Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Rouleau) v. The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of the Solicitor General), 2026 CanLII 42832

Grievance Settlement Board

GSB# 2025-02979

UNION# 2026-0617-0005

IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION

Under

THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT

Before

THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD

BETWEEN

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Rouleau)

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

Jennifer Charlton Treasury Board Secretariat Employee Relations & Negotiations Employee Relations Advisor

HEARING

April 16, 2026

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 or prejudice and will be issued within fifteen working days of the mediation unless the parties agree otherwise.

2The grievance relates to a five-day suspension which the Employer imposed upon the Grievor for using excessive and unnecessary force and inappropriate Ministry technique when he placed an inmate in a headlock. The grievance alleges the discipline was disproportionate and failed to consider mitigating factors.

3Having considered the representations of the parties, I find no breach of the Collective Agreement but would exercise my discretion to reduce the length of the suspension to three days.