NORTH BAY, ON, May 26, 2016 /CNW/ - The Grievance
Settlement Board has ruled in favour of a union official at
North Bay Jail accused of
"bullying, harassing, intimidating and threating individuals in the
workplace" over three years ago. Mike
Bisaillon, then president of Local 616 of the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union (OPSEU), was suspended with pay for three
months for his alleged actions.
Board Vice-Chair Bram Herlich
dismissed all allegations brought by the Ministry of Community
Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS), characterizing them as
nothing more substantial than rumours. Herlich ordered the ministry
to pay $5,000 in compensation to
Bisaillon and $20,000 to OPSEU – an
unprecedented award from the board.
In a stinging rebuke of both their conduct and motives, Herlich
raked senior MCSCS management over the coals for their "conspiracy
to target the grievor and teach him a lesson." He singled out
North Bay superintendent
Lou-Ann Lucier for acting out of
"anti-union animus."
Herlich went on to slam the employer for abusing its own
workplace discrimination and harassment policy, which it used to
justify its conduct towards Bisaillon.
As a further act of reparation, Herlich ordered the ministry to
post a notice in North Bay Jail
promising, among other things, not to discourage union membership,
interfere with the union's representatives, or remove union
notices. The ministry must also promise to "make Michel Bisaillon and the union whole for the
damages they have suffered."
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey)
Thomas said the board's decision represented a huge win for
the rights of working people to be represented by a union and to be
protected against employer intimidation.
"This is a great day, not just for Mike and OPSEU, but for every
worker in Ontario who is
represented by a union or wants to be," Thomas said. "This employer
used dirty tactics to tarnish the good name of a local president
and attack the whole union. They violated the collective agreement
and they broke the law. Now they've been exposed and will pay the
price for their misdeeds.
"I warmly congratulate Mike and salute him for his courage and
determination in seeking justice over a gruelling three-year
battle. While the crisis in corrections continues, today justice
has been done."
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)