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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-1960.Rose et al.24-04-18 Decision Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board Suite 600 180 Dundas St. West Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8 Tel. (416) 326-1388 Commission de règlement des griefs des employés de la Couronne Bureau 600 180, rue Dundas Ouest Toronto (Ontario) M5G 1Z8 Tél. : (416) 326-1388 GSB# 2019-1960 UNION# 2019-0302-0033 IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION Under THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT Before THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD BETWEEN Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Rose et al) Union - and - The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) Employer BEFORE Ian Anderson Arbitrator FOR THE UNION Joseanne Job Ontario Public Service Employees Union Grievance Officer FOR THE EMPLOYER Joohyung Lee Treasury Board Secretariat Legal Services Branch Counsel HEARING April 12, 2024 - 2 - Decision [1] These grievances have been referred to arbitration pursuant to Article 22.16.1 of the collective agreement. Article 22.16.1 contemplates the expeditious determination of grievances which cannot be settled. Having considered the representations of counsel for the parties, I make the following case management directions. Initial Production [2] On or before August 16, 2024, the Union shall provide full particulars to the Employer and finalize its production requests to the Employer. [3] On or before October 18, 2024, the Employer shall produce to the Union the documents which it has requested or, to the extent the Employer objects to producing a document in whole or in part, briefly state its reasons for each such objection. Declarations [4] The evidence in chief of the parties shall take the form of declarations. No further evidence in chief shall be permitted without leave of the Arbitrator. The declarations shall set out all the material facts upon which a party intends to rely. Subject to what follows, declarations are admissible into evidence without the need of calling a declarant as a witness. [5] Declarations may contain statements based on information and belief in addition to statements based on personal knowledge of the declarant. When a statement is based on information and belief, the declaration shall so indicate and give the source. Statements which are based on information and belief may be given less or no weight, as determined by the Arbitrator. Each declaration shall be signed by the declarant and will contain the following statement: “This declaration was prepared by me or under my instruction and I hereby confirm its accuracy.” If it is not possible to obtain a declarant’s signature, an email from the declarant containing the same statement shall accompany the declaration. [6] Documents intended to be relied upon at the hearing shall be properly identified by a declarant unless filed on consent of the parties. [7] Each party may cross-examine any declarant of a declaration filed by the other party. A party which intends to cross-examine the declarant of a declaration at the hearing shall give notice of that intention to the other party. The party which submitted the declaration shall be responsible for ensuring the declarant’s attendance at the hearing. If such a declarant does not attend, no weight will be given to the declaration filed on behalf of that declarant unless the Arbitrator decides otherwise. - 3 - [8] On or before December 20, 2024, the Union shall provide the Employer with declarations from each of its intended witnesses and copies of all documents referenced in its declarations. [9] On or before March 7, 2025, the Employer shall provide the Union declarations from each of its intended witnesses and copies of all documents referenced in its declarations which have not been already provided by the Union. [10] On or before April 7, 2025, the Union shall provide the Employer with any additional declarations from each of its intended witnesses in reply to the declarations filed by the Employer and copies of all documents referenced in its declarations which have not been already provided by either party. Any such declarations will be limited to additional facts which reply to the facts set out in the Employer’s declarations which the Union could not reasonably have anticipated. Further Case Management [11] A further case management call will be held in this matter on May 30, 2025. Joint Book [12] At least two days prior to the hearing of this matter, the parties are to file with the Arbitrator a Joint Book containing copies of all declarations and copies of all documents for use at the hearing. The Joint Book is to be in PDF format (“tabbed" with bookmarks). All documents in the Joint Book will be received into evidence without proof of authenticity but without prejudice to the position of either party as to admissibility or relevance. Statements contained in a document may be treated as the evidence of the person making the statement. The weight to be given to that evidence will be determined by the Arbitrator having regard to relevant factors including: • The circumstances in which the statement was made; • Whether the statement is based on first hand knowledge or information and belief; and • Whether the statement is with respect to facts which are reasonably capable of belief or is a conclusion or opinion. Amendment of Dates [13] The dates set out in this decision may be changed upon the agreement of the parties or by order of the Arbitrator. Dated at Toronto, Ontario this 18th day of April 2024. “Ian Anderson” _________________________ Ian Anderson, Arbitrator