Unions quit steering committee aimed at fixing Yukon's health worker crisis

Two unions representing health-care workers in the Yukon have walked away from a steering committee that's trying to solve the ongoing crisis in health staffing.

"What we understood it [as] and what it is turning out to be appear to be two different things," Justin Lemphers, president of the Yukon Employees Union (YEU), said about the territory's health human resources steering committee. 

"We thought that this was going to be an avenue for us to raise workers' concerns, to talk about improvements overall to the system, how to get better outcomes for workers. And what we're seeing is a distancing from that."

The committee was formed last year to look at the challenges facing health human resources, including recruitment and retention of health workers. Along with YEU and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), there were representatives from the territorial government, the Yukon Hospital Corporation, doctors' and nurses' unions, and First Nations.

The committee would "explore bold and innovative solutions to address immediate health care challenges and prepare for long-term systemic needs," according to a news release about its formation in July 2023.  

The YEU and PIPSC said in a statement this week that they were quitting the committee because their voices weren't being heard. 

"Labour's inclusion in the [committee] is largely symbolic, and the interests of health-care workers are not being adequately considered. This is not consultation," the release states. 

Speaking to CBC News, Lemphers described the committee as a waste of time for the union.

"Our members are not seeing value from this committee. They're not. There's nothing in it for them," he said.

"This committee really seems to be serving itself and promoting its own good work, but what we're not seeing is ... how this improves things on a day-to-day basis for our membership."

Committee making 'good progress,' says co-chair

The two unions also complain that the committee is chaired by "representatives from the employer's side": Health and Social Services deputy minister Matt King, and Yukon Hospital Corporation president Jason Bilsky.

The unions' involvement is "largely symbolic," according to YEU and PIPSC's news release, and meant primarily to give "the appearance of union involvement."

Bilsky, however, says that's not true. He says the committee needs to hear from all its members, and so far has been making "good progress."

"This has risen to the level that it's not just individual organizations working in silos that can tackle this," Bilsky said.

"I think everyone would agree that the diversity of having all those people at the table is what's going to provide the best solutions possible, for this crisis."

King agrees that the committee has already had an impact. He points to work done on retention strategies, on supporting internationally educated health professionals, and on a partnership with Yukon University to help fill gaps in health-care administration. 

"I think there's plenty of examples of the really great work that's happened as a result of the efforts of the steering committee," King said.

King also said the door is open for the two unions to rejoin the committee.

"Certainly, we're disappointed that the union has decided to withdraw. But I think there's commitment from all members there to continue to work together," King said.

"We'll be certainly happy to have dialogue with our partners and just see what it might take for them to rejoin the efforts at the table."