APRIL 24, 2025
Caption: A pension allows you to live with dignity after you retire. This is something that workers have paid into throughout their careers, and you are entitled to the benefit. There are better options to protect your retirement.
This morning PSAC/YEU and PIPSC representatives attended the Employer Union Working Group for the Yukon Health Authority. This working group was established in 2024 to “consult” on matters relating to the creation of the Health Authority.
Today, the Employer advised the Unions that they are strongly considering adopting the Yukon Hospital Corporation pension plan. Their plan would affect all Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC) and Yukon government (YG) employees who would move to Shäw Kwä’ą.
The working group's purpose is to consult on options, not to accept what appears to be the choice of the employers — YG and YHC.
The Unions asked for something in writing, and the employer groups said they’d have to come back to us. They did not provide any details other than that the pension would be a version of the YHC pension plan. For folks who don’t know, there are two distinct groups in the YHC pension plan, and they couldn’t tell us with certainty which version of the hospital plan would be applied.
We heard them say their plan for your pension criteria is based on being:
- Fiscally sustainable
- Attractive to workers
- Supported by unions
- Equitable to current pension plans
From where we stand, they focused on the first point and ignored the rest.
They defended adopting the YHC pension plan for the stability it offered. So we asked about the number of people that would be impacted. The response was roughly 700 YHC employee versus 1400 YG employees.
When asked whether the Employer considered moving everyone into the YG pension plan, we were told it was not possible. This is false. It is possible and has been done in other jurisdictions.
They told us they plan to send information to all potentially impacted workers very soon — possibly even this week. They said the Unions would have an opportunity to see an advance copy.
We’re getting ahead of their release to let you know that we don’t like it because we weren’t consulted, and there are better options.
We have nothing to say or add to the Employer’s communication that you will be receiving. They came up with this on their own.
When you see the Employer’s communications, ask yourself whether the four points work for the Employer or you.
More information to follow, but in the meantime, please feel free to register for the upcoming pension sessions that have been scheduled for May 6th and 7th.
Three Meeting Options
This is your chance to learn more about your pensions and ask questions. Please RSVP for one of the events listed above.