GSB# 2025-01043

UNION# 2025-0467-0010

IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION

Under

THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT

Before

THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD

BETWEEN

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Head)

Union

• and -

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

Employer

BEFORE

Deborah J. D. Leighton

Arbitrator

FOR THE UNION

Alex Andrews Ontario Public Service Employees Union Grievance Officer

FOR THE EMPLOYER

Shivani Ramoutar Treasury Board Secretariat Employee Relations Branch Employee Relations Advisor

HEARING

September 24, 2025

Decision

1Mr. William Head, a Correctional Officer at the Quinte Detention Centre, grieved on June 16, 2025, alleging that the employer breached the collective agreement by issuing him a three-day suspension for excessive use of force on March 27, 2025. The employer submitted that there was just cause for the discipline and thus, no violation of the collective agreement.

2The parties referred this grievance to mediation/arbitration in accordance with Article 22.16 of the collective agreement. At the outset of the hearing, the parties agreed that I had the jurisdiction to deal with this matter. They asked that I issue a decision without precedential value, and without written reasons.

3Having carefully considered the submissions of the parties, as well as the jurisprudence of the Board, I have decided to grant the grievance in part and given all the circumstances substitute a lesser penalty of a one-day suspension. Consequently, I hereby order the employer to rectify the grievor’s discipline record and reimburse him for two days of pay.