be speaking from your computer. So, you will not be coming up to the podium; and also, for those who are nominated from the floor, I will ask if you wish to stand for the nomination.

So, then I will have the candidates’ names displayed and in reverse order. I will then ask for you to address the delegation, and you will have three minutes to speak. If there is only one candidate for a position, then they will be elected by acclamation.

So, having said that, as I mentioned, there will be three minutes for each candidate to speak if there are multiple candidates. Keep in mind that your mike will cut off right at three minutes; and then, I will open the vote, and you will click on the candidate’s name that you wish to vote for, and then, you will press the ‘submit’ button. Now, keep in mind, I will make sure that all delegates have enough time to vote. I do know that there have been technical issues. So, I will ask that you please do not go to your point mike if you’re having a technical issue, and please contact tech support so that they can assist you. Once I have confirmation that there are no problems or issues and everyone has voted, I will then close the vote. Then I will ask the technician to show the results.

Now, I know we’ve been doing polling right throughout this convention, but I think it’s a great idea just to do a test question. So, the test question is: Please select one travel destination for your post-COVID vacation from the list below. So, that’s Japan, Antarctica, Wales, New Zealand or Mexico.

Please open the vote. It will take a couple of moments.

Just as a reminder, there is a feature on your tablet or you device tht has ‘ballot box’. So, in order to vote, you need to click on that tab or ‘ballot box’.

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So, I will ask the question: Has everyone had the opportunity to vote, and – not to worry – I will just look to the technicians to see if everyone has had that opportunity; and we will take our time, not to worry.

Not to worry, it has come to my attention we have a couple of delegates who are having difficulty with their ability to vote. So, this is why we’re doing the practice so that we can flush out any bugs.

If you can please give me just a moment. We’re having a few technical issues, and I will get back to you. So, just give me one moment, not to worry, we will ge through this. Thank you.

So, just to bring everyone up to speed, the test question that was used was originally done when we were explaining the platform; and as a result, when you had voted then, it automatically locked in that vote. It wasn’t reset. So, that is why some of you may be having some trouble, because you can only vote once.

So, not to worry, we are creating a new test question, and we will do another poll.

So, thank you very much for your patience, and we will administer a poll shortly.

Okay, so now we are going to another test question, and keep in mind in order to see it or to vote, you need to click on the tab that has ‘ballot box’ on it. So, the question is: Which room of the house are you presently in: the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom or the basement. Once again, please go to the ballot box in order to see the ballot. I will now open the vote.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: So, I will ask the question of the technicians: Has everyone had an opportunity to vote? Is anyone seeking technical assistance?

Okay, it’s come to my attention there are a couple of delegates who are just having a bit of a tech issue. So, we will just wait for them to resolve those issues.

There is a point, Stacey.

Point of Order Stacey Goegan: Should we be allowed to be having discussion while the vote is open? Is that an issue?

Sharon DeSousa: Not normally, no. So, this is a practice test that we’re doing.

When we actually go to the vote, all discussion will cease, and you will not be allowed to submit any comments.

So, I have a point by Kyrn.

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Point of Order Kyrn Evans: Hi, for those that are struggling in the discussion, this is just a test. So, that’s why we’re discussing it; but for Leslie and a lot of the people, I think they’re looking for this ballot under the ‘interactive sessions’ tab, when they need to go to the Yukon Employee’s Union tab and go under the guest speaker.

We’ll always have to bounce out of this live screen and into that one to go to the ballot box, folks. So, just go to the correct tab. I just wanted everyone to know that. Thank you so much.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. I’m going to get confirmation, because it may be a little bit different for every delegate. So, give me just one moment.

Thank you very much. So, I just wanted to clarify. I do recognize there’s another point. However, I’m just going to address the previous point.

So, having had an opportunity to view the tablet, under the YEU main page, you have a list of different options. Then, under ‘guest speaker’ you can click on the one that says ‘ballot box’, and then, it will ask you the question about the poll, and you click ‘yes’, and that will allow the ballot to be opened. So, just to clarify that.

Now, I have a point by Teresa.

Point of Privilege Teresa Acheson: I just wanted to… Just so you’re aware, there was just a notice from NorthwesTel, which is our internet provider here, that there is a potential internet and cable service interruption between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. this morning, which is going to affect our members connecting from that area. I realize we’re already in that tme zone, so, that may cause some issues.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. What we will do is if we are in the middle of an election, if there are problems with delegates voting, we will wait so that everyone has an opportunity to vote, and we will have confirmaton of that; but thank you for bringing that point of privilege up to the mike.

Okay, so I am just going to ask if I can just have one moment, please.

Thank you. So, I’m going to ask the technicians: Has everyone had an opportunity to vote; and the answer is ‘no’. We’re still experiencing some technical difficulties. So, we will just hold for a moment until we resolve those issues.

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Point of Privilege Justin Lemphers: Good morning. It’s good to see you, Sharon. Just a point of privilege, please. Just a question about the vote being anonymous. I know that under normal circumstances, the vote is anonymous. Is the requirement to check the ‘vote anonymous’ box? Do they get unchecked? I’m just looking for some instructions. Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: So, just to let you know, on an actual ballot, that field will not appear, so, not to worry. So, just to let you know, what we’re trying to do for those who are having difficulty finding the ballot box, we’re trying to get a screen shot so that we’re able to walk those delegates through how to locate it.

Now you should all be able to see it. You see ‘guest speaker’, and below that, you see ‘ballot box’. So, I will now ask the technicians… We will just give them a couple of minutes.

Okay, and so, once again, I am going to ask: Has everyone had an opportunity to vote?

(No audible response) Sharon DeSousa: And so, my understanding is yes, everyone’s had an opportunity to vote. So, I will close the vote, and I will ask that the results be shown.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Sharon DeSousa: And so, we see that we have seven delegates in their kitchen, 25 in their living room, 10 in their bedroom and 10 in their basement.

So, thank you for participating in that test poll; and I’m glad to see that we, in fact, were able to mitigate any kind of technical issues.

Election of President Sharon DeSousa: So, now I am going to start the actual election, and the first position is the position of president. So, I have received one nomination form, and the nomination form is for Steve Geick, nominated by Darcy Kasper and seconded by Derek Yap. Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for President three times from the floor.

Sharon DeSousa: We do have a delegate. I have Leslie James.

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Leslie James nominated Justin Lemphers for president, seconded by Roberta Wurtak.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for President closed.

Justin Lemphers declined.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. Justin’s name will be withdrawn from the nominations.

Steve Geick accepted.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. As nominations have been closed, you are acclaimed as President for Yukon Employees’ Union, congratulations!

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Sharon.

Sharon DeSousa: And would you like a moment to address the delegates?

President addressed the delegates Steve Geick: I want to thank everybody, especially my nominator and my seconder. It has been an absolute privilege to work with everybody up until this point; and it will be even more of a privilege to carry it through the next two years, which I am expecting it’s not going to be an easy two years. But thank you, it is awesome to have the support, and I’m ready. YEU is ready. Let’s get her done.

Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much.

Election of 1st Vice President Sharon DeSousa: So, next we will be moving to the next position, which is for Vice-President. I have received two forms. The first form is for Justin Lemphers, who’s nominated by Darcy Kasper; and seconded by Leslie James. And the second nomination form I have is for Teresa Acheson and nominated by JulieAnn Abel and seconded by Gerard Tremblay.

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for 1st Vice-President three times from the floor.

Daryl Stenson nominated Jan Slipetz for 1st Vice-President, Seconded by Sheri Shuskeski Charlene Smith nominated Roberta Wurtak for 1st Vice-President, Seconded by Derrick Andersen.

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Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for 1st Vice-President closed.

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: I tried to call Emilie or someone at their number. I heard Justin was nominated, and that was it. I lost audio and video, and if there was any voting going on, I had to actually remove myself right out of the tablet and get back in. I’ve missed everything between then and now.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, thank you very much. Your point is well taken. Just to let you know, Justin withdrew his name from the nomination; and as a result Steve Geick has been acclaimed as President for YEU. And so, now I’m in the process of conducting the election for the Vice-President, and I am now moving through the nominations from the floor to see if they accept, okay?

So, in reverse order from the nominations that have been received, I am asking the question. So, Roberta, do you wish to stand for the nomination?

Roberta Wurtak declined.

Sharon DeSousa:

So, Roberta has declined. I will remove her name.

Next I will ask Jan Slipetz to come to a mike.

Jan Slipetz declined.

Sharon DeSousa: mike.

So, next I have Teresa, and I will ask Teresa to come to a

Teresa Acheson accepted and will speak on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: I will ask Justin Lemphers’ mike be opened. Justin, we have received your form. So, that indicates to me that you still wish to stand for the nomination.

Justin Lemphers accepted and will speak on his own behalf.

Candidates for 1st vice-president addressed delegates Sharon DeSousa: So, in reverse order of receipt of the forms, Teresa, you have three minutes in which to speak to the delegation, and the mike will be cut at the three-minute mark, and I will ask the technicians to place three minutes on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

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Teresa Acheson: Greetings to all delegates, and my regards to the locals you represent, as we all live and work on the land of the 14 Yukon First Nations, gathering as best we can during this pandemic and to continue the work and direction for Yukon Employees’ Union.

My sympathies to our members in Faro and anyone else connected to the tragedy this week.

I moved to the Yukon in 1999 and started my first union job in 2002. I’ve held various local positions and have been my local Vice-President and President for the last 10 years. I would love to be your next V.P. for Yukon Employees’ Union, and I think I could do an excellent job and add value and move YEU forward over these next two years.

I’ve had two terms on the Board of Directors; and during that time, I’ve been Treasurer, on the Finance Committee, Personnel Committee and Local Liaison Committee. Each of these gives me a greater understanding of where our union dues go, how we can best direct those to support our locals and our members; a growing sense of pride for the work of our YEU staff and activists and a joy in helping locals thrive.

As I connected with local activists, we could better identify trouble spots and repeated employer tactics that might be impacting more than one area. We also know that locals need help rebuilding and engaging members. One of my best experiences was connecting with Teegatha’Oh Zheh Local Y040 to help them reactivate. This was one of our locals going into receivership with no active executive and no dues coming back to the local; and I know how important every bit of support is for each of our locals. So, I connected with members, helped them host their AGM, explained some roles and benefits of the union, built up some enthusiasm and offered practical support.

I also have experience advocating for Yukon members regionally and nationally.

I have attended regional and national conventions, equity conferences, participated on the North Regional Council, Chair of the Yukon Women’s Committee, as well as executive positions on the Area Council. I am asking for your vote so I can now use my training and experience for YEU. I have had some fantastic role models and mentors over the years, and I’m so grateful for the inspiration from the recent PSAC Women’s Conference and the UALE Women’s Union School that encouraged me to step into this opportunity.

I am also grateful for the many different people that I have met through the union; and to be honest, if I’d stayed in my comfort zone, I may not have gotten to know all of these new friends. To me, that’s the beauty of the union. It brings us all together. We might have different backgrounds, beliefs, lifestyles, cultures, abilities; but we all deal with employers who sometimes think more of their bottom line than the people who dedicate one-third of their lives.

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I am doing this for the humanity of all, and I ask for your vote.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much.

So, now I will ask Justin’s mike be opened, and that three minutes be placed on the clock; and Justin, the clock will start when you start speaking.

Justin Lemphers: Thank you to everyone. It’s my honour to be here today with you all virtually. I’m actually at home right now. I’m sitting in the traditional territory of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Kwanlin Dün people, and it is my great privilege to have spent the last year-and-a-half working for the people of Burwash Landing, Kluane First Nation. You know, it’s been a really, really intense year, and we have all learned so much in the last year-and-a-half. We’ve learned about moving forward with COVID, about how we’re going to work together as a labour organization with employers, with employees, with new challenges that we’ve had with Yukon Government. The biggest employer that Yukon Employees’ Union has under its belt just released its work from home policy. So, there’s a lot of work to be done here, and there is so much new ground that we have to navigate, and I know I can do this with you. This is whether or not you choose to elect me. I know that I am going to be engaged, and I have been and will continue to be there, supporting you all as a shop steward, as someone who has been active in the locals, with someone who is active, both politically and within the communities. I think for me the big thing is where we choose to invest our intentions going forward, and one of the reasons that I’ve been so excited to work for Kluane First Nation for the last year-and-a-half is because I felt I wasn’t doing enough personally on the reconciliation front; and being able to work for a First Nation government and really understand the challenges that they’re faced with on a day-to-day basis, both operationally, but also, politically, it’s been incredibly eye-opening. And my hope is that with my labour experience and past role with the Yukon Federation of Labour and on this Executive Council years ago, that you see the potential, that you see that we have a clear and united opportunity to move forward on issues like reconciliation, on issues like climate concerns, the crisis that we’re in right now. Now is not the time to be timid about how we approach management and how we approach employers, how we approach government. Now is the time to pull our gloves on and start swinging, because we don't have much time left. So, I don't want to be alarmist. I want to go into this with hope, and I want to say that we can do this together.

So, with that, I ask for your support, and thank you for being here. Have a good day.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much. So, now that concludes the speeches.

Sharon DeSousa asked the technician to create the ballot.

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VOTE IS OPENED. VOTE IS CLOSED. RESULTS OF VOTE FOR 1st VICE-PRESIDENT Justin Lemphers – 32 % Teresa Acheson – 18 % Sharon DeSousa: It gives me pleasure to announce that Justin Lemphers is successful as your Vice President for YEU. Congratulations, Justin. Would you like an opportunity to address the delegates?

Justin Lemphers: Thank you, and my apologies. I will slow down. Thank you so much, Leslie and Darcy, for the nomination, and thanks to Teresa for putting your name out there, and for everyone else who considered this opportunity, this role.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I sincerely look forward to working with you all. If you don't know already how to get a hold of me, you will know soon, and I am reachable any time. So, if there are any concerns that you want brought forward, please let me know. I look forward to working with you all and with the new executive. Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. So, next, we are going to take a 15minute break, and then, I will be conducting the elections within the communities’ caucus.

Convention adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

Convention resumed at 1:30 p.m.

Sharon DeSousa: Welcome back. So I have a couple of announcements to make. First of all, we had our caucus on communities, and it gives me great pleasure to announce that Tony Thomas has been acclaimed as Vice-President of Communities; Shawnna Boone has been acclaimed as community director; and as well, we conducted the election for the community seat at the PSAC National Triennial Convention, and Shawnna Boone has been elected for that.

And we conducted our equity caucus, and Roberta Wurtak has been acclaimed as your Equity Director. So, congratulations.

And now, I’m going to request a Credentials Committee report, and it will take us a couple of minutes just to roll up that report. So, please stand by.

Fifth Report of Credentials Committee 50 delegates 25 observers, techs and staff Total 75

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Motion #30-2021 Motion to adopt the Credentials Committee Report.

MOVED: Charlene Smith

SECONDED: Derrick Andersen

Sharon DeSousa called the question.

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: nominate for V.P.

Hi, this morning I could not nominate the person I wanted to

Sharon DeSousa: Sorry, I’m in the middle of the vote right now. Are you having technical issues at this moment?

Kyrn Evans:

Not that I’m aware of.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, I am going to complete this vote, and I just need confirmation. So, with your indulgence and your patience, I ask if you can just give me a moment. I would like to conclude this vote.

CARRIED. Sharon DeSousa: Now, I have a point.

Kyrn Evans: This morning with the technical glitch that I had, I could not nominate a person for Vice-President. And when I came back in, thank you very much, you filled me in as to where we were so far; but I found out later that nominations were called from the floor already. So, I put my hand up to try to get the proceedings to stop before we went forward any further; because we need to put a motion in place that somehow, people need to be able to nominate, then vote; not just vote. And it was really frustrating this morning, because I did try to reach out, but everybody was run off their feet down there, and you guys were doing the best you can, which I appreciate. But I didn’t get to vote for a V.P. – or nominate a V.P., but I got in right at the end when I just barely was able to vote for Justin – congratulations. But we couldn’t stop the proceedings.

So, could we put a motion forward for that kind of stuff going forward today?

Sharon DeSousa: So, just to let you know, first I apologize. I misspoke your name. It’s very important that we respect each other by identifying each other.

So, I just want to say when I acknowledged your point of privilege, you stated that you had missed the deliberations, and I had proceeded to explain where we were in the process, and I was now speaking to those who were nominated. If at that point in time it was stated, “Listen, I want to nominate someone,” I would have reopened the nominations so that you could have put that name forward.

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I do recognize that there are technical issues, and I am trusting that our technical advisors at the side who support us are indicating whether or not there are issues. So, I recognize you were completely booted out, and I know how frustrating that is. So, in terms of slowing down the process, I can definitiely do that; but the best way is somehow there needs to be communication, in which – as the Chair – I am able to get some indication that there’s a problem, and that’s why I ask the questions.

So, what I would recommend to delegates: If you are having problems – I know we have processes in place to contact tech support or to do a point; but if you somehow indicate, I will slow down the process to be fair and to be transparent so you have your democratic right. Does that sound – Kyrn Evans: I do get what you’re saying. As I think through it, I may have misinterpreted you about where we were; and it was, “Okay, great,” with the answer you gave; but then, realized afterward that the nominations from the floor were done while I was absent. So, that’s why I got caught up afterwards, and I’m, like, “Oh, crap.”

So, as soon as I was aware, I put my hand up, but I had to vote for Justin first, because I was voting, right? So, I totally – Sharon DeSousa: I hear you.

Kyrn Evans:

But I will back down so we can keep going.

Sharon DeSousa: Wonderful, and thank you so much, once again, for your patience and understanding.

So, we have some exciting, exciting elections to complete.

Young Worker Representative on Executive Sharon DeSousa: Our next one is the Young Worker Representative on the Executive; and just to let you know, normally, the young worker election is done in a caucus. However, at this point in time, we do not have enough young workers to actually have a caucus. So, what does this mean? Every person has to be nominated and seconded; and technically, only those who are part of the Young Worker caucus can vote. In this case, because we do not have enough, we will accept nominations from the floor, and that person will have to accept the nomination. My understanding is there are only two individuals, who have selfidentified as a young worker. So, we will conduct this election in the plenary, okay?

So, now we will begin the actual election.

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Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for young worker three times from the floor.

Sherry Masters nominated Jordan Laudon for young worker, seconded by Tony Thomas.

Teresa Acheson nominated Stephanie Coulthard for young worker, seconded by Daryl Stenson.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for young worker closed.

Sharon DeSousa:

Stephanie.

Stephanie Coulthard declined.

Sharon DeSousa: I will remove Stephanie from the list.

Jordan Laudon accepted the nomination and was acclaimed young worker director for YEU. Sharon DeSousa: Would you like to address the plenary, Jordan?

Jordan Laudon: Sure, I would be happy to say a couple of words. I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part of the YEU in this capacity; and I think – perhaps not surprisingly – as someone who’s only become interested in the union within the last several years, I suspect that might have something to do with why I am one of the limited people interested in the spot; but as an employee of Diamond Tooth Gerties up in Dawson, I’ve been here for eight seasons and only become really interested and involved in the union within the last four; but I very much look forward to working on this and hopefully, to engaging with some people my age or perhaps a bit younger, as well. Anyhow, I very much looking forward to the work. Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Once again, congratualtions.

Election of Secretary Sharon DeSousa: We will be moving on to the next position, and that’s the position of Secretary. I do not have any nomination forms. So, I will now ask for nominations from the floor for the position of Secretary.

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for Secretary three times from the floor.

Roberta Wurtak nominated Teresa Acheson for Secretary, Seconded by Tamera Johnson.

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Teresa Acheson nominated Charlene Smith for Secretary, Seconded by Janine Peters.

Sharon DeSousa:

I just received confirmation someone is coming to the mike.

Derrick Andersen nominated Kyrn Evans for Secretary, Seconded by Stephanie Coulthard.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for Secretary closed.

Sharon DeSousa: the nomination?

So, in reverse order, I will ask Kyrn, do you wish to stand for

Kyrn Evans declined.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you so much. I will remove you from the list.

Next I will ask Charlene Smith.

Charlene Smith declined.

Sharon DeSousa:

Next I have Teresa Acheson.

Teresa Acheson accepted the nomination and was acclaimed Secretary of YEU. Sharon DeSousa:

Would you like to address the delegates?

Teresa Acheson: opportunity.

Thank you very much to my nominators, and I appreciate the

Election of Treasurer Sharon DeSousa: So, next we have the position of Treasurer, and I have received one nomination form, and that form is for Derek Yap, nominated by Teresa Acheson and seconded by Derrick Anderson.

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for Treasurer three times from the floor.

Sharon DeSousa:

I have confirmation that there are no further speakers.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for Treasurer closed.

Sharon DeSousa: It gives me great pleasure to announce that Derek Yap has been acclaimed. Derek, would you like to address the delegates?

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Derek Yap: Thank you so much. It’s an honour and a privilege. It’s been great serving in the last term, and I look forward to the next couple of years, thanks.

Election of Six Directors Sharon DeSousa: So, next we have our six directors; and because of our platform that we’re using, normally what would happen is we’d use what’s known as by ‘plurality ballot’. That means all the nominations would come in and be seconded, and you would choose the top six, and it would be then ranked.

Unfortunately, our platform does not allow for that. So, we have to do each and every one individually. So, we have six elections to go through for the position of director.

Now, keeping that in mind, if you have spoken once and you’re allowed your three-minute speech, we are going to ask that you do not speak again; because we still have the elections for the PSAC National Triennial Convention to go through, and those are individual elections, and there are seven of them, as well, just to clarify the process.

So, we have six director positions. You will be given an opportunity to speak once, and then, if you are nominated again, we will not have you speak again, okay?

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for directors from the floor for the first time.

Sharon DeSousa: I have two nomination forms that have been received. The first one is for Leslie James, nominated by Justin Lemphers and seconded by Jonathan Deline.

Teresa Acheson nominated Sherry Masters, seconded by Shawnna Boone.

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for directors from the floor for the first time.

David Johnson nominated Derrick Andersen, Seconded by Tamera Johnson.

Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for directors from the floor for the second time.

Roberta Wurtak nominated Khairul Alam, Seconded by Tony Thomas.

Tamera Johnson nominated Kyrn Evans, seconded by David Johnson.

Derrick Andersen nominated Charlene Smith, seconded by Roberta Wurtak.

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Stephanie Coulthard nominated Lisa Vollens-Leduc, seconded by Daryl Stenson.

Sherry Masters nominated Julie Abel, seconded by Teresa Acheson.

Leslie James nominated Lisa Keenan, seconded by Justin Lemphers.

Point of Privilege Tamera Johnson: We got booted out, and I was getting a lot of messages to unmute, but I wasn’t even in the session. So, sorry about that.

Sharon DeSousa: point of privilege?

Not a problem. What’s your point? Is it a point of order or a

Tamera Johnson: Oh, I was wondering if there was any way of getting a screen share of all the lists of people who have put their names forward so far.

Sharon DeSousa: So, as we’re taking the nominations from the floor, we’re compiling a ballot list. So, that ballot list will be available. What we’re hoping to do is screen shoot it as we go ahead and – keep in mind – in reverse order, people need to accept the nomination and do their three-minute speech. So, I’m going to ask the technician that that be made available to the group, okay?

Tamera Johnson: Okay, the list is just getting long, and if we start renominating people who have already been nominated, that’s all I was wondering.

Sharon DeSousa: right?

I hear you, and keep in mind, we’re doing this six times,

Tamera Johnson:

Yes.

Sharon DeSousa: person at a time.

So, there are six of these elections to be done for one

Having said that, I was in the middle of accepting a nomination from Jan Slipetz.

Jan Slipetz nominated Stacey Goegan, seconded by Daryl Stenson.

Teresa Acheson nominated Gary Mckone, seconded by Tony Thomas.

Jan Slipetz nominated Daryl Stenson, seconded by Stacey Goegan.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations for Directors closed.

Daryl Stenson declined.

Gary Mckone accepted and will speak on his own behalf.

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Stacey Goegan accepted and will speak on her own behalf.

Lisa Keenan accepted and will have Leslie James speak on her behalf.

Julie Abel accepted and will speak on her own behalf.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc accepted and will speak on her own behalf.

Charlene Smith accepted and will have Derrick Andersen speak on her behalf.

Kyrn Evans accepted and will speak on her own behalf.

Khairul Alam declined.

Derrick Andersen accepted and will speak on his own behalf.

Written forms: Sherry Masters will speak on her own behalf.

Leslie James will speak on his own behalf.

Candidates for directors addressed delegates Sharon DeSousa: I will ask Gary’s mike to be opened and three minutes be placed on the clock, and the clock will start when Gary starts speaking.

Gary Mckone: My name is Gary Mckone. I just want to say ‘thank you’ to my nominators for showing the faith in me to nominate me for this position; and I want to just speak to the fact that we’re all members in this union, and I thank you all for your support in everything that we are doing.

I’ve been part of Y023 since 2008. I’ve been on the executive since 2015 in various positions, as a shop steward, as a chief shop steward and as a 2nd VicePresident and as a 1st Vice-President; and now, as we have merged our executives to Y046, I am 1st Vice-President.

I’d like to say that I’m very dedicated in helping others within our union, and I look forward to being able to help as many people as I can in this role as director, thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. Next I will ask Stacey Goegan. You have three minutes to speak.

Stacey Goegan: Okay, thank you. My name is Stacey Goegan. I have been a union steward for the last couple of years now. I work in healthcare and YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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continuing care. It sort of keeps me on my toes. I have a lot of energy for trying to make the workplace a better place, and I really feel like I can do that through the union.

I’m thrilled that my nominator has chosen me, and I would like to say ‘thank you’, and I will give it everything that I’ve got if I am elected. Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much, Next I have Lisa Keenan, and Lisa has requested that Leslie James speak on her behalf. Leslie, the clock will start when you start speaking.

Leslie James: Good afternoon, fellow delegates. It is my pleasure to nominate Lisa Keenan for the position of director. As you may know, I am on Y010’s executive at the moment, and Lisa has been – to be perfectly blunt – practically a god-send, because when I’m unable to accomplish things, she gets it done for me; and she brings a level of wisdom and experience that has thankfully made my time at Y010 far more enjoyable. And I consider Lisa to be someone that I have implicit trust in. She works currently for the Department of Education, and she was instrumental in helping to get the current JLM up and running with that department. She brings forth a wealth of knowledge and experience, and Lisa has a drive to ensure that our members are served, and she puts in a significant effort to making sure that the membership gets the best services it possibly can; and I think that Lisa is a truly excellent candidate, and I heartedly endorse her.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much.

Next I have Julie Abel, and there are three minutes on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

Julie Anne Abel: Hello, my name is Julie Anne Abel. I live in Mayo, so I’m in the communities. I am the President of Local Y034 in Mayo, and also, the Manager and Territorial Agent at the Mayo Liquor Store. I’ve been involvement with the union for the past five years since I’ve started at the liquor store, and was the Secretary-Treasurer previous to being elected President, as our President retired last year. I was Secretary-Treasurer, because not a lot of people want to volunteer for that position. Otherwise, I would have rather ran for shop steward, but I did that for a few years.

So, in the communities, I really like to focus a little bit on the communities and getting them involved in what’s going on in Whitehorse, because sometimes, it feels like we’re kind of just out there, and it’s nice to have an idea of what’s going on in Whitehorse. So, I think as a director, it would be good for me to get to know.

I speak to a lot of people, because I am in a very people-oriented job. I’d like to see some more bargaining input from the communities. The AOC and the casual abuse In the communities is extreme, and there are some things that I just think YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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are things that would be nice to know what’s going on and how we can maybe work with the management to change.

Also, I think a joint labour-management committee is an amazing start, and hopefully, we can also get the communities more involved with that; because a lot of the managers I know in the communities are fairly receptive or even come to me, asking me questions. There are a lot of supervisors that are also union members. So, that can be tricky, and I try to give people as much advice as I can.

I kind of had things set up for the community members, and I was at the CALC convention this year. I went to the past two triennial PSAC North Conventions.

I’m taking Labour Studies through Athabasca University on my own time, and I think I would be a great candidate for director. Thank you very much.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much.

Next I have Lisa Vollans-Leduc, and I will ask that three minutes be placed on the clock, and Lisa, when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Thank you. I would like to thank Stephanie and Derrick for the nomination and the seconder; and I just want to let the convention floor know that Canada has continued to fight for First Nation kids in court. This just went through. APTN’s reported on it. Shame, shame on the Federal Government.

Conciliation and decolonizing practises within our union and with the employer are going to be my priorities, based on items brought from convention floor to ensure that [unintelligible] that I may be able to be part of if I’m elected into this director position.

Over time – more than a decade – I would say in the last five years, like 2016, I volunteered my time. When I was active, the positions I held were: director on YEU component, which included being on the Personnel Committee, hiring, disciplinary, bargaining from the employer’s side of things. I was Local Y017 President, I was an active shop steward. I was a shop steward educator around mental wellness and health at work. I was a Chair of the PSAC Yukon Pride Committee. I was a PSAC North rep for a National Equity Committee. I was selected to sit on the Finance Committee for a national convention. I have participated in other committees for PSAC North and YEU conventions since probably about 2005 forward. I participated in joint labour-management meetings for many areas of Health & Social Services in Local Y017. I participated in bargaining with the employer with Yukon Government, and this is the first year that I was not part of the bargaining input. I was in school, taking political science, as well as psychology for the last three years.

I believe YEU and all employers need to act. We should hold each other accountable, follow our collective agreements and be supportive within our union scope supervisors. I feel that their voices are often neglected when a grievance comes up around decisions that they’re making. I found when I was in an acting YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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supervisory position, I did not get the support from the union when I made a decision around a member; yet, just the day before my opinion would have been supported, the same year during bargaining, our union bargained out what I was trying to hold our member to account for. So, that was a little frustrating.

And I stand here today, and I’m bringing up a lot of stuff; and I think it’s important that we challenge each other as an organization and as members to do what’s best for all of us. I can’t see how much time I have left, so I’m just curious about that.

Sharon DeSousa: I apologize. There seems to be a technical glitch, in which the clock did not show.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Okay.

Sharon DeSousa:

My understanding is that your time is up, Lisa.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: I’ve got six seconds: Please get vaccinated. Please encourage everyone you know to do the same. We are frontline workers, and we are public servants first and foremost. Thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you. So, next on my list, I have Charlene Smith, and I would like confirmation that the clock is up.

And Charlene has her nominator speaking for her, and that’s Derrick Andersen.

So, just before we start, I want to confirm that we can see the clock.

Thank you, I’ve got confirmation the clock is ready; and so, Derrick Andersen, when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Derrick Andersen: It’s my privilege to nominate Charlene Smith for this position.

Charlene’s been a dedicated member of the Board this term. She comes from Local Y017, where she’s been an active member for many years in her involvement with the local Board and as a shop steward. In her time with the YEU executive, she’s been the Board’s secretary, which we all know is an arduous position; and she’s also been the Public Relations Committee Chair, and with that position, she’s been responsible for taking on the duties of organizing the community laundry project, which was very big in helping out some of the less fortunate to get some much-needed service for their laundry needs, and also, providing some food while they were having that project done. And all the fees were paid and laundry products and everything provided. And she also organizes events and initiatives as the Public Relations Committee Chair. She organizes our Labour Day barbecue to feed the people and trade shows and donations to the Food Bank. She’s been very active on the Board in behind the scenes and everything, as well. So, she’s a very dedicated member, and I think that will transition well into the role of director. So, I would highly recommend her for this position, as I think it would translate well. Thank you.

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Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much.

Next I have Kyrn Evans, and I will ask that three minutes be placed on the clock, and I will ask that Kyrn’s mike be opened. And the clock will start when you start speaking; and I just want confirmation everyone can see the clock. I do see it, so Kyrn, please go ahead.

Kyrn Evans: Good afternoon. My name is Kyrn Evans. I’d like to thank my nominator, Tammie; my seconder, as well. Thank you very much. I would like to say ‘hello’ to everyone, and it’s been a good three days. I just want everyone to know that I am new to the union business. I’ve been in Y017 since the start in 2010 but did not start with the union until two conventions ago. So, that also means that this is my second YEU convention. I sit right now as an executive director – or a director, I suppose, sorry – with Y017 right now and the lovely Darcy Kasper. He is our saving grace. I’m very eager to learn, and I’m very engaged with the members of our local here at continuing care, as well.

I’ve been part of bargaining two previous sessions. I wasn’t part of the last one. I have a voice. I do want to be heard. I’m passionate about the things that we members need, and I do find that I think engaging our members the best that we can in trying to do as much change, but also listening to what the peoples’ needs are, as well, is really good; and I would enjoy this opportunity. I’ve also been a part of the Pride Parade and seeing the people.

I really do appreciate the nomination, and I really, really would like to be involved with YEU and get on board and start making some bigger changes and exciting changes and new changes. So, I appreciate the nomination, and I hope I can get in there with everyone, too. Thanks so much, everyone, and it’s on to the next one.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you very much. I just would like to point out to the technician that the clock does not appear on the main screen when the delegates speak. I’m requesting that the clock be shown when the candidate is speaking.

So, next on my list, I have Derrick Andersen, and I just would like to have confirmation that the clock appears on the delegates’ screen. [technical glitch with timer; staff utilize manual timer] Sharon DeSousa:

So, Derrick, when you start speaking, the timer will start.

Derrick Andersen: I have had the privilege to work alongside this executive this term, and prior to that, I was with the Y023 executive. I served there as the Chief Shop Steward, and then, the local President, where I felt that when I got on as a director that I would step down as the President to dedicate my time solely as YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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the director, because I felt it would take away from the members, that I couldn’t dedicate enough time to that position as the President of the local.

During my time as a member, I’ve taken a lot of mental health and wellness courses to be a mental health activist, back to work and accommodation courses through Harrison Hot Springs, PSAC, the Yukon Federation of Labour; and I’d like to continue on in this role, because I think we need more dedication in those areas, and I’d like to work with this Board to continue on in that aspect with the acclaimed President, the newly-elected Vice-President and whatever Board comes out of today. I think whoever gets elected will do a great job, and I would like to continue on with it and do good things and keep the union strong and focused. And I thank you for your continued support.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much, Derrick.

Next on my list I have Sherry Masters, and I will ask Sherry to come to a mike, and I will ask the staff to put three minutes on the clock; and when you start speaking, Sherry, the clock will start.

Sherry Masters: I have been local President of Y0108, KVA Diamond Tooth Gerties, for the last three years. I’ve also been on the Regional Women’s Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, Access Committee and Area Council. I am treasurer for Access and Regional Women’s Committee. I am a director for communities for Area Council. On the Regional Women’s Committee, I have helped to arrange for baskets to come to the communities, which is now happening. Pride in Dawson, I organized YEU’s involvement in Pride. I am a trustee for the Federation of Labour. I’ve been on the YEU Education Committee, which I really enjoyed. I would like to continue the work that’s been done on the Education Committee.

In our local, I have worked to get our labour management meetings up and running again, as well as our health and safety and have been successful at it.

I’ve been present for the President’s calls since COVID has started. I advocated for the safe COVID protocols at my workplace. Particularly with dealers, there are a lot of safety issues with COVID, and we’ve run safe.

One of the things about me is I show up. I’m there; I’m present. I’m also on my bargaining team, and I will be continuing to work on that. Thank you very much Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much, Sherry.

Next on my list I have Leslie James. I will ask that Leslie’s mike be unmuted, and I will ask that three minutes be placed on the clock, and I can ask one of the staff to please start the clock when Leslie starts speaking.

Leslie James: Good afternoon, delegates. My name is Leslie James. I am the current President of Local Y010, and I guess a bit about myself is I came to YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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the Yukon in 2017. I was a local president in Saskatchewan and Manitoba before I came here, and I fell in love with the Yukon, and I was asked to join the local executive in 2018 by the past President; and I’ve been pretty much in there like a dirty shirt ever since, because I do love working for the union, because doing my part to get our membership engaged and to give them the protections that they need is something that is very near and dear to my heart; and I joined the bargaining team last round on the monetary table, and I had the privilege and pleasure of being elected to serve on both the non-monetary and monetary tables for this round of bargaining. And I think regardless of who you elect, we have an excellent group of candidates for directorship for YEU. This makes me very happy, and I’m really happy to see this is a contested election, as it means there’s more engagement, and there are more people who want to be involved, and that is fantastic news from my perspective.

As I was saying, working for Local Y010, I served as our secretary and assistant chief steward at the same time. It’s always fun to double-hat, and I served as the temporary President briefly before I became elected as President, and during that time, I learned a lot. If I am elected to a directorship, one of the things that I really want to work on is better community engagement, because my substantive position as a paramedic allowed me to work as a regional supervisor. So, I got to look over half of the Territory for ambulance stations and getting out to travel and meet people in the communities was amazing, and I really think we need to do a better job of reaching out to them, and I really think that it’s very important that we do what we can to re-energize our base when it comes to the membership to really engage them, and I think we need to do more member services. Those would be the things that I would like to work on, should I become a director, and I think with that, I will stop my time; and I say ‘good luck’ to all the candidates, and I look forward to seeing our new executive.

Sharon DeSousa:

Thank you very much, Leslie.

That concludes our speeches. So, now I will ask the technicians to build the ballot, and the ballot should read: Leslie James, Sherry Masters, Derrick Andersen, Kyrn Evans, Charlene Smith Lisa Vollans-Leduc, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary McKone.

Once I have confirmation that the ballot has been made, I will then open the vote.

I just have confirmation that the ballot has been made, so, now I will ask the technicians to open the vote.

VOTE IS OPENED. (one delegate) Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Two people who received one vote: Lisa Keenan and Gary Mckone, were dropped from the ballot and a second vote was conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. (one delegate) Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Kyrn Evans was dropped from the ballot, and a third vote was conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Technical glitch necessitated the ballot be redone and voted on.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Julie Abel’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fourth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Stacey Goegan’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fifth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

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Charlene Smith’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a sixth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Technical glitch necessitated the ballot being redone and voted on.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Leslie James’ name was dropped from the ballot, and a seventh vote conducted.

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: I believe myself and some other people might have lost video. We can’t see it. Can we put the results in the discussion board if that’s the case? Please and thank you.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, the request was: Put the results in the discussion. I’m not sure if we have the capacity to do that.

I’m looking to the technichian for direction.

So, I have one point that I have addressed, and I believe that you can put the results in the discussion. Yes, so, we will go ahead and do that.

Do we have another point?

Yes, we were told that there are six people without any video. So, we will put the results in the discussion.

I’m asking the question: Do I have another point?

Point of Privilege Derrick Andersen: I was just going to say a new poll showed up on my screen with Leslie’s name on it, but I think they’re correcting it now.

Sharon DeSousa: Yes, so I haven’t opened the vote. They will fix the ballot, and then, I will confirm that the ballot has been amended and corrected, and then, I will open the vote. Thank you very much for letting me know that.

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Technical glitch, several delegates lost video, so the information is put into the discussion to show results.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Sherry Master’s name was dropped from the ballot.

Point of Order Sheri Shuskeski:

There were four names on my ballot.

Point of Order Kyrn Evans: I, too, was texting Emilie with the same issue, and I do have screen shots, showing that there were four people’s names on that ballot; and I did not vote on the last one because of it. So, I was trying to get the attention – Sharon DeSousa: Okay, there was a technical glitch. We need to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to vote.

So, I am requesting that Sherry Masters’ name be put back on the ballot, and we will redo that ballot. I need confirmation from the technicians that the names are accurate and that the ballot is accurate.

So, as we are creating that, only after I say ‘open the vote’ do you go to the ballot box. Otherwise, you’ll see the previous ballot.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Sherry Masters’ name was dropped from the ballot, and an eighth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED.

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Technical glitch necessitated the ballot being redone and voted on.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Lisa Vollans-Leduc was the successful candidate for the first director position.

Sharon DeSousa: On that note, Lisa, do you want to address the delegates briefly?

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Never briefer, thank you, everyone, have a good night.

Sharon DeSousa: Congratulations and thank you. Now what we will do is break for 15 minutes. Thank you so much for your understanding and your patience.

Convention adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Convention resumed at 3:57 p.m.

Sharon DeSousa: We’ve had a good break, and I do apologize for the technical issues that we’re having.

So, what I am going to ask is next we have the second director position; and it is my understanding that all the names have been submitted for the nominations; and as a result, everyone has spoken, had an opportunity to speak.

So, now what will happen is we will do another ballot, this time for the second director position, and you already have the names. If you can please remove Lisa Vollans-Leduc from that ballot. So, the ballot should state: Leslie James, Sherry Masters, Derrick Andersen, Kyrn Evans, Charlene Smith, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary Mckone.

Okay, I have confirmation. So, now for the second director position, I will now ask for the vote to be opened.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has had the opportunity to vote.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

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Gary Mckone’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a second vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Kyrn Evans, Julie Abel and Lisa Keenan’s names were dropped from the ballot, and a third vote conducted.

Kyrn Evans: Hi, can the moderators please post the results in the discussion box again, because we cannot see the screen, or at least I can’t.

Thank you so much.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you so much for your gentle reminder and your patience and understanding. We will make sure that that is posted in the discussion box. Thank you for that gentle reminder.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Derrick Andersen was the successful candidate for the second director position.

Sharon DeSousa: Now we will move to the election of the third director, and therefore, the ballot should consist of: Leslie James, Sherry Masters, Kyrn Evans, Charlene Smith, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary Mckone.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Gary McKone’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fourth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

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VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Lisa Keenan’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fifth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Kyrn Evans’ name was dropped from the ballot, and a sixth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Sherry Masters was the successful candidate for the third director position.

Point of Order Brigitte Parker: Can we just slow down the pace. Things aren’t loading very quickly, and I barely got my vote in – if at all – on that last round; and I wasn’t, like, doddling or anything. It’s just not loading.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, thank you so much for letting me know that there’s a delay in the tech. I will slow down. I do apologize. I was confirming that everyone had their vote in, but I will slow down. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

So, we will proceed to the next director position, the fourth director positon; and the ballot should read: Leslie James, Kyrn Evans, Charlene Smith, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary Mckone.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

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Gary McKone’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a second vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Kyrn Evans and Lisa Keenan’s names were dropped from the ballot, and a third vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Julie Abel’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fourth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Stacey Goegan’s name was dropped from the ballot, and a fifth vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Tie: Leslie James and Charlene Smith at 25 votes each.

The ballot was cleared, and a sixth vote conducted.

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Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Charlene Smith was the successful candidate for the fourth director position.

Sharon DeSousa: Now we will move on to the fifth director. So, the ballot should consist of Leslie James, Kyrn Evans, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary Mckone.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Leslie James was the successful candidate for the fifth director position.

Sharon DeSousa: So, I will ask a new ballot be created, and that ballot will have Kyrn Evans, Julie Abel, Lisa Keenan, Stacey Goegan and Gary Mckone.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: A simple majority was not obtained.

Kyrn Evans and Gary Mckone were tied for the lowest vote. Their names were dropped from the ballot, and a second vote conducted.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Julie Abel was the successful candidate for the sixth director position.

Sharon DeSousa: That concludes the director elections, and I’m just going to ask your indulgence for five minutes. I just need to speak with my technical advisor, and then, we will be moving on to the PSAC National Triennial elections.

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Election of Delegates to the PSAC National Convention Sharon DeSousa: So, the next order of business is selecting your delegates to the PSAC National Triennial Convention. So, what happens is your National President – in this case Steve Geick – being a national Board of Directors member automatically has a delegate spot by virtue of being a national Board of Directors’ member. And therefore, the next piece you need to be aware of is your YEU bylaws state that the Vice-President and the Vice-President for Communities are automatic delegates; and you recently passed Resolution B12, which provides a seat for a community representative, and that election has been done, as well.

Therefore, we need to elect seven delegates to the PSAC National Triennial Convention. So, what does this mean? Considering the time and with your indulgence and your patience, what I recommend is that we do nominations and we second the nominations and we do three-minute speeches like we normally do. However, we vote once and that one ballot will rank those who have put their name forward. That way, it will give you a ranking. If there is a tie within that ranking for the top seven seats, I will do a subsequent election to clarify those positions. Once again, I’m just going to explain: We will do one election to rank the individuals who have been nominated and seconded; and if there is a tie within the first seven positions, then what we would do is we would do a subsequent election to ensure that proper delegates are in order. For instance – and I’ll give you an example – say we have three people tied for first. We have another three people tied in second place Then we have four people tied for seven, eight, nine, ten. What we would do is we would do an election for that seven, eight, nine, ten to make sure we have our top seven, okay? Are we clear?

So, let’s start the process. I now would like to open the nominations for the PSAC National Triennial Convention. I will seek nominations from the floor.

I have received some paper copies that have just been handed to me. I apologize. They are in order: I have Derek Yap, nominated by Teresa Acheson and seconded by Derrick Andersen.

The second nomination form I have is for Teresa Acheson, nominated by Derek Yap, seconded by Derrick Andersen.

Then I have a nomination form for Roberta Wurtak, nominated by Derrick Andersen, seconded by Charlene Smith.

And for the fourth form, I have Derrick Andersen, nominated by Derek Yap and seconded by Charlene Smith.

If you can just give me a moment.

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Sharon DeSousa called for nominations from the floor for delegates to the National PSAC triennial convention for the first time.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc nominated James Cleary, seconded by Justin Lemphers.

Sheri Shuskeski nominated Darcy Kasper, seconded by Julie Anne Abel.

Stephanie Coulthard nominated Lisa Vollans-Leduc, seconded by Brigitte Parker.

Roberta Wurtak nominated Charlene Smith, seconded by Derrick Andersen.

Jonathan Deline nominated Leslie James, seconded by Justin Lemphers.

Shawnna Boone nominated Sherry Masters, seconded by Roberta Wurtak.

Julianna Scramstad nominated Stephanie Coulthard, seconded by Lisa VollansLeduc.

Leslie James nominated Lisa Keenan, seconded by Stephanie Coulthard.

Jan Slipetz nominated Stacey Goegan, seconded by Sheri Shuskeski.

Julie Anne Abel nominated Jordan Laudon, seconded by Sharon DeSousa called for nominations for delegates to the National PSAC triennial convention for a second and third time.

Sharon DeSousa declared nominations closed.

Jordan Laudon declined.

Stacey Goegan accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: Stacey, I’m going to put three minutes on the clock, and when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Stacey Goegan: Hello, everybody, my name is Stacey. I’m delegate number 47. I’d like you to strongly consider voting for me. I know I am fairly new to the union, but I do bring a new energy. I am very enthusiastic about taking on a position that lets me have a voice for continuing care. I am currently a shop steward in continuing care, and I am trying to encourage and help my members; but I would like a greater role that allows me to have a voice for those members.

So, thank you for – first of all – nominating me, and thank you, guys, for hearing me out. Cheers.

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Lisa Keenan declined.

Stephanie Coulthard accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: I will ask the technician to put three minutes on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

Stephanie Coulthard: Thank you for considering me for this role. I have been involved with the union for close to 10 years now. I am still technically a young worker but just barely. I am also a member who has a disability, and I identify as a woman, as well.

In my work life, I work at the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, so I would bring an intersectional lens when looking at policies that are being discussed at national convention; and I would really just like this opportunity to represent our members. Thank you.

Sherry Masters accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, I will ask for three minutes to be placed on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

Sherry Masters: I take conventions very seriously. I attend everything that I can, and I try to take what I learn back to my community. Thank you.

Leslie James accepted and spoke on his own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: Okay, let’s go. There will be three minutes on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

Leslie James: Thank you kindly, everyone; and firstly, I thank you all for helping me become a YEU director. Because you already heard my spiel earlier and we’re pressed for time, I’ll make this quick. I, too, take the conventions very seriously; and if I am elected to go to the PSAC Triennial, I will commit to working with all of you so that you can have your voice heard at that convention. I will have my e-mail open, and I will also commit to writing a report on the progress of the convention for anyone who is interested, and I also do identify as a person with a recognized disabiity, as well; and I would like to bring forward the concerns of those who are not necessarily heard at conventions.

And with that, I thank you for your time, and I wish you all a good evening.

Charlene Smith accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: I will ask the technician to put three minutes on the clock.

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Charlene Smith: I’d like to thank the individuals that have nominated me today, as a director again, and as a delegate to National Convention. I’ve worked hard over the last four years, and I’d like to continue that work and keep people engaged and work on community initiatives again; and going to National brings me more knowledge of events and initiatives that are happening across Canada and information that I can bring back to our component and look at implementing different initiatives here.

So, again, thank you.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: I will ask the technician to put three minutes on the clock, and when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Lisa Vollans-Leduc: Okay, I’d just like to thank my nominator and seconder. I have participated in a great number of conventions, and I say that because I think I’d be able to assist some delegates who may not have been there before; and I have a priority in helping folks get their voices heard and an ability to express what they’re saying in a confident way, reviewing resolutions, supporting that work getting done. And in the interests of not taking up too much more time, I will leave it at that; and thank you, and I hope to have your support in getting to National convention. Take care.

Darcy Kasper declined.

James Cleary accepted and spoke on his own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: So, there’s three minutes on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

James Cleary: Okay, thank you very much to my nominator and seconder for considering me for this. I’ve had a very positive convention so far. It’s my first one ever of any kind, and I do think I have the skillset that could potentially be useful at the National Convention. So, if you would like to support me in that, that would be great! Thanks so much.

Derrick Andersen accepted and spoke on his own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: Thank you, and so, I will ask the technician to put three minutes on the clock; and when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Derrick Andersen: Thank you for my nomination, and thank you, everyone, for attending convention and for all your input, support and attendance throughout this. I’d like to have support to attend the National Convention. I identify as a member with a disability. Mental health and wellness is an area that I’m passionate about, and I’d like to continue with the workshops and education YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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that’s available at National and bring that education back to the component and my place of work and pass it on to our members and do what I can to help anybody that needs the assistance and help with any return to work education and stuff that I can. It’s an area I had an issue with with my own employer initially, and I don’t wish that on anybody else. So, I’d like to see more mental health support within the Yukon itself; but that’s a stepping stone at a time, and we’re going to work with this Board and hopefully get some improved practice with that.

So, I’d like your support to get to National to help improve the education in that area, thank you.

Roberta Wurtak accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: I will ask the technician to put three minutes on the clock, and when you start speaking, the clock will start.

Roberta Wurtak Hi, everybody. I want to thank my nominators, and I just want to ask for your support to go to the National Convention, because I do identify as many different equities. When you do identify with different equities, you get to go to different workshops and trainings, and I really enjoy going to those, because I get so much information out of them; and I bring it back to our equities here and the people in our YEU. And it’s really important that we’re all getting educated.

I also think it’s really important to have a voice for all our members so everyone that is part of the equities that I’m a part of, I always am thankful that I can take their voices with me when I go to places like that. So, thank you.

Teresa Acheson accepted and spoke on her own behalf.

Sharon DeSousa: All right, so, I will ask for three minutes to be placed on the clock, and the clock will start when you start speaking.

Teresa Acheson; Thank you to my nominators. I would really like to be one of your delegates to the National Convention. I was able to attend the last National Convention for PSAC. I enjoy this, and I feel I can be a great advocate for our northern voices and our northern priorities. It’s extremely important when we get to a national stage where we’re meeting with components and locals from all across Canada that they really hear what is important for our northern communities and for our northern locals; because there are a lot of things that happen in the north that just don’t happen across the rest of Canada.

So, I think it’s important that we bring a strong northern voice and that we speak loudly and proudly for our priorities, and I know last convention, our component and our delegates, we were able to be a strong voice on getting fully funded regional conventions; and I want to go back again and make sure that we are speaking up on behalf of our members and what we want to see happen with our dues when it comes to PSAC nationally.

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Derek Yap accepted but was unable to address the convention due to a family emergency.

Names were confirmed on a ballot with the technician.

VOTE IS OPENED. Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Teresa Acheson 8 James Cleary 6 Lisa Vollans-Leduc 4 Sherry Masters 4 Stacey Goegan 4 Roberta Wurtak 3 Derrick Andersen 3 Leslie James 3 Charlene Smith 2 Stephanie Coulthard 2 Derek Yap 1 Subsequent ballot for Roberta Wurtak, Derrick Andersen and Leslie James to clarify sixth, seventh and eighth spot.

VOTE IS OPENED. [technical glitch] Sharon DeSousa: I have confirmation everyone has voted.

VOTE IS CLOSED. Results: Roberta Wurtak 19 Leslie James 11 Derrick Andersen 10 Sharon DeSousa: So, therefore, as I mentioned, there are seven delegates to the PSAC National Triennial Convention, and your seven delegates are: Teresa Acheson, James Cleary, Lisa Vollans-Leduc, Sherry Masters, Stacey Goegan, Roberta Wurtak and Leslie James. Congratulations, everyone.

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I know it’s been a long day, and I have one order of business to do before I turn the Chair over, and that’s the oath of office. So, I will ask your newly elected executive if you are nearby or if you are available via your mike, we will stand and take the oath of office. If you would like to come up, we will socially distance, and I can then administer that oath of office.

SHARON DESOUSA ADMINISTERED OATHS OF OFFICE Sharon DeSousa: 12.0

Let the minutes reflect that Steve Geick is back in the Chair.

Resolutions Committee Report [con’t.]

Steve Geick: please.

All right I’d like to call the Resolutions Committee back up,

Chair of the committee.

Resolution #G7 Tony Thomas: Good evening, everyone. So, you sent us back with referrals yesterday, and the committee came back with your demands, and we made new language for G7, Victim Services Funding. Once again, the originator was Yukon Regional Women’s Committee; and the new ‘be it resolved’ reads as: PSAC lobby all levels of government in Canada to prioritize funding for victim services agencies in its annual budgets and ensure that persons harmed by violence and abuse have access to stable, consistent, and properly funded supports for basic human rights and needs, including shelter, food, and legal aid.

Once again, the committee recommended concurrence.

And once again, the rationale was: Women’s shelters often suffer from inadequate funding to meet the demand in their communities and turn women and their children away every day. It is time to prioritize funding for victim serving agencies in annual budgets.

Steve Geick:

Please open debate.

(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED Steve Geick:

Chair of Committee.

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Resolution #G4 Tony Thomas: Next on our list is Resolution G4, entitled ‘Exploring Options for a new YEU Building’. The originator is the YEU executive; language of origin is E. The new ‘be it resolved’ reads as: The YEU Building Committee is authorized to spend up to $100,000 to deliver a feasibility study for a new building The Committee recommended concurrence.

The rationale: The membership of YEU increase yearly, and there are plans to increase the staff of YEU to meet those demands. There is no room for expansion

Steve Geick:

Please open discussion.

(No audible response) Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED Steve Geick:

Chair of the Committee

Resolution #G6 Tony Thomas: Our final resolution is G6, entitled: Text to 9-1-1. The originator is Yukon Regional Women’s Committee.

Language of origin is E, and the ‘be it resolved’ reads as: THAT YEU & PSAC lobby the territorial government for immediate implementation of Text to 9-1-1 where applicable, including political pressure upon service provider to upgrade technology and equipment, government funding for technology as well as any applicable legislative initiatives.

The Committee recommendation is concurrence.

The rationale is: Access to emergency services for all Canadians is a human right; text to 9-1-1 service is available in some capacity in each of the southern provinces.

Steve Geick:

Please open debate.

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Gerard Tremblay: I just wanted to let you know this is a very important issue to me, 9-1-1 texting. I’ve been trying this for, like, seven years, and been turned down. There are lots of excuses. I’ve been struggling for this for a long time, and I really want you to support this text to 9-1-1. It’s not only for deaf people. It’s for maybe children. They don't want their parents to hear them if they’re texting for an emergency situation, 9-1-1. So, I really would like you to support this resolution. Thank you.

Steve Geick called the question.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Steve Geick: All right, that brings us to the end of business. I think we’ve set two records today. One has been that this is the very first virtual convention we have had, and it is also the longest convention that I know of that we have had. So, congrats to everybody.

Just before I ask for a motion to adjourn, I just want to show you something. I’ll be right back.

Point of Privilege Kyrn Evans: I do want to say congratulations to everyone on your achievements today. A big shout out to Emilie and Jeff and everyone for everything that they were doing behind in the background, all of the executive up there, every single person on or behind the scenes. Despite NorthwesTel giving us quite a headache today, it turned out really good, and I just really wanted to say ‘congratulations and thank you’ to everyone sitting up there right now.

Steve Geick:

Thank you, Kyrn, much appreciated.

So, for those of you who were at our last convention, we had a resolution brought forward that YEU needed to put up a plaque in our building, acknowledging the First Nations’ land that we’re on, the Kwanlin Dün and the Ta’an Kwäch’än. I refused to put up a plaque, because to me, a plaque isn’t meaningful. So, what you see, and I hope you can see it, is a carving done by Blake Lepine, and this will hang proudly in our building. I am going to take two seconds.

Quickly, because I know that everybody has had a long day, this is Blake’s explanation of what this means. It’s called ‘Caretakers of our Gifts: Being on the land of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, I wanted this piece to represent the duality of this land and caretakers whom we share it with. The sun has been placed inside of raven and wolf’s mouth. This precious gift that gives us life empowers our world. The hands are reaching out to hold it up and to protect it for future generations, and it’s in place of the tongues to represent how our words YUKON EMPLOYEES’ UNION 2021 TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

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shape the world around us. In this moment, we are the caretakers of these gifts that our grandchildren will one day inherit, too. The faces are meant to represent all of us and how it is us who are in control of where we truly decide to go.

Very moving words, and it will hang in a place of honour in our new building, as well.

So, I cannot express how much I appreciate the patience and everybody’s input.

It’s been a long three days. So, once again, thank you so much; and once again, thank you for putting your trust in me for the next two years.

Do I have a motion to adjourn?

Motion #31-2021 Motion to adjourn MOVED: Charlene Smith Steve Geick declared the ninth Yukon Employees' Union triennial convention officially closed at 6:00 p.m.

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