Apparent union-busting attempt goes bust

Town of Wabana employees who were fired after voting to join a union reinstated

Two Town of Wabana office employees whose jobs were terminated a couple months after they voted to join a union were back on the job in no time after the matter was taken to the province’s Labour Relations Board.

The employees were fired Jan. 2, after which the union they voted to join — the Transport and Allied Workers Local 855, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — filed a grievance with the board on their behalf.

The union also filed a second grievance alleging the town had failed to remit union dues for all employees hired to do bargaining unit work with the town.

A hearing had been scheduled for Jan. 23 to hear the grievances, but the hearing became unnecessary after the town relented and agreed to hire the two employees back with retroactive pay to Jan. 2, and to remit outstanding union dues.

An order from the board states the employees are to be reinstated “as per agreement of the parties.”

It also noted that “although (the parties) disagree on the retroactive date for any remedy, they have agreed to: the immediate reinstatement of the employees, and to pay the employees all lost compensation and remuneration retroactive to Jan. 2, 2018.”

Wabana Mayor Gary Gosine confirmed the issue has been resolved.

“The women got their jobs back,” Gosine said. “We got word from the lawyer 8:30 p.m. on a Friday night that the women should be hired back and the women wanted a letter from the town, and it was issued by me. And they came back to work.

“And dues have now been paid for all the union workers, so it’s all been addressed.”

Tensions in Wabana seem to have heightened since last September’s municipal election. The council members are apparently split as to their support of many major outstanding issues in the Bell Island community.

In the matter of the two employees being fired, union documents filed on Jan. 8 with the labour board say four council members — William Peddle, Norman Newman, Henry Crane and Ben Warford — met with the employees to inform them that their jobs were terminated.

The termination letters the two workers received on Jan. 2 stated it was a “majority decision of council.”

The background of the case notes that on Nov. 1, 2017, the union filed an application for certification as bargaining agent for three clerical staff. A vote was to be conducted on Nov. 3 at the town offices.

Documents allege that shortly before the vote was held, Peddle came to the town office and his actions there at the time caused the two workers to feel threatened and intimidated.

“His reaction and subsequent behaviour were such that the RCMP was called,” the documents state.

The RCMP on Bell Island confirmed they did respond to a call asking them to go to the town office that day, but when they arrived “it was not a police matter.”

The two clerical staff did vote that day, but the documents further allege that “from the filing of the certification application, the employees had experienced negative changes in the employment environment.”

Peddle would not agree to an interview with The Telegram.

The union did not return messages.

In its order, the labour board stated it retains jurisdiction to deal with any further isues that might arise in the matter.