The appellant was fired from her position as bookkeeper and office manager of the respondent trade union after reporting alleged financial misconduct by her supervisors to the International Union of Iron Workers.
The trial judge found she was terminated for reporting the misconduct but held that the union was not a 'lawful authority' under s. 74 of The Labour Standards Act.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, holding that 'lawful authority' includes individuals within the employer organization who exercise lawful authority over the employee or the activity, thereby protecting employees who report misconduct 'up the ladder'.
