Photo by Whitehorse Star
Joseph Zelezny
Pension reminder compared to Grinch
The Yukon government has wished its public service workers who are on unpaid leave a merry Christmas – after a fashion.
The Yukon government has wished its public service workers who are on unpaid leave a merry Christmas – after a fashion.
YG spokespeople have confirmed the government has told the workers on leave due to its vaccine mandate that they will have to figure out whether they want to continue making the contributions to keep their pensions and benefits intact.
“Employees placed on leave without pay due to the vaccine requirement were provided with the standard information package regarding options available for maintaining continuous pensionable service and extended health care and dental plan coverage that all employees who go on a leave receive.
“These packages were sent via mail in early December,” Zara Soukoroff, a communications analyst with the Public Service Commission, told the Star in an email Friday afternoon.
The issue was brought to the Star’s attention by the newly-minted Yukon Freedom Party in a news release.
“Hundreds of Government of Yukon employees have been placed on leave without pay,” the release states.
“And now, to add insult to injury, the Public Service Commission has sent them a Christmas card to accompany the gift of unemployment: a letter reminding them to pay up or lose their pensions.”
“This government has nothing on the Grinch,” said party leader Joseph Zelezny.
“Yukoners are already struggling to stuff their children’s stockings and put a turkey on the table amid skyrocketing inflation and a constrained supply chain, along with the unprecedented infringement on their ability to do so,” he added.
“Now, without paycheques at the worst possible time of the year, they are receiving letters reminding them that they continue to be responsible for their pension contributions.”
The release stated the “government estimates approximately 100 full-time and 200 casual employees are now on leave without pay.”
Official figures show 90 full-time employees are affected. There are considerably more casual and on-call employees who are off.
Premier Sandy Silver did not provide a number during last Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, but said 3.2 per cent of those employees are on unpaid leave.
“One is too many,” said Zelezny.
The measures, he said, “are ruthless during what should be the most wonderful time of the year.”
Expenses to taxpayers will continue to mount if the government refuses to change its course, the party stated in the release.
“Emergency services in small communities stand to cease entirely due to loss of volunteer power.”
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Comments (34)
Up 6 Down 3
Woodcutter on Dec 23, 2021 at 10:10 pm
Omg - this sounds like a party trying to steal votes from the NDP.
Consensus says you got totally played on this one Captain Freedom (Yukon Chapter).
You're suppose to use buzz words like "micro chip, the Jab, globalists, radical leftist or socialism to animate your base. From the looks of it, the usual Reich wingers are even wondering. What the H E Double hockey sticks are you using up the air in the room for this?
Up 18 Down 2
SBS on Dec 23, 2021 at 7:57 am
Looks like Joseph Zelezny should do his research before he speaks out. While the communication around the implications surrounding the choice of an employee to go on leave without pay could have been better done, this information is available to every employee through their benefits packages, which they sign on. Their HR person can also provide them with that info if they ask. Mandatory payments of employee and employer contributions in order to keep one's pension and health benefits on leave, is the same for every employee. It is just what it is.
Up 5 Down 1
Appreciative of Resident on Dec 23, 2021 at 3:36 am
Resident your very first comment has me in stitches so Merry Xmas.
Up 26 Down 5
LP on Dec 22, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Anytime a government employee takes leave without pay this pension payment situation happens. So what?
Up 21 Down 8
Denis on Dec 22, 2021 at 3:08 pm
Who in the world is this ZELEZNY Character? Currie has sucked him in to make dumb ignorant statements that even Curry should recognize as uneducated. A few years ago I was off work for nearly a year for cancer surgery and treatment. I was impressed and thankful for several communications from YTG ensuring I was able to continue with my pension and other thankful benefits. I heard nothing from our useless Union.
Up 34 Down 15
Fracture the right on Dec 21, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Did they put this guy out there to make Currie appear smart?
This is just embarrassing. Does he know how ANYTHING works?
Up 44 Down 14
RandyT on Dec 21, 2021 at 1:33 pm
All these people on here saying the Government made them homeless by taking their jobs. There are over 1000 job vacancies in this territory right now. Follow your own right wing ideology, pick yourselves up by your boot straps and go get a 'real job' in the private sector.
Lots of places are hiring that you can work, even if you're afraid of a needle.
Up 30 Down 18
Just when you think it can't get any crazier ... on Dec 21, 2021 at 1:14 pm
it does, the conspiracy theories, that is. Vaccine passport chips in Sweden? Nope - false, false, false. Lab tests in rodents have been around for a while to see if a chip could diagnose certain conditions (eg ). And nope to Bill Gates' DNA, nope to magnets, etc., etc. Honestly, why do people fall for this crap? Oh, I forgot - because they're 'awake'.
Up 34 Down 43
Jesse s on Dec 21, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Maybe when your bank /vaccine /identification chip (if you don’t believe me Sweden is already rolling out vaccine passport chips) in your hand gets shut off because you don’t really want a 6th booster or because you protested or made a naughty Facebook post you’ll realize you should have stood with us and said no instead of just complying and complying and wishing it would end.
These jabs aren’t even done phase 3 trials and they want people to pick between a jab and homelessness? You really think the government is just going to let go of all this control? We could have had gov sponsored home workouts and diet plans at this point but still after two years all they talk about is convincing the hesitant and scaring people with new variants. Nothing they do is actually beneficial to anybody but pharmaceutical companies $$.
The jabs work so good that you need one to participate in normal life, but they don’t work well enough so you need boosters and they need to reformulate them to work with new variants. Do they work or not? Who knows, just take it and hope for the best. If our leaders actually wanted to help they would stop wasting time and resources and staff shortages and just accept that some people won’t get the jab and start looking into what can help EVERYBODY build their immune systems and withstand an inevitable infection, since it’s obvious nobody on the planet successfully vaccinated the virus away.
These policies only make sense if you realize this is about selling vaccines and getting the world on a vax pass/digital Id system and not actually dealing with a pathogen. Why don’t they care about heart disease or tackling addiction? You can’t use those topics to scare people into accepting permanent draconian measures like this, that’s why. We’re not crazy, we’re aware.
Up 58 Down 14
A wee bit misleading on Dec 21, 2021 at 11:50 am
I had to do the exact same thing when I was off work on long term disability for cancer. I had no choice in that matter. You did. Stop making it sound like this is something they've dreamed up out of the blue just to make it more difficult.
Up 44 Down 37
SH on Dec 21, 2021 at 9:44 am
Zelezny says the measures “are ruthless during what should be the most wonderful time of the year.”
We are in the middle of a pandemic, and desperate times call for desperate measures. The time of year has nothing to do with it. We shouldn't scrap safety measures in the name of Christmas.
This newly minted party is using "emotion over logic" to win people over. Yuck.
Up 50 Down 38
Gutless on Dec 21, 2021 at 9:10 am
Having worked for over 40 years in a variety of capacities (NGO's, Feds, Provincial and Territorial) this could all be easily solved. Folks that haven't got their shots or who do not want to declare should at some point be let go. A condition of employment is to abide by the rules the employer sets out. if don't want to work in harms way, high risk conditions, shift, outdoors yadda, go work somewhere else. There are lots of folks who would replace you. Enjoy your Christmas.
Up 36 Down 30
motive unclear on Dec 21, 2021 at 5:20 am
Big Pharma is starting to make the crack dealers look like Angels! At least they give you a meaningful choice most of the time.
What happens next time Big Pharma comes along and demands under pain of losing your precious brand new QR code that you take an experimental serum into your skull because reasons?
You gonna be good with that too?
Or the medical establishment decides you really should donate a kidney for the premier? It's for the public good after all !!
This is not just about some people losing a cushy gov job. There is an awful lot more at stake here than that. Things like having any personal rights at all for example. Because the precedent being set here is massive.
If the public good trumps your bodily sovereignty, it certainly trumps your right to private property as well. And once that baby's gone, it won't be just a few cushy jobs being lost.
Up 35 Down 27
Yukoner on Dec 21, 2021 at 3:24 am
Having read the actual press release and comparing it to this article there's a lot of info missing. The bias by the WS author is clear and painting Joseph and the YFP in a negative light when in fact the reference was to all those who have lost their jobs because of the insane government imposed measures on Yukoners over the last two years that have not been for anyone's health but actually just pushing the globalist agenda of more control and eliminating what few rights and freedoms we had left.
A lot of the comments are rather ignorant and just goes to show how little these haters actually care about the unlawful discrimination occuring along with blatant violation of privacy laws and the genetic non discrimination act.
Furthermore, being jabbed doesn't prevent transmission as per the CDC so what was the point of all this? The amount of wrongful dismissal lawsuits is going to be extremely expensive.
For those curious to actually read the media release its available here -
https://yukonfreedomparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/YFP-PR-2021-12-16UnlawfulLwopVaccinatedSpreadCovid.pdf
Up 19 Down 20
The cookie said so on Dec 20, 2021 at 10:46 pm
Yes JC, just whatever Joseph Zelezny says, no matter how much sense it makes, you should OPPOSE IT! Wow are you ever smart!
Up 11 Down 21
Lynx on Dec 20, 2021 at 10:46 pm
I still don't understand the point of this political party. The Yukon Party has championed the anti-vaxx mandate and anti passport issue, plus they supported the lawsuit to reverse the health measure protections early on in the pandemic. So what else could anti-vaxx voters want? The Yukon Freedom Party will simply split the vote and allow the pro-vaxx liberals to get back in again.
It seems like even Jonas Smith doesn't want anything to do with this party and is instead remaining with Brad Cathers, Currie Dixon and the rest of the Yukon Party. Maybe it's because they hired him to do a bunch of work last spring. Anyways I hope the cash from anti-vaxx businesses keeps flowing to the Yukon Party instead of this new party that can't even get its feet off the ground.
Sorry Mr. Zelezny but Currie Dixon has a much better chance of winning than you do and he will accomplish basically the same thing.
Up 29 Down 18
drum on Dec 20, 2021 at 8:48 pm
Just a reminder - YG Union (PSAC) was doing rotational strikes - then came 9/11 and the union said all those people in the twin towers were workers and called off the strike. We make choices - if your principals do not allow you to get a vaccination - then you are on unpaid leave - simple. You obviously can do without your pay cheque because of your principals.
Up 37 Down 29
bonanzajoe on Dec 20, 2021 at 8:36 pm
I had my two vaxes - and will not take any boosters - but support those who choose not to get it. They have done their research and choose not get vaxxed. That is their choice and freedom. They should not have to pay a hefty price like losing their jobs. I say, get a group together and protest in front of the Legislature building during the day. I will join you. If the police arrest us, go to court and refuse to pay a fine. Go to jail instead. Time to stand up to our God given freedoms. Time to make the elected pay. We the people elect governments - to protect our freedoms not take them away. So, Silver, you may think you got us, but, like all Marxist dictators, you will lose. Tell that to your god in Ottawa.
Up 28 Down 37
K on Dec 20, 2021 at 8:17 pm
It’s terrifying that so many people have zero empathy for these hard working professionals and fully support a tiered society…
Up 26 Down 22
Yukon Mom on Dec 20, 2021 at 8:11 pm
This article mentions a news release. I'd be curious to read what's in the original Yukon Freedom Party news release instead of trusting what is filtered by a newspaper. If any reporter or politician bothered to speak with people at the rallies, they'd see it's far more than just YG employees out there. Besides, a choice is deciding whether you want to tea or coffee; not 'do you want to get fired OR do you want to take a chance on an experimental medical treatment that you don't need.'
Up 30 Down 28
Freedom isn't free on Dec 20, 2021 at 8:04 pm
Seems some people here can't get enough of government overreach and clearly gave up their souls when they rolled up their sleeves.
No one is asking for sympathy. Human decency, yes ( which seems out of your reach 'BnR' and 'resident' clearly you gloat at others demise).
Illegal and immoral mandates are NOT laws and in case you haven't noticed the only 'curve flattened' was the curve on individual rights and freedoms.
Only an absolute near sighted coward would relish in someone else plight because they chose bodily autonomy and informed consent over the ongoing tyranny ALL of us are experiencing.
Up 37 Down 14
Charlie's Aunt on Dec 20, 2021 at 6:35 pm
Oh please, spare us. Just as with those who chose to be vaccinated, these people chose not to be. If they wanted to comply, they had enough lead time before they were placed on LWP. Any gov employee knows they are responsible for contributions to benefits should they take LWP, whether that is for personal reasons or something else. That means paying both the employee and personal contribution. They also have the option of buying back their Superannuation later.
Why is he including casual employees? I don't believe casual employees are eligible for benefits anyway, that is why YT has the practice of 6 months less a day term employment: it saves them a lot of money.
One thing YT should do is move faster to process the applications of those who applied for exemption when some may have genuine reasons.
Up 40 Down 27
Robert William Kroeker on Dec 20, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Those workers have freely chosen to put themselves in the situation in which they now find themselves. They are exercising their right to be jobless if they want to. If that situation is unsatisfactory in their view they can either resolve to enjoy their freedom and the inevitable consequences, or they can get vaccinated and go back to work.
Up 43 Down 12
Sheryl on Dec 20, 2021 at 6:19 pm
I'm tired and angry listening to people with government jobs who aren't in reality. Work in the private sector...complain and then see what you get...nothing!
Up 45 Down 20
Not news on Dec 20, 2021 at 6:04 pm
This is not news. This is how YG (and most governments and public service employers) manages leave without pay for employees. The employer clearly explains this at the start of an employment contract and this information is readily available to ALL YG employees. There is no insult to injury here. The employees who are bitching simply should’ve known, period. Blaming the government for your lack of personal accountability makes you look even more stupid. Go get vaccinated, or resign, or cover your pension costs. It’s pretty simple.
Up 26 Down 38
You are heroes on Dec 20, 2021 at 5:36 pm
Thank you so much for fighting discrimination. Vaccine doesn’t prevent transmission. Mob rules eh? History repeats itself. Ok to get an abortion ( 90,000 in canada last year) but god forbid you refuse a vaccine, one that working so well ( or not)….
Up 35 Down 9
Much Ado About Nothing on Dec 20, 2021 at 5:35 pm
This article is just silly.
The affected employees have not been fired, they have been placed on leave without pay. As such, some of them may, at least ostensibly, be returning to their existing positions. This means that the Public Service Commission MUST send them the standard information package that outlines the options for maintaining pensionable service and benefits coverage.
Perhaps a better title would be "Dummy Compares Pension Reminder to Grinch."
Up 12 Down 35
Degree in microbiology on Dec 20, 2021 at 4:03 pm
Typical cisgender, heterosexual white male response. The consequences of my actions, decisions I made fully informed are uncomfortable. So I should complain. Vaccinated folks should seriously consider sending a notice of civil liability to the entire party. That we hold the right to hold them liable for any impacts on our lives, earnings, health and those of our families (including school closures). Courts and human rights tribunals in Canada have ruled being unvaccinated is considered a personal opinion, not a human right (unless there is a medical Exemption). I know several of the members filed civil ligation notices against employers and unions. Perhaps the public should do the same. If anything happens to me, my family or my employment/health because of covid contracted by, or passed along by one their members, then they should be held liable.
Up 160 Down 70
BnR on Dec 20, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Oh dear! Oh what could these poor YG workers do to get their pay checks back again?
Up 122 Down 52
JC on Dec 20, 2021 at 3:41 pm
As was already commented, any side with Joseph Zelezny is one you should reconsider being on.
Up 191 Down 64
Resident on Dec 20, 2021 at 3:38 pm
He's asking the general public to have sympathy for a group of people who's jobs were never at risk. No layoffs, no reduced hours, no risk the company would fold regardless. Watching these people protest and complain for being asked to do the bare minimum while collecting full paycheques for the majority of the pandemic is infuriating.
Up 112 Down 33
martin on Dec 20, 2021 at 3:30 pm
"“Yukoners are already struggling"....... I'd call those YE's "entitled elite".
Up 204 Down 78
This guy? Yikes on Dec 20, 2021 at 3:03 pm
I've always been on the fence as to whether or not vaccine mandates were necessary for YG workers - but once they came in, people had the choice to get vaccinated or not, and were given lots of time. So now, yeah, it stinks to be on unpaid leave, but they all chose to do that. Time to stop playing 'victim' and get on with it. And oh yeah - if 'this guy' is on my side? I'd be seriously re-thinking my side.
Up 159 Down 30
Resident on Dec 20, 2021 at 2:11 pm
This has to be the only place on Earth where the anti-establishment party is demanding government jobs.
Watching The Man rally against The Man for the right to continue being The Man is sureal.