PM
#40065782
A BRITISH Columbia worker's
10-day suspension for intention-
ally coughing in a coworker's
truck and violating COVID-19
safety protocols has been upheld
by an arbitrator.
Markus Linde worked as an
apprentice gardener for the Van-
couver School District No. 39 and
was hired in 2004.
Beginning in March 2020,
the district began implement-
ing measures to protect its em-
ployees from the spread of CO-
VID-19, including safe work
procedures informing employ-
ees how COVID-19 was spread
New contract
About 45 school support staff in
Gimli, Man., ratify deal with wage
hikes in each year
LIBRARIES
Lethbridge Public Library
Lethbridge, Alta.
(100 library employees) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees
(CUPE), Local 70 (Library Employees)
Renewal agreement: Effective
Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2022.
Signed on May 5, 2019.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2019: 1%
Effective Jan. 1, 2020: 1.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2021: 1.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 2%
Shift premium: Double time
see Collective agreements > pg. 3 see Poor > pg.8
Employer entitled to more than brief notes
to show worker fit for safety-sensitive job
A BRITISH Columbia employer was entitled to re-
quest additional medical information about a work-
er's fitness to return to work in a safety-sensitive po-
sition, an arbitrator has ruled.
West Fraser Mills operates a plywood plant in
Quesnel, B.C. where William Watt worked as a
second-class power engineer. Watt went on medi-
cal leave in January 2019 with a doctor's note stat-
ing that he couldn't work for at least three months.
About one month later, Watt provided a note advis-
ing that he was fit to return to work.
Watt went on medical leave again in September
2019. In late November, Watt confirmed with a doc-
tor's note — indicating that he was "medically sta-
ble" — that he could resume working on Dec. 6.
On March 18, 2020, Watt requested a three-
month medical leave supported by a doctor's note.
About one month before his return date, Watt
provided a note from his doctor saying that he was
"medically stable and can return back to his job with
June 21, 2021
see Clearance > pg.8
Hastings Manor Home for the Aged — Ontario pg. 4 The
Village of Haines Junction — Yukon pg. 4 First Canada O/A
First Student Canada — Alberta pg. 5 Community Living
Algoma — Ontario pg. 6 Boilermaker Contractors'
Association of Alberta — Alberta pg. 7
GRIEVANCE HANDLING DURING A PANDEMIC
A Special One-Day Strategic Grievance Handling Workshop
Fall programs & dates
now available. Visit us at:
https://irc.queensu.ca
Register today!
May 14, 2021 (10am-4pm ET) - still a few seats left!
July 16, 2021 (10am-4pm ET)
late April/May 2021.qxp_Layout 1 2021-04-23 12:18 PM Page 1
ARBITRATION
AWARDS
COLLECTIVE
AGREEMENTS
pg. 2
COLLECTIVE
AGREEMENTS
Vancouver gardener coughs
himself into 10-day suspension
