Yukon Employees’ Union placed under trusteeship amid governance concerns
Published 10:00 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026
By Jake Howarth
The Yukon Employees’ Union office on 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse, seen on April 17, 2025. (Jake Howarth/Yukon News)
The Yukon Employees’ Union has been placed under trusteeship by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), a move national leadership says is intended to stabilize the 5,000‑member component while governance concerns raised by members are addressed.
The trusteeship follows the union’s placement under administration earlier this year. In March, PSAC appointed former national president Chris Aylward as administrator under a provision allowing national oversight when a union requires “restorative measures” to address internal issues.
In the latest email sent to members, the union said PSAC’s National Board of Directors appointed Josée‑Anne Spirito as trustee on Aug. 6, following months of concerns about the functioning of some Locals and the representation members received.
The email was later shared publicly on social media by Lisa Vollans‑Leduc, who had been serving as the Yukon Employees’ Union’s vice‑president.
According to the email, Spirito will oversee the Yukon Employees’ Union operations alongside previously appointed administrator Aylward, with both reporting to PSAC’s National Board of Directors. The email said the trustee will take on duties normally handled by elected officers and work with staff to restore the union’s capacity.
All elected officers of the Yukon Employees’ Union Executive, including the president, vice‑president and directors, have had their positions vacated during the trusteeship. Local executives remain in place, and staff at the Yukon Employees’ Union continue in their roles, the email said.
The union’s bylaws are suspended for the duration of trusteeship. PSAC said in the email that the trusteeship process gives the Yukon Employees’ Union a chance to rebuild stronger throughout the territory and make sure its members are served well.
The email said members’ rights, protections and benefits under collective agreements remain in place during trusteeship. It also said Local officers and Yukon Employees’ Union labour relations advisors will continue providing representation, and that ongoing rounds of collective bargaining, including negotiations with the Yukon government, will proceed as usual.
A virtual town hall is scheduled for Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m., where members can ask questions of the trustee and administrator and share ideas.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
