The Yukon Federation of Labour plans to launch a massive $40,000 campaign leading up to the territorial vote on Oct. 10.

'The purpose of this campaign is quite simple: to put the issues of most concern to Yukon workers and their families on the agenda for this election campaign,' Alex Furlong, the federation's president, told a press conference Tuesday.

'This election must be about working families.'

There are approximately 8,000 labour- and union-related votes in the territory.

'Can we influence this election? Absolutely. Do we intend to influence it? Absolutely,' said Furlong.

The labour campaign will be the largest-ever political action campaign the federation has launched.

It will take the form of information leaflets, brochures distributed to every affiliated union member household, a website, radio and newspaper ads, press conferences by the federation and an all-party forum targeted specifically at labour issues.

The past four years of Yukon Party government has seen workers' concerns neglected, said Furlong.

As examples, he cited the delay in occupational health and safety regulations and the review of the workers' compensation act, rising accident and injury rates, an unsatisfactory outcome on the minimum wage, the now-infamous porn probe regarding computer use by public employees, an apparent push toward privatization and public-private partnerships and the low pay for Yukon child care workers.

The relationship between the labour movement and the current Yukon Party government is the worst it has ever been, said Furlong.

'They don't have to always agree with us, but give us the courtesy and respect to at least hear us,' he said.

The labour campaign is non-partisan, said Furlong, but didn't hesitate to publicize he is a member of the NDP and that the party and movement have a proud history.

'When we went out to our membership ,our membership told us that no matter which party forms government, these will be the issues we keep driving home,' he added.

It is near impossible to separate labour from the NDP, said Jean-FranÁois Des Lauriers, regional executive vice-president for the North with the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

'Is there a parallel between the issues we raise and the position we take on issues and a political party takes on these issues? It's impossible to dissociate them,' he said.

The NDP simply represents issues that are important to labour as a matter of policy, he said.

'There's definitely one political party that represents the interests of labour and that's the NDP. The others have no interests in the issues of workers.'

But the campaign is not meant to tell union members which party to be voting for, said Des Lauriers.

'It's designed to raise the profile of a number of issues that have an impact on the lives of workers, their communities and their families.

'Unless labour raises the issues that are important to the workers and to the membership, nobody will.'

Health care, the economy, safety for workers, doctor shortages, poverty, substance abuse and the ethical standards of politicians and government will all be addressed during the campaign, he added.

'All parties better pay real close attention. These are the issues,' said Furlong. 'For me, whoever forms government, I am looking for a really, true sign of leadership.'

Union members will be provided with information and resources to be able to make an informed decision and ask tough questions of candidates while they are on their doorsteps, said Furlong.

Labour has always been involved in elections, said Des Lauriers, but this campaign is different.

The labour and union movement will be speaking directly to their membership and also asking the political parties to state their positions, he said.

'If the Yukon Party is looking at getting a second term, we want to make sure that people are reminded. We want to make sure that people are focusing on issues and not just personalities.'