It appears as if the Yukon government is considering some significant concessions demanded by the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) over the proposed mandatory vaccine policy due to be implemented on Nov. 30.

YEU president Steve Geick told the Star this morning the government has until the coming Friday to respond to the union’s demands.

Geick said the proposed agreement would limit the amount of disciplinary action the government could take against public service workers. Specifically, it wouldn’t allow the government to summarily fire workers.

Instead, it would offer the chance for alternative accommodations via personal protective equipment and/or regular testing, as well as remote work options.

Geick said he met with John Streicker, the minister for the Public Service Commission on Friday, as well as Public Service Commissioner Paul Moore.

While he’s optimistic the negotiations went well, Geick said the government has until this Friday to sign off on the proposal. He won’t relax until then.

He said he fielded dozens of requests for more information over the weekend from members asking for more details after an internal email was sent out to union members late Friday.

The email reads as follows:

“Last Friday’s (Oct. 15) announcement of a looming mandatory vaccine policy for Yukon’s public servants and allied health workers has sent a chill through the territory. The vague announcement has thousands of Yukoners anxious and uncertain about whether they will be out of work following the Nov. 30th vaccination deadline.

“YEU president Steve Geick met today with the Government of Yukon’s Public Service Commissioner and John Streicker, minister of the Public Service Commission, following up on a meeting earlier in the week with the Director of Labour Relations.

“In both meetings, the Union asked for a detailed plan and in both meetings it was clear; there is no plan. Policy writers are scrambling to draft policy language while the goalposts move regarding vaccination best practices.

“Nothing has been decided – not how to protect workers with legitimate vaccine exemptions, not how the government will run the territory with up to 20 per cent of its workforce on leave without pay.

“In today’s meeting, Streicker and Moore committed to consider an approach similar to the NWT’s planned vaccine mandate. That policy allows for extended use of PPE, remote work options and regular rapid testing of unvaccinated workers.

“There is also a review of the deadline taking place as new recommendations emerge around the recommended time between first and second doses.”

Geick said, “Minister Streicker confirmed his commitment by email this afternoon”:

“I have committed to getting back to you and YEU on or before Friday Oct. 29th with public health information as advised by the Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health and her office about all proposed strategies in support of public health regarding those employees who are not vaccinated,” Streicker wrote in the email.

“We are giving your requests serious consideration. Based on shared information and further conversations with YEU and YTA (Yukon Teachers’ Association), we will then determine what decisions we will be taking.

“As discussed in the meeting, the Public Service Commission is treating this as our highest priority.”

Geick said, “YEU is not budging; we are adamant that this employer must respect its workers and will not agree to any mandate that is punitive in practice.

“Yukon Employees’ Union supports the enhanced workplace safety a vaccination policy can provide, but we also support the rights of our members who are medically unable to be vaccinated and those with religious objections.

“For those who choose not to accept the vaccine, we believe that the employer has an obligation to consider alternatives to leave without pay or disciplinary action, including remote work, PPE and rapid testing.”

Streicker was unavailable for an interview before press time this afternoon.