The Union filed a policy grievance regarding the interpretation of the supplementary health benefits provision in the collective agreement, specifically whether it covers the charges of a psychologist who supervises a psychotherapist providing direct treatment to an employee.
The Employer argued that only direct, face-to-face services provided by a psychologist or social worker were covered.
The Arbitrator allowed the grievance, finding no ambiguity in the collective agreement's broad reference to 'charges for the services of a psychologist'.
The Arbitrator held that supervision is a recognized service within a psychologist's scope of practice that provides direct benefit to the client, and therefore falls within the covered services under the collective agreement.
