GSB#2006-2731
UNION#2006-0234-0391
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
Under
THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT
Before
THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD
BETWEEN
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Poole)
Union
- and -
The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
Employer
BEFORE
Felicity D. Briggs
Vice-Chair
FOR THE UNION
Greg McVeigh Ontario Public Service Employees Union Grievance Officer
FOR THE EMPLOYER
Gary Wylie Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Staff Relations Officer
HEARING
July 27 and 28, 2009.
DECISION
1The Employer and the Union at the Vanier Centre for Women agreed to participate in the Expedited Mediation-Arbitration process in accordance with the negotiated Protocol. Many grievances were settled through that process. However, a few remained unresolved and therefore require a decision from this Board. The Protocol provides that decisions will be issued within a relatively short period of time after the actual mediation sessions and will be without reasons. Further, the decision is to be without prejudice and precedent.
2Ms. Joyce Poole is a Correctional Officer who has filed a grievance regarding a conflict in the workplace with a fellow Correctional Officer. After the incident the Employer accommodated a scheduling request to ensure that the officers would not work together. This decision does not alter that arrangement.
3The grievance filed asks for the situation to be “fixed”. After hearing from the parties I have determined that mediation between the officers is necessary. I order the Employer to retain the services of an appropriate mediator who is employed outside of the OPS. It is understood that this mediation process is not punitive and is ordered in an effort to “fix” the situation in the workplace. Accordingly, neither officer will have anything noted in their file regarding this order of mediation.
4I remain seized.
Dated at Toronto this 19th day of August 2009.