Human Rights - OPSGB

The complainant alleged that the employer violated the Human Rights Code by denying her a merit increase.

Following the closure of a related lead case, the employer provided certain production to the complainant.

The Public Service Grievance Board issued an interim decision directing the self-represented complainant to provide specific particulars of her discrimination claim, including the prohibited grounds relied upon and the factual assertions supporting the allegation, before determining next steps.

The complainant alleged that the employer violated the Human Rights Code by denying her a merit increase.

The Public Service Grievance Board issued an interim decision directing the self-represented complainant to provide specific particulars of the alleged discrimination, including the prohibited grounds relied upon and the factual basis for the claim, before determining next steps.

Several Operational Managers at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre filed grievances alleging that the employer failed to provide a harassment-free workplace, pointing to derogatory and disrespectful comments posted on a union local's blog.

The complainants argued that the employer's failure to discipline the bloggers or bring in a restoration team condoned the behaviour and breached the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

The Public Service Grievance Board dismissed the complaints, finding that senior management's response—which included issuing joint memos, consulting with the union, and successfully having the blog password-protected—was reasonable in the circumstances and did not constitute a breach of the complainants' terms and conditions of employment.

The grievors, Labour Relations Officers, alleged they were wrongly denied promotions due to systemic discrimination and racial bias.

At the outset of the hearing, the employer conceded that the Public Service Grievance Board has jurisdiction to hear grievances alleging systemic discrimination and to order appropriate remedies.

The Vice-Chair declared that the Board has such jurisdiction and issued orders for the disclosure of the competition file and other documents to be relied upon at the hearing.