GSB# 2024-02920

UNION# 2024-0719-0021

IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION

Under

THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT

Before

THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD

BETWEEN

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (King)

Union

• and -

The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of the Solicitor General)

Employer

BEFORE

Ian Anderson

Arbitrator

FOR THE UNION

Gregg Gray Ontario Public Service Employees Union Grievance Officer

FOR THE EMPLOYER

Justin O’Gorman Treasury Board Secretariat Employee Relations & Negotiations Team Lead

HEARING

June 12, 2025

Decision

1The Employer and the Union agreed to participate in the Expedited Mediation-Arbitration process in accordance with the negotiated protocol. The majority of the grievances are normally settled pursuant to that process. However, if a grievance remains unresolved the protocol provides that an Arbitrator of the Board, based on the evidence provided during the mediation session, will immediately decide the grievance. The decision will be without reasons, without precedent and prejudice and will be issued within fifteen working days of the mediation unless the parties agree otherwise.

2The grievance relates to a one day suspension which the Employer imposed upon the Grievor for entering a Deputy Superintendent’s office without authorization and removing a chair. The Grievor entered the office because the adjacent lunch room was missing a chair, he could see the same type of chair in the Deputy Superintendent’s office through a window and assumed the Deputy Superintendent had taken the chair and forgotten to return it. He states there was no ill intent on his part, and acknowledges that he is not supposed to enter the Deputy Superintendent’s office without authorization.

3Having considered the representations of the parties, I find discipline was justified but reduce the penalty to a written reprimand.