There’s been two complaints of alleged union busting made against the Town of Wabana on Bell Island this month.
The two grievances, filed by the Teamsters union, are before the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board
One grievance involves the termination of two town office employees on Jan. 2 — about two months after they voted to join the union.
The second complaint alleges the town has failed to remit union dues for all employees hired to do bargaining unit work.
“The town is using Article 11 to keep employees out of the bargaining unit,” the second complaint alleges. “The town (failed) to add the land fill operator at the landfill site and the labourer/cleaner position at the main office and fire hall to the unit.”
The grievances are the latest in a string of controversies the Town of Wabana has been mired in.
In fact, one person commenting on social media called it “the darkest times since the mine closing.”
Tensions seem to have heightened since the new council was elected in September, with the council members apparently being split as to their support for various issues of great concern to residents.
But the union grievances seem to have upped the ante as far as fair labour relation practices go.
On Jan. 8, 2018, the Labour Board received a formal complaint from the Transport and Allied Workers Local 855 affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The complaint alleges the town dismissed two of its employees without proper cause, discriminated against them because they were members of the union, altered conditions of their employment, threatened or intimidated them, and sought to have the employees refrain from exercising their right to vote for union membership.
According to documents obtained by The Telegram, the background of the case is that on Nov. 1, 2017, the union filed an application for certification as bargaining agent for three clerical staff. A vote was to be conducted on Nov. 3 at the town offices.
Documents allege that shortly before the vote was held, Coun. William Peddle met with one of the three staff privately, then asked to meet with another of the three privately. The second staff member, however, refused unless someone else was present for the meeting.
“Coun. Peddle became extremely upset,” the documents allege. “His reaction and subsequent behaviour were such that the RCMP was called.”
The RCMP arrived and spoke to Peddle who then left the office before the vote was held. The staff member who had met with him also left before the vote.
The remaining two clerical staff did vote but indicated they felt threatened and intimidated by what had occurred.
“From the filing of the certification application, the employees had experienced negative changes in the employment environment,” the documents claim.
“The events of Nov. 3 revealed the employer’s anti-union animus and its hostile reaction to the certification application process.”
On Nov. 10, the two staff members who had voted were told that the third clerical staff (the person who had left before the vote) was being appointed interim town clerk. The two staff members were also told they would no longer have keys to the town office or the code to the alarm.
The two employees later sought medical attention due to stress and were ordered off work by their doctors. When they returned to work on Jan. 2, both were separately called into meetings with Peddle and councillors Norman Newman, Henry Crane and Ben Warford and issued termination letters.
The termination letters state that it was a “majority decision of council.”
There is no indication, however, of this matter being discussed at the Dec. 20, 2017 public council meeting before the full council, according to the minutes. Nor was it included on the agenda for the public council meeting that was held Jan. 25, 2018.
The union has asked the Labour Board to declare that the town had contravened the Labour Relations Act and to direct the town to comply with the legislation, and to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. They asked the board to direct the town to reinstate the fired employees, and pay them for lost wages and benefits.
