Ledoux’s vision for the Federation is rooted in fairness, equality, democracy, and respect for every worker. His platform emphasized stronger employment standards, reforms to the Yukon Public Service Act, improved protections under the Workers’ Compensation Act, and greater support for immigrant and ethnically diverse workers.

“The Yukon runs on workers. Our Federation must reflect that strength by building a fairer, more united movement. I am honoured to serve as President and to continue the fight for transparency, accountability, and respect for every worker in this territory,” said Ledoux.

Newly Elected Board Members and Trustees

Alongside President Ledoux, the Yukon Federation of Labour is pleased to announce the elected officers and Trustees who will guide the Federation in the coming term:

• 1^st Vice President: Winnie Hoe, member of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• 2^nd Vice President: Mac Clohan, member of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
• Treasurer: Daniel Bader, member of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• Trustees: Sherry Masters, Erik Miller, Beverly Gunn (members of PSAC and USW)
• Youth Representative on Council: Tiara Topps, member of PSAC

This leadership team reflects the diversity and strength of Yukon’s labour movement, committed to advancing protections, amplifying worker voices, and ensuring democratic participation across the territory.  The position of Secretary is still vacant and open for nominations from affiliate locals.  

About the Yukon Federation of Labour

The Yukon Federation of Labour represents thousands of workers across the territory, advocating for fairness, equality, and safe workplaces. As the voice of Yukon’s labour movement, the Federation works to strengthen democratic participation, protect worker rights, and build solidarity across communities.

For more information, please contact:

Everett Ledoux

President, Yukon Federation of Labour

yfl@yukonfed.com

867-456-8250

The post Yukon Federation of Labour Announces New Leadership Team appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

“Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line every season, facing toxic smoke, extreme conditions, and long-term health risks. Presumptive coverage is not a privilege—it is a necessity,” said Ever Ledoux, newly elected President of the Yukon Federation of Labour. “We applaud the Premier’s words, but now we need action. Every day without coverage is another day these workers remain vulnerable.”

Background

• Presumptive cancer coverage ensures that firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers are automatically recognized as having developed the illness due to occupational exposure, streamlining access to compensation and support.
• Municipal firefighters in Yukon already benefit from this protection, but wildland firefighters have been excluded, despite facing equal or greater risks.
• During the recent election, YFL and the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) raised this issue as a priority, alongside broader commitments to worker safety, healthcare access, and accountability in compensation systems.

YFL’s Call to Action

The Yukon Federation of Labour urges the Government of Yukon to:

• Set a clear timeline for implementing presumptive cancer coverage for wildland firefighters.
• Engage directly with unions and frontline workers to ensure the list of covered cancers reflects national and international best practices.
• Guarantee parity between municipal and wildland firefighters in occupational protections.
• Strengthen accountability at the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board to ensure claims are processed fairly and quickly.

“Firefighters should not have to wait for political processes to catch up with the reality of their work,” added Ledoux. “The government has made the promise—now it must deliver.”

Next Steps

The Yukon Federation of Labour has requested a meeting with the Premier in the new year to discuss the implementation of presumptive coverage and other urgent worker protection issues.

For more information, please contact:

Everett Ledoux

President, Yukon Federation of Labour

yfl@yukonfed.com

867-456-8250

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To read about their plans to tackle big issues like housing, healthcare, environment and economics, you can see their full response side-by-side in the latest issue of What’sUpYukon Magazine or click the links below to see the official responses from the Liberal Party, the Yukon Party and the Yukon NDP.

We want to remind everyone to think about #yukonworkers and the jobs you want to see for future Yukoners when you head to the polls. Advance polls are already open, and voting day is Monday, November 3rd. Look up where to vote at electionsyukon.ca and make your vote count!

Here’s what we asked:

1. Housing and affordability – How will your government ensure that housing in Yukon becomes more affordable for residents while avoiding speculative development and inflated land and housing prices that disadvantage local families?
2. Environmental accountability – What specific measures will you put in place to guarantee environmental accountability in mining exploration and development, ensuring that projects meet strong sustainability and reclamation standards?
3. Healthcare and community access – What actions will you take to strengthen healthcare across Yukon communities, including keeping local healthcare centres open and increasing local capacity for healthcare treatments?
4. Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing
   What specific actions will your government take to improve morale and workplace culture within Yukon’s healthcare system, and how will you ensure that healthcare workers retain their pension and employment stability during the transition to the Shäw Kwä’ą health authority?
5. Wildland Firefighter Protections
   How will your government support presumptive cancer coverage and occupational protections for Yukon’s wildland firefighters, ensuring parity with municipal firefighters and alignment with national and international best practices?
6. Worker Safety and Compensation Reform
   How will you strengthen the integrity and transparency of Yukon’s Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board to ensure it operates in the best interest of injured workers—particularly by improving claim approval processes, accountability mechanisms, and worker-centered outcomes?
7. Protection for Immigrant Workers
   What commitments will you make to safeguard the rights of immigrant workers in Yukon, including enforcing employer compliance with Yukon Nominee Program agreements, preventing exploitative practices, and ensuring pathways to permanent residency are supported rather than obstructed?

Official response from the Liberal Party.

Official response from the Yukon Party.

Official response from the Yukon NDP.

Need a bit more incentive to get involved in this election? Try to get a line with our Yukon Elections Bingo Card and post your progress by election day!

The post The Parties running in the 2025 Yukon Election answer some of the Biggest Questions from Yukon Workers appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust safety standards, emergency preparedness, and oversight—especially in remote and seasonal work environments. Every worker deserves to return home safely, regardless of location, age, or employment status. Yukon mines historically had strong union representation that fought for safety standards. We see increasing risks with great cost when there is no union presence.

We call on territorial and federal authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, to ensure that workers’ compensation justice is handed out and lessons are learned and acted upon. The Yukon Federation of Labour stands ready to support affected families and communities, and to advocate for better enforcement of safety standards and fair worker representation for all workers across the territory.

As part of our ongoing commitment to worker safety and healing, we invite the public to join us for an online discussion with Threads of Life on November 20, 2025. This event will explore the human impact of workplace tragedy and the importance of prevention, support, and remembrance.

Click Here to Register: Before and After Workplace Accidents with Threads of Life and Guest Speaker Russell

November 20, 2025 at
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM MST

Online Workshop over Zoom.

The post Worker Deaths in Remote Yukon Mining Camp appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

Get your friends, your neighbour, or your union crew together and turn election season into something civic and joyful. Our Yukon Election Bingo card mixes serious questions voters should ask candidates with easy, empowering actions people can take before election day. Mark a square each time you ask a candidate a question, attend an event, or complete an action. Snap a photo of your bingo, post it with the hashtag #YukonVotes, and share it with the Yukon Federation of Labour so we can celebrate community engagement.

How to Use the Card

• Print or open the card on your phone and carry it to candidate events or house meetings.
• Aim for one line, two lines, or a full card — every checked box is progress.
• Treat the card as a conversation starter and a checklist for issues that matter to Yukon workers and families.

Click to download PDF of the Bingo Card.

Highlights of labour priorities on the card

Better Living
Housing affordability, responsive land development, modernizing the Northern Living Allowance, and support for renters and first-time buyers are central to keeping Yukon families local and secure.

Action to watch for: increase affordable homeownership and affordable land access for residents, incentives for missing middle housing, land stewardship with indigenous and cooperative housing, and first-time buyer supports.

Inclusive Workplaces and Standards
Strong territorial employment standards, expanded sick-leave protections, and meaningful enforcement to protect casual, seasonal, and newcomer workers.

Action to watch for: funding for multilingual outreach, stronger inspections, and penalties for employers who breach Yukon labour agreements.

Northern Health and Worker Protections
The transition to the Shäw Kwä’ą health authority must preserve pensions, employment stability, and local access to care. Yukoners expect commitments to keep community health centres open and to invest in local treatment capacity.

Action to watch for: written guarantees on pensions, staffing plans for rural clinics, and timelines to prevent service gaps.

Workers’ Compensation and Whistleblower Protections
Modernized WSCB regulations, circle of care supports for injured workers, more compassionate application of psychological injuries, and territorial whistleblower protections are essential to a fair system for injured and reporting workers.

Action to watch for: promises to reform WSCB systems on justice for workers, amending the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act to recognize chronic workplace stress, bullying, and harassment as compensable injuries, introducing confidential reporting channels, and expanding protections for whistleblowers.

Wildland Firefighter Safety
Yukon wildland firefighters face unequal protection compared to their structural counterparts. They lack presumptive cancer coverage, many are employed on casual contracts without job security or benefits, and the high threshold for psychological injury claims leaves mental health impacts unrecognized. These gaps create systemic inequities for workers doing some of the most dangerous jobs in the territory.

Action to watch for: commitments to presumptive coverage parity, better job security for seasonal staff, and funded mental health supports.

Training, Infrastructure, and a Worker Action Centre
Yukon’s labour system has structural gaps. Supports for vulnerable groups — including immigrant, young, and Indigenous workers — are fragmented and often focused on training or placement rather than helping workers navigate complaints, harassment, or wage theft.

Action to watch for: funding commitments, clear territorial oversight (such as Minister of Labour or a broader labour board), and partnerships with unions and Indigenous governments to deliver accessible worker services, investing in northern trades training and broadband so that all workers — especially those most at risk of exploitation — have fair access to protections and opportunities.

Reconciliation and Sustainable Development
How will your government ensure that mining and resource development in Yukon are carried out in ways that respect Indigenous rights, protect the environment, and prevent disasters like the Eagle Gold Mine contamination?

Action to Watch For: Commitments to co-management with First Nations, stronger mining accountability, increased royalties, and long-term funding for Indigenous Land Guardian programs.

Accessibility for All
Yukon’s Disability Act (2003) is outdated, limited in scope, and lacks enforceable accessibility standards. Unlike other provinces, Yukon has no binding timelines, no independent enforcement body, and no requirement for employers or service providers to proactively remove barriers.

Action to Watch For: Commitments to legislative review, creation of enforceable accessibility standards, recognition of invisible disabilities, and establishment of an independent commissioner or tribunal for compliance/complaints.

Share the fun and hold candidates accountable.

Take the card to a debate, a door-knock, or a coffee chat with a candidate. Post your progress, tag your friends, and send your completed cards to the Yukon Federation of Labour so we can track which candidates made concrete commitments on worker-centred priorities. Elections are better when voters are informed, engaged, and having a little fun while doing it.

The post Yukon Election Bingo! appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

Our first Throwback Thursday was posted June 5th, looking back at the first inaugural convention for the YFL 45 years ago! At the Yukon Federation of Labour’s founding convention, which took place on January 26th and 27th 1980. Delegates from unions across the territory attended in order to create the YFL that exists today.

The delegates of this convention passed resolutions aimed to fight for the right to refuse work, tax incentives for Northerners, establishing an alcohol treatment center and Indigenous representation.

They also elected their very first president, Casey McCabe who would work for the YFL until May 1981.

The Yukon Federation of Labour was chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress, leading to the YFL‘s founding convention. The charter can be seen amongst the convention delegates in one of the photos. The charter can still be found in the YFL’s office today.

Today’s Fun Fact: Did you know?
If your employer asks you to report to work, you’re entitled by law to be paid for at least two hours, even if you work less than that!

This comes from the Reporting Pay Order, made under the Employment Standards Act. Of course, like most rules, there are exceptions—for example, if your employer gives you reasonable notice not to come in.

For more information, please refer to the employment standards act which can be found under legislation on the Yukon government’s website or reach out to the employment standards office.

Tadiwa and Ivan are bringing these important facts to the attention of Yukon workers in French and English this summer.

Fun Fact Friday – Facebook post English

les vendredis du savez-vous Instagram French

Cet été, nous lançons une nouvelle série intitulée Les vendredis du saviez-vous ?, où nous partagerons des informations utiles pour les travailleurs et travailleuses du Yukon.

Alors, pour le saviez-vous d’aujourd’hui: Saviez-vous que? Si votre employeur vous demande de vous présenter au travail, vous avez droit, en vertu de la loi, à être payé(e) pendant au moins deux heures, même si vous travaillez moins que cela!

Cela découle de l’Ordonnance sur la rémunération minimale pour la déclaration au travail, prise en vertu de la Loi sur les normes d’emploi.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instragram, LinkedIn, X, or Youtube as well as subscribe to our website!

The post Throwback Thursdays & Fun Fact Fridays appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

In case you come across a narrative that paints Postal Workers as selfish and not caring for the community they serve, here’s some information you should know:

1. Over the last 20 years, the number of workers with CUPW has remained relatively the same, at 55,000 workers. But the population of Canada had grown from 30 million to over 40 million in that same time. That’s about 727 people for every CUPW worker. So, when one of their bargaining demands was asking for decent working conditions like proper time to prepare and deliver community mail…they are thinking about you.
2. We assume that our mail is delivered by a tight system controlled by one employer. But Canada Post has segmented out more and more of its delivery chain to private contractors that anyone can bid on, undermining safe and secure delivery of your mail.¹ Having a public postal system that connects all of us, that we can trust, is important to protect.
3. We get upset at the Postal Worker when our mail is delayed, but did you know that Canada Post does not regularly back-fill workers if they need to take a sick day or vacation day, leaving them with 2-3-4 days of mail to catch up on when they get back? That’s an employer issue, not a problem with your #Postie.²
4. I’m sure you appreciate when the same postal worker gets to know your route, getting the right mail to the right box each time. Canada Post wants more “dynamic routing,” which would eliminate route ownership for postal workers and allow artificial intelligence (AI) to set new routes for workers on a daily basis. If you think it’s bad when your mail gets all mixed up by a new person on your route, imagine that on a regular basis.³
5. CUPW has already been bargaining for over a year with little progress.⁴ Workers build our economy and drive services. Sometimes withholding our labour is the only way to get an uncooperative employer to take things seriously. The goal is to get back to the bargaining table and get an agreement that respects the workers. In fact, the employer Canada Post issued notice to the workers that as of November 15, they would no longer be honoring the old Collective Agreement, cancelling vacation, and reducing staffing levels (right before the holidays).⁵ So the workers were pushed to this response, and hopefully, you now understand that Postal Workers are fighting to keep reliable postal services for you, the public.
   

Canada Post is one of our most cherished public institutions. It connects people, communities and businesses across our many different regions in Canada. It provides tens of thousands of workers with good jobs and benefits. In turn, these jobs support families and the communities in which they live.
CUPW is in negotiations with Canada Post, fighting to maintain good jobs and benefits, to provide decent and safe working conditions for your postal worker. Postal workers spend their working hours in their communities and are pushing Canada Post to meet the modern needs of people and their communities.

• Tell the CEO of Canada Post that you support postal workers.
• Post a sign of your support on social, in your car, on your mailbox, or at your home or office.
• Come out to support the workers on the picket lines and learn more about Delivering Community Power and how your postal workers are trying to look out for the communities they serve.

1. From the Canada Post Website, “We want to partner with your business. Submit proposals for mail transportation contracts and goods, materials, technology and professional services contracts.” ︎
2. “We are given personal days, but if you use one and take a day off, more often than not Canada Post delays the mail,” said one worker. “When we return to our route, we have 2 or 3 or 4 days of mail to deliver. Our members across the country are being disciplined for not being able to finish a route and delaying the mail for not finishing, but CPC [Canada Post Corporation] is deliberately running short-staffed and not caring about the delay of mail while our members are being suspended for the same thing.” ︎
3. CUPW update to workers Feb 2024, What does the employer want? ︎
4. Statement from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers: More Than 55,000 Postal Workers on Strike Friday November 15 2024
   For Immediate Release – OTTAWA – Some 55,000 postal workers represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on a nationwide strike on Friday, November 15 at 12:01am ET. After a year of bargaining with little progress, postal workers made the difficult decision to strike. Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day. Instead, Canada Post left us no choice when it threatened to change our working conditions and leave our members exposed to layoffs
   Canada Post has notified the union and CUPW-represented employees that unless new agreements are reached, the current collective agreements for both the Urban and RSMC bargaining units will no longer apply as of Friday, November 15 at 8 a.m. ET ︎
5. Read more in the November 15 update at 7:10am  ︎

The post Show Your Support for Postal Workers appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

The Yukon Union School will offer comprehensive courses covering various topics, including reconciliation with Yukon First Nations, union and management relationships, stewardship, women in leadership, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and networking with fellow union members and industry professionals.

The Yukon Union School aims to provide a conducive learning environment, with classes scheduled from Monday to Thursday, featuring morning and afternoon sessions. The event will also include evening receptions and recreational activities.  Participants are also encouraged to take in all the Yukon has to offer with tours offered by local operators, allowing participants to explore the beautiful surroundings of Whitehorse.

“We are excited to invite union members to join us for the Yukon Union School, where they can gain valuable insights, network with peers, and contribute to meaningful discussions,” said Teresa Acheson President of the Yukon Federation of Labour. “This event presents a unique opportunity for professional development and fostering strong relationships within the labour community.”

The registration deadline for the Yukon Union School is Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Yukon Federation of Labour website for further information and to secure their spot at this highly anticipated event.

For more information and to register, please visit the Yukon Federation of Labour website at yukonfed.com/events.

The post Yukon Union School August 25-29, 2024 appeared first on Yukon Federation of Labour.

President Teresa Acheson sometimes is asked “Who is the Yukon Federation of Labour” or we get confused with the more well-known Yukon Employees Union in the Yukon. Here is a bit about our history and who we are in the labour movement.

The Yukon Federation of Labour (YFL) represents all Yukon workers, primarily funded by unions in Yukon, but advocating for all workers. Chartered in 1980 by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) when unions in the territory came together on issues facing workers, we align with the national labour movement and serve as an umbrella organization for affiliated unions and locals throughout the Yukon.

To give you a visual of the labour movement: Locals represent a collective of workers, these Locals can join together under a Union or Component (such as YEU), becoming part of a national union (such as PSAC).  The national or international unions affiliate with the CLC, often referred to as the house of labour.  Each province or territory has a federation of labour that brings the locals/unions together on issues within their provincial or territorial jurisdiction. 

What does the YFL do?

Collectively, we advocate for labour rights, social justice, and fair working conditions with the other federations of labour and the Canadian Labour Congress. Our membership includes workers from various industries, professions, and sectors.  Workers are integral to the social and economic well-being of Yukon communities through their work, collective action, and advocacy.

Each local engages in collective bargaining to negotiate fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for their members. Collective Agreements allow workers to negotiate protections beyond the basic employment standards.

YFL hosts labor education and professional development programs to empower workers, build up capacity, and strengthen the labor movement. The YFL represents all workers, regardless of union affiliation, ensuring their voices are heard in labor-related discussions and decisions.  This goes beyond just traditional worker safety issues, but also social justice initiatives, and addressing issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the labor force.

Unions were around long before the YFL

Unions have been a part of shaping the Yukon much longer than the YFL has existed. For example, Trade Unionists started the Winter Carnival in 1945, which today has become the most celebrated Yukon territorial holiday, the Yukon Rendezvous Festival. The idea of sponsoring a Carnival came from the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, one of the first unions organized in Whitehorse. The All Unions Committee was established to curate a week of events, prizes, and social fun for the Yukon.

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