HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-1898.Nyman.92-01-13 DecisionONTARIO EMPLOYES DE LA COURONNE
CROWN EMPLOYEES DE L'ONTARIO
GRIEVANCE COMMISSION DE
SETTLEMENT REGLEMENT
BOARD DES GRIEFS
180 DUNDAS STREET WEST, SUITE 2100, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M50 1Z8 TELEPHONE/TELEPHONE: (416) 326-1388
180, RUE DUNDAS OUEST, BUREAU 2100, TORONTO (ONTARIO). M5G 1Z8 FACSIMILE/TELECOPIE : (416) 326-1396
January 13, 1992
Ms. E. Mitchell
Counsel
Koskie & Minsky
Barristers & Solicitors
481 University Avenue
Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2E9
Dear Ms. Mitchell:
RE: 1898/89, 1631/89 OLBEU (Nyman) and the Crown in Right of
Ontario (Liquor Control Board of Ontario)
Enclosed, for your information, is a copy of the Board's decision
in the above noted matter.
J. Shirlow
Registrar
JS/dbg
Encl.
cc: J. Chaykowsky
ONTARIO EMPLOYES DE LA COURONNE
CROWN EMPLOYEES DE L'ONTARIO
GRIEVANCE COMMISSION DE
SETTLEMENT REGLEMENT
BOARD DES GRIEFS
180 DUNDAS STREET WEST, SUITE 2100, TORONTO, ONTARIO. MSG 1Z8 TELEPHONE/TELEPHONE: (416) 326-1388
180, RUE DUNDAS GUEST, BUREAU 2100, TORONTO (ONTARIO). MSG 1Z8 FACSIMILE/TELECOPIE : (416) 326-1396
1898/89, 1631/89
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
Under
THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT
Before
THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD
BETWEEN
OLBEU (Nyman)
- and -
The Crown in Right of Ontarip
(Liquor Control Board of Ontario)
Grievor
Employer
BEFORE: G. Simmons Vice-Chairperson
G. Majesky Member
D. Clark Member
FOR THE E. Mitchell
GRIEVOR Counsel
Koskie & Minsky
Barristers & Solicitors
FOR THE M. Hines
EMPLOYER Counsel
Hicks, Morley, Hamilton, Stewart, Stone
Barristers & Solicitors
HEARING June 18, 1990
January 16, 1991
March 6, 1991
2
The grievor filed two grievances when the Employer refused to promote him
to 'Traffic Controller' which is In the classification of 'Warehouse Foreman 2"
(Exhibit 4). At the commencement of these proceedings, it was agreed that the
two grievances would be consolidated because both are concerned with the
same fact situation. When the grievances were filed, the grievor occupied the
position of "Receiving Dock Foreperson" which is in the classification of
"Warehouse Foreman/Woman 1" (Exhibit 15). There were four applicants for the
position and it is agreed that the grievor was the most senior employee. He
claims that he is qualified to perform The functions of 'Traffic Controller' and seeks
to be placed in the position because of his seniority which is a requirement in
Article 21.5(a) of the Collective Agreement. The article reads:
Where employees are being considered for promotion,
seniority will be the determining factor provided the
employee is qualified to perform the job.
The Employer denied the grievance on the grounds that it was of the
opinion that the grievor was not qualified to perform the functions of Traffic
Controller, Indeed, it Is acknowledged that a Mr. Dwyer, a more junior employee,
was likewise not qualified but In the opinion of the Employer was better suited to
perform the functions of Traffic Controller and was therefore awarded the
position.
The location of the work site is Durham Regional Warehouse which is
located in Whitby. It receives and distributes products of the Employer through
3
docks at any one time. In 1989, Mr. John O'Driscoll, the then incumbent in the
Traffic Controller position, was to retire in July. The grievor had, during the
previous six months, relieved Mr. O'Driscoll on lunch breaks, other breaks,
vacations, and illnesses. It was the grievor's position, therefore, that he was
qualified to perform the functions of the Traffic Controller position.
The job posting contained information concerning the duties of the job as
well as the qualifications needed. It reads in part as follows (Exhibit 4):
To co-ordinate all on-site movement of carrier vehicles;
provide docking, compound and vehicle information to
warehouse staff and carriers; manage the use of
compound area; operate dock door control panel;
maintain all necessary forms and records; give direction
to shunt vehicle operator when necessary; act for
Supervisor during absence.
Qualifications: Working knowledge of shipping,
receiving, order processing and maintenance functions.
Basic understanding of inter-model transportation and
associated equipment. Satisfactory communication skills
both oral and written in order to maintain ledgers and
write detailed reports. Familiarity with common carrier
activities. Ability to learn and apply procedures relating
to the control of all on-site vehicle movements and to
recognize critical priorities affecting system output.
Ability and willingness to work shifts as required.
The grievor gave evidence on his own behalf. While he entertained no
doubt that he could perform the functions of Traffic Controller in his evidence-in-
chief, in cross-examination he demonstrated a lack of familiarity with a number
of terms that the Employer believed to be essential for anyone to know if one
were occupying the position being sought by the grievor. Some examples of this
4
are "FIFO". When asked what he understood that term to mean he replied that
he had never heard of it. He was unfamiliar with the term "DEMURRAGE as well
as "CHASSIS DETENTION". He was unfamiliar with the term "PRINCIPAL RAILHEADS".
He was likewise unfamiliar with the terms "SHIPPERS LOADING COUNT' and
"CARRIER LOADING COUNT'. Consequently, the Employer urged the Board to
accept its position that the grievor did not have a working knowledge of the
functions required to be performed. The Employer also submitted several short
written reports that the grievor had prepared and submitted to the Employer
pursuant to his present duties as Warehouse Foreman/Woman (Exhibits 12, 13, 14,
and 17) which it alleged reveal unsatisfactory written communication skills as
required in the job posting.
The Union called Mr. John O'Driscoll who, as stated earlier, retired in 1989.
Mr. O'Driscoll had favourable comments to make on behalf of the grievor. He
informed us that he has trained several others in the past and the grievor was one
of the best he had trained. The only reservation that he offered was that while
he was not asked formally about the grievor's qualifications, he was informally
asked whether he thought that the grievor was capable of doing the job to
which Mr. O'Driscoll replied in the affirmative but with reservations. He expanded
to say that the grievor is a highly excitable individual who has a tough time
getting along with people. In fairness to the grievor, Mr. O'Driscoll was asked if
he knew what the term "FIFO" meant to which he replied that it didn't ring a bell
with him. It was Mr. O'Driscoll's opinion that the position of Traffic Controller gets
5
very hectic sometimes which requires a cool head. Sometimes drivers get upset,
particularly brokers who are self-employed drivers, if they are unduly delayed at
the warehouse. It was Mr. O'Driscoll's further opinion that literacy with good
interpersonal communicative and organizational skills were important to the job.
The Employer informed us that the Traffic Controller works very closely with
the Receiving Department and Shipping Department. Mr. Greg DeLuca is the
Receiving Manager who was familiar with the Traffic Controller functions from the
receiving standpoint and was one of the committee members who sat on the
committee to determine who would be the successful applicant for the position
of Traffic Controller. He has been the grievor's immediate supervisor since
approximately mid-summer 1988 when the grievor acquired his present position.
It was his opinion that when the grievor filled in on relief for Mr. O'Driscoll it was
not the same as "standing alone" as would be the case of an incumbent who was
assigned that position on a permanent basis. Instead, the relief person would
receive support from the Receiving and Shipping Managers or a Dock Foreman.
It was his opinion that the grievor had very little job experience and he required
assistance from the Shipping and Receiving Departments when he filled in on
behalf of Mr. O'Driscoll. It was Mr. DeLuca's opinion that the grievor was not
qualified to perform the functions of Traffic Controller because that position
requires good interpersonal skills which the grievor lacked. Mr. DeLuca was also
concerned about the grievor's interpersonal skills both with internal and external
contacts. That is, the grievor has a tendency to avoid people situations and not
6
to interface with them. Mr. DeLuca cited several examples where the grievor
demonstrated a lack of willingness to interface with his subordinates. One such
example occurred when a forklift operator, Vince Ready, was loading a truck.
The grievor ordered Mr. Ready to move some stock thereby interrupting
Mr. Ready's loading of the truck. When Mr. Ready asked the grievor why he had
to do it he was told "Just do if' and then the grievor just walked away. Mr. Ready
was upset and went to Mr. DeLuca to intervene. Mr. DeLuca cited several other
similar situations that occurred from time to time.
Moreover, it was his opinion that the grievor was basically ignorant of how
the operation functioned as a whole. As well, there is what Mr. DeLuca described
as "Container Demurrage" which are charges levied on the Employer by
steamship lines for not unloading the containers on time. There was also a
concern for "Chassis Detention" meaning that carriers would levy charges for
chassis detention if kept beyond the established free time. Carriers would not
inform the Employer about potential detentions as they were content to allow the
chasses to sit on the Employer's premises and run up charges. Also, it is important
for the Traffic Controller to know the distinction between "Shipper Load Counts"
versus "Carrier Load Counts". Shipper load counts places liability for shortages on
the shipper whereas the contrary is applicable to carriers in carrier load counts.
Moreover, according to Mr. DeLuca, it is important that the Traffic Controller be
completely aware of the capacity that receiving retail stores throughout the area
7
have. Some can accommodate forty-eight foot trailer loads whereas others have
to be restricted to short-bodied trucks.
Moreover, Mr. DeLuca was of the opinion that since working with the
grievor, the grievor has revealed that he does not possess strong communication
skills. He does not give clear, concise instructions and he does not follow-up with
instructions that he has given. Rather, he tends not to let others make suggestions
but if he does he is not receptive to them. Mr. DeLuca said that when dealing
with the huge number of drivers daily it is an absolute must that information that
0 is given and received is understood and one has to be able to follow-up and
ensure the information is understood and that the person receiving the
information knows exactly what is expected of him or her. Mr DeLuca testified
that this was one of his main concerns. That is, he does not believe that the
grievor's personality or make-up is compatible to the performance requirements
of the job.
Mr. Ron Graves, the Shipping Manager since 1985, also gave evidence on
behalf of the Employer. Mr. Graves was the grievor's immediate supervisor
between 1986 and 1988. He likewise was of the view that the population with
which a Traffic Controller must deal with is a different breed. Truck drivers are not
employees and Mr. Graves was of the view that when the shift begins at 7 a.m.
there is potentially up to twenty drivers asking for loads. In his experience, having
worked with and watched the grievor, Mr. Graves was of the view that the grievor
would have a tendency to begin working rapidly when faced with a number of
8
requests, trying to deal with all tasks at the same time, and thereby placing the
control aspect of the necessary duties in jeopardy. It was his opinion that it would
take the grievor an extensive period of time to be capable of performing the
functions of Traffic Controller.
Mr. Bill McDowell, the General Manager of Operations at the Durham
Warehouse, is the supervisor of Messrs. DeLuca and Graves. Mr. DeLuca, being
the grievor's immediate supervisor, carried out a performance appraisal of the
grievor (Exhibit 7) which the grievor and Mr. DeLuca signed on December 7, 1989.
Overall, the appraisal concluded that there were many areas requiring the
grievor's immediate attention. These included areas of communication, reports
and correspondence. It was the opinion of Mr. DeLuca that the grievor's skills in
these areas are less than adequate and had to improve. The appraisal
continued that the grievor is not confident in himself and that the grievor had to
put more effort in focusing on his job priorities. It concluded that an interim
evaluation would take place on March 15, 1990. Based on this appraisal, Mr.
McDowell, in a memorandum to Mr. DeLuca (Exhibit 6) stated that he was not
prepared to consider the grievor for the vacant position of Traffic Controller.
Based on all of the foregoing evidence can it be said that the grievor was
qualified to perform the functions of Traffic Controller and if so, did the Employer
violate Article 21.5(a) of the Collective Agreement?
The Union referred the Board once again to Article 21.5 which states that
seniority is to be the determining factor provided the employee is qualified to
9
perform the job. The Union position is that the grievor was qualified and should
have been awarded the position for a probationary period under Article 21.9 for
three months and then if it proved that he was not qualified he could have
returned to his present position. However, having performed the position in Mr.
O'Donnell's absence the grievor passed the threshold test in demonstrating that
he was indeed qualified. The Union relies on a previous decision of the Board in
Bob Metham, File No. 570/81, an unreported decision chaired by S.B. Linden, Q.C.,
released on August 12, 1982. In that case, the parties were agreed that the onus
is on the grievor in the first instance to establish a prima facie case that he was
qualified for the promotion. The onus then shifts to the Employer to show that in
fact the grievor was not qualified. In Re Corporation of the Town of Valley East
and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 6 (1980) 27 L.A.C. (2d) 154 (R.L.
Kennedy) involved a situation where the position of "temporary labour leader" was
posted and was awarded to an employee with less seniority than the grievor. The
evidence in that case established that the grievor had applied for and been
awarded the position of Temporary Labour Leader on four previous occasions.
The evidence before the Town of Valley East Board heard evidence from the
grievor that he had performed all of the duties of the job function and had been
complimented on his work by management. The grievor also testified that he had
no problems either with the job or with the men that he supervised. The grievor's
evidence was the only evidence presented before the Kennedy Board. The
Board commented at page 160 as follows:
10
In the circumstances we are satisfied, consistent with the
authorities referred to in Brown and Beatty, that the onus
has shifted to the company to come forward and
establish the grounds for its opinion that the training, skill
and efficiency of the grievor and (the successful
incumbent) are not relatively equal. This was not done
in the evidence presented to the hearing.
Similarly, the Union asserts that the onus likewise shifts to the Employer in the
instant situation. The grievor performed the functions of Traffic Controller and did
so without any complaints. Further, with the threshold clause in Article 21.5(a) the
Employer must enquire into the qualifications of the most senior candidate and
the Employer failed to do so in the instant situation. Instead, the Employer placed
great weight on the performance appraisal that Mr. DeLuca had prepared.
Consequently, the decision by Mr. McDowell to deny the most senior candidate
an interview was an arbitrary act on his part. While the Union concedes that a
performance appraisal may be considered in situations such as are before us,
they can only be considered as one of a number of factors.
Therefore, according to the Union, there has been sufficient evidence put
forward on behalf of the Union to award the senior candidate the job posting.
He performed it satisfactorily in Mr. O'Donnell's absence and the Employer has
not rebutted the prima facie onus that the grievor is not qualified. The Union relies
on RV. vs. Ontario Public Service Employees' Union et al. (1982) 35 0.12. (2d) 670
(Div. Ct.) in support of its position that the grievor should be awarded the position.
There are two reasons for doing so. One, there is nothing left to decide because
11
the Union has shown that the grievor is qualified and that he is the most senior
candidate. Two, it should be awarded simply because of the passage of time.
The Employer argued that the only question before this Board was whether
the grievor was qualified. In its view, all other questions are the wrong questions.
Insofar as the requirement of an interview is concerned, it was the
Employer's position that there is no language in the collective agreement that
says there must be an interview. The collective agreement being silent on
interviews, it was the Employer's position that this is one case where the
Metropolitan Board of Commissioners of Police and Metropolitan Toronto Police
Association et al. 124 E.L.R. (3d) 684 (Ont. C.A.) applies because the collective
agreement is silent on interviews. The Employer asserts thatthere is no issue of
discrimination here because it was not raised throughout. So in counsel's view,
the issue that is left to be decided is, was the decision to deny an interview
arbitrary? The Employer adopts the position that there was no arbitrariness in the
decision to deny the grievor an interview. Mr. McDowell stated that he had taken
into consideration a number of factors such as the performance appraisal; a
discussion with Mr. Graves; as well as with one other; together with his own
observations of the grievor. In the Employer's view, therefore, it did not act in an
arbitrary fashion when it did not grant the grievor an interview.
The Employer also takes the position that the grievor was not qualified to
perform the job. In Re Hamilton Teachers' Credit Union Ltd. and Office &
Professional Employees' International Union, Local 343 (1989) 5 L.A.C. (4th) 62
12
(Verity) is a decision in support of the Employer's position that where you have no
qualified candidates the Employer is free to disregard the seniority provisions.
Moreover, once it is established that there are no qualified candidates, then
Article 21.9 requiring a probationary trial period is not operative. The Board was
also referred to a previous decision of this Board involving Michael Frolack, GSB
File No. 44/78, an unreported decision of Mr. E.B. Joliffe, dated October 5, 1981.
In addressing DuneIle, Article 21.9 on pages 19 and 20, Mr. Joliffe stated:
We do not think that Article 16.11 had any
application to Mr. Frolack's case. It refers expressly to
'an employee who has been promoted.' Mr. Frolack
was not promoted in 1977, so that the provision does not
come in to play. Clearly, what the provision means is
that if, after the promotion; an employee seems unable
to meet the requirements of the position, then he has
three months to prove otherwise. Therefore, according
to the employer, there is no training required and the
question still comes back to whether or not the grievor
was qualified to perform the functions of traffic
controller.
The Employer pointed out that the Union's strongest witness was
Mr. O'Driscoll who stated that the grievor was qualified but with reservations. The
reservations being that the grievor is a highly excitable individual who had a
tough time getting along with people. Mr. O'Driscoll also said that the grievor
would have to continue in improving his communication skills. The Employer also
referred the Board to the evidence again of the supervisors and urged the Board
to conclude that the grievor was not qualified.
13
The evidence presented in the instant case is not on all fours with the Town
Valley East case. In that case, the only evidence that was advanced was
through the grievor. His evidence satisfied the Board in that case that he had
prima facie the qualifications to perform the functions of the posifion he was
seeking. While the grievor testified in the instant case that he was qualified and
could perform all of the job duties in the position of Traffic Controller, the
evidence of Mr. O'Driscoll and that of two of his supervisors must also be
considered in coming to any decision. We agree with the Employer that the
Union's strongest witness was Mr. O'Driscoll who had been the incumbent in the
Traffic Controller position until his retirement in 1989. Mr. O'Driscoll testified in his
evidence-in-chief that the grievor was qualified but with reservations. These
reservations were due to the highly excitable nature of the grievor and his
difficulty in getting along with people. Mr. O'Driscoll was also of the view that
literacy with good interpersonal communicative and organizational skills were
important to the job. Counsel for the Union acknowledged that the grievor's
report writing as contained in Exhibits 13 and 14 were inadequate, but that the
forms required of the incumbent in the position of Traffic Controller are
straighfforward and factual and the other Exhibits, being 12 and 17, were not
relevant to the position that the grievor is seeking.
Messrs. DeLuca and Graves who had both supervised the grievor at
different periods since 1986 expressed a number of concerns about the grievor's
capabilities or qualifications to perform the functions of Traffic Controller on a
14
stand-alone basis. They, like Mr. O'Driscoll, entertained a number of reservations
about his capabilities of performing the job duties because of his personality. It
is agreed by all that the position requires good interpersonal and communicative
skills which the evidence indicates the grievor lacks in certain respects.
But does this fact preclude the grievor from being qualified to perform the
required duties of Traffic Controller? The evidence advanced on behalf of the
Employer answers that question in the affirmative. The job posting states that its
requirements include 'To co-ordinate all on-site movement of carrier vehicles;
provide docking, compound and vehicle information to warehouse staff and
carriers; manage the use of compound area;" ... and have "(s)atisfactory
communication skills both oral and written in order to maintain ledgers and write
detailed reports." Arbitrators have been called on to resolve issues such as are
before us on a number of occasions. An individual aptitude may be taken into
consideration such as getting along with fellow employees, see Douglas Aircraft
Co. of Canada Ltd. and U.A.W. (1979) 22 L.A.C. (2d) 208 (H.D. Brown);
communication skills may also be relevant, see University Hospital's Board and
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, Local 54(1988) 33 L.A.C. (3d) 157 where
the Board upheld the preliminary objection against proceeding to hear the
grievance on its merits because of timeliness. However, the Board offered the
following comments with respect to the merits of the grievance on page 171:
We are satisfied that the employer acted in good
faith in determining the job qualifications which included
regular attendance and good communication skills.
15
Those qualities were obviously important for the few
employees on the night shift for the reasons described
by the employer's witnesses. The grievor should have
been under no delusions as to what management
(reasonably in our view) perceived to be her
shortcomings in those two areas. The grievor seems not
to have accepted that there is any foundation for the
concerns of management, particularly in the
communications area.
Also, in Re Victoria Hospital Corporation and London and District Service Workers'
Union, Local 220 (1978) 20 L.A.C. (2d) 5 (Baum) the Board at page 9 made the
following comment:•
The union does not dispute the first criterion
relating to physical ability. It does, however, argue the
remaining two criteria relating to communication skills
and altitude. The nursing porter, contends the union, is
not in a leadership position; the primary function of the
job is merely the transportation of patients from one
point to another.
To us the basic question concerning the
appropriateness of the criteria concerning
communications and attitude is not so much the matter
of leadership. Rather, the question is one of relevance
in relationship to job function.
The Board in that case found that certain standards set for the position were
appropriate and that the requirement of communication skills was reasonable.
In deciding issues such as the one before us, we refer to Re Hydro-Electric
Power Corn-n. of Ontario and Office & Professional Employees' Int'l. Union (1976)
11 L.A.C. (2d) 36 (Beatty) at page 41:
16
With respect to the application of the standards
expected by the employer to the employees
concerned, arbitrators have also uniformly taken the
position that the arbitral function with respect to the
second aspect of the employer's decision is not in the
nature of an appeal or a fresh determination on the
merits, but rather should be restricted to a resolution of
whether the employer's decision was reasonable, made
in good faith and not discriminatory. In short the trust to
be applied in this aspect of the employer's decision is
not whether we agree or disagree with the employer's
selection but rather whether, in all of the circumstances,
that selection was a reasonable one.
We have heard a good deal of evidence during the three days of hearings and
have the benefit of the views of both management and union witnesses. The
Employer has expressed a number of concerns over the grievor's qualifications to
perform the duties of a Traffic Controller. His interpersonal and communication
skills, according to the Employer, are lacking for reasons that have been
expressed in the evidence that they have given. Mr. O'Driscoll's evidence
confirms the concerns held by management. In our respecfful opinion, we are
unable to find that the Employer acted in a manner that would have us disturb
its decision. This is in keeping with the views expressed in the Hydro-Electric Power
case, supra. Accordingly, for all of the foregoing reasons, we are of the view that
the grievance must be and is hereby dismissed.
(see attached)
G. Majesky
Member
17
Signed at Kingston,Ontario this 13th day of January 1992.
/14
C.Gordon Simmons
Vice Chairperson
D.Clark
Member
Between:
ONTARIO LIQUOR BOARD EMPLOYEES' UNION
- and -
THE CROWN IN RIGHT OF ONTARIO
(Liquor Control Board of Ontario)
The Grievance Settlement Board
Grievance of Nyman#1898/89
Union Nominee Partial Dissent
I have reviewed the award in the above noted matter and must respectfully register
a partial dissent. Although the facts in this case are not in significant dispute, I do have
a significant disagreement with the manner in which the LCBO addressed the literacy
deficiencies of the grievor.
During the several days of hearing, the board heard much evidence about the state
of the art inventory control techniques which are common place at the Durham Warehouse.
Particularly, we heard the current jargon and buzz words used by management ie.,
domiciling the inventory. Perhaps a new culture and breed of warehouse person has
evolved in the 1990's, but I was struck by the intellectual pomposity of the warehouse
bosses who have ascribed to the job of Warehouse Foreman/woman a techno sophistication
befitting an MBA graduate. Perhaps creeping credentialism even occurs in what has
traditionally been the low skill level shipping and receiving jobs. At one time, the kids who
dropped out of high school (30% in 1991) could count on these warehouse jobs as an entry
level position. Sadly, it appears that these positions require quasi professional credentials
in the 1990's.
In terms of the decision of the board to dismiss Mr. Nyinan's grievance, I believe
the board has arrived at the appropriate decision. Unfortunately, I am less comfortable
with respect to how the employer handled what are clearly identifiable literacy problems
of Mr. Nyman. Specifically, the board was submitted a copy of a note which Mr. Nyman
wrote as an internal memo to his supervisor. There appeared to be several spelling and
composition errors indicating that Mr. Nyman had some difficulty in composing written
communications. What I found disturbing is that the Warehouse bosses who prided
themselves on efficiency and buzz-words sought to utilize these memo's only at an
arbitration hearing.
My concern very simply is that 1990 was the International Year of Literacy, and
having organized a national symposium on "workplace literacy" entitled "challenges and
solutions" for business and labour, I came to realize that the Ontario and Federal
governments were taking a lead role in literacy initiatives. My concern, therefore, when
confronted at the hearing by employer testimony and employer counsel arguments
respecting Mr. Nyman's literacy deficiencies, was the apparent disregard for the problem,
because all the employer wanted was to prevent Mr. Nyman from getting the job.
Frankly, that was a wrong tact. Firstly, I was saddened to find out that the LCBO,
as a Crown Agency, did not even have any semblance of a workplace literacy initiative.
Typically, most government letterhead will have in the corner these International Year of
Literacy logo's. Perhaps, government involvement is merely cosmetic in some instances.
Unfortunately, LCBO management committed a cardinal adult education sin when they
used written memo's of Mr. Nyman, and used these to embarrass him at the hearing and
make a point to the board. The reality is that working people will deny that they have a
literacy problem, and "bluff it", until confronted that they have a problem, and offered
some real assistance to cope in a remedial way with this difficulty. Perhaps, if anything,
maybe someone at head office will inquire how many other workers have literacy problems,
and seek to put in place some meaningful solutions. Like the old saying goes, if you think
training is expensive, you should add up the cost of illiteracy.
Respectfully submitted by,
FP IA40 'CONSULTANT SERVICES
Gary Mflif*
Uttn Nominee
GM/mg
MARKHAM, Ontario
November 1, 1991