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Boulam 06-12-08
IntheMatterofanArbitration Between OntarioPublicServicesEmployeesUnion Local59(theUnion) And TheClarendonFoundation(CheshireHomes)Ine(theEmployer) AwardregardingthegrievanceofVioletBoulam Arbitrator:BarryB.Fisher AppearingfortheUnion:DonMartin CounselfortheEmployer:StephenBernofsky HearingheldonJune13,July20,September!9,20and27,2006atToronto Thisisadischargegrievance.ThegrievorwasemployedasaPersonalCare Attendant(PCA)fi'omJanuary1992untilNovember17,2005.Thegfievorwasdischarged overallegationsthatshediscriminatedagainstco-workers,harassedcertain co-workersandgenerallycleatedapoisonedworkenvironment.. Theevidencerelatingtotheseallegationsisasfollows. IncidentatHenryLaneStaffLoungeonNovember4,2005 "IllestorystartswithanotewrittenbyBeatriceValera(alsoknownasBethMedina)aPCAwhoworkedwiththegfievor.ThisnotewaswrittenbyMsValeratotlu'eeunionstewards,Daphne,JoyandMonica.Thenotereadsasfollows: 11/03/05 7:50p.m. Daphne,Joy&Moniea Violet"reuses"togoonbookingwithme-soWinf!'edenduptodotheworkwithme Sineel'ely, BethValera AccordingtoMsValera'stestimony,thisiswhathappened. WhenMsValeraenteredthestaffloungearound5:35pmonNovember4,2005shesawthatthegrievorwasonthephonetalkingabouther.MsValerasawthatthe grievorhadinherhandtheabovementionednote.MsValerathensaidtothegrievor"thatisthenotethatImadeforDaphne,JoyandMoniea".ThegrievorthenturnedtoMs Valeraandtoldherthatshewas"adirtynastydogFilipinoandapieceofshit"Shealso calledMsValeraa"downtownprostitutenastydirtybitchandthatthereasonwhyyour husbanddoesnotlikeyoubecauseyouareadirtynastydowntownprostitutebitch"MsValeraprotestedthelanguagebeingusedbythegrievortowhichthegrievorrespondedthatshelookeddownonthedirtyFilipinos,howshedoesnotcompareherselfto dirtynastyFilipinobitches,andagainrepeatedsimilarcommentsabout"downtown prostitutebitches".ThegrievorthentoldBethtowatchout"causenoJamaicangetkickout justlikethatandkissherRoyalJamaicanblackass".Shortlyafterthisincident,sheandthegrievorpassedeachotherinthehallwaycomingoffthelounge.Thegrievor"ranher down"whichIunderstoodtomeanthattheybumpedintoeachother.MsValera deniesusinganyracialslursatthistime.MsValeratestifiedthatsheisfi'omthe PhilippinesandshebelievesthatthegrievorisfromJamaica.MsValeratestifiedthatshe wasseparatedfi'omherhusbandatthetimeoftheincident.MsValelaalsotestifiedthat Winifi'edBrownandMarkOngeri(bothofwhomarePCA's)werealsopresentinthestaff loungeduriugtheincident. MalakiOngeri,aPCAwiththeEmployersinceMay2005,testifiedthathewas inthestaffloungeatthetimeinquestion..Hefiledareportabouttheincidentthatsaidin partasfollows: She(thegrievor)continuedtalkingonthephoneandsuddenlyBethwalkedin andViolethungupthephoneandstartedtotalktoBeth,sayinghowcanyouFilipino womanwritetoJohnaccusingmeandtellinglies.Youarefullofshitandyouarea prostitute,lookingformenallovertownandthatiswhyyouleftyourhusbandBeth askedhertostopinsultingherandthatshewatchherwords.BethaskedViolet"What doeshusbandhavetodowiththis'?"Atthis"timeWinifi'edshoutedatViolettostoptalking,butVioleteventalkedlottdel,saying"IamgoingtoteachthisFilipinowomana les'son".Bethwalkedout. Inhistestimonyhereconfirmedthatthereportthathefiledwastrueandaccurate. WinifredBrownalsotestifiedaboutthestaffloungeincident.Herwrittenreportreads asfollows: Ont;'ridayNov4at5:25pmVioletfomTdanoteonthetableshereadit,thenshe wentonthephoneandwastellingsomeoneaboutit.ThenshestarttoaccusedmethatI knowaboutthenoteanddidnottellher,soshegetsmadatme.WhenBethcameinfi'omher working,shestatedthrowingdirtyu,ordsather,Bethtoldherthatsheistheonewho wrotethenote,addresstotheunionsten,ard.ShetoldBethis"dirtydogdowntownprostitutebitchands'hestandatthestreetsMecatchingmenandkissingtheminfrontofpeople andherhusbandsonotwantherbecauses'heisadowntownprostitutebitchandherhusbandcamehereatClarendonandcurseherinf!'ontofthestaffandtoldhershedon'twantherbecausesheis"awhore.ShesaysBethcannottalktoherbecausesheis justapieceofdirtyshit. MsBrownreconfirmedtheaccuracyofherreport.ShealsotestifiedthatMr Ongeriwaspresentintheloungethroughouttheincident.MsBrownsaidthatwhenthe grievorfoundthenoteshesaidtoMsBrown"Lookbloodclot,youknowthis,youtoldher towriteit"MsBrowntestifiedthattheterm"bloodclot"whenusedinJamaicain thiscontextisanextremelyoffensiveterm.MsBrownalsosaidthatMsValerawasnot angryduringthisepisode.AtsomepointintheinterchangebetweenMsValeraandthe grievor,MsBrownsteppedinbetweenthetwoasshethoughtitmightgetviolent.Thegrievorwascursinglikecrazy.AftertheincidentthegrievorpointedherfingeratMsBrownandsaid"Youheardnothing,youwerenothereorelse."Onsomeunspecifiedpreviousoccasion,MsBrownsaidthatthegfievortoldherthatshewouldtakeMsBrown downstairsandbeatherandthatshehadalawyer.MsBrowntestifiedthatshefearedthe grievor. Thegrievor'sversionwasverydifferent.Whenshearrivedattheloungethatdayshe discoveredthenote.SheaskedMsBrownifsheknewaboutthenoteandMsBrown saidthatshedidnot.ThenotemadeherangrybecauseMsValeradidnotspeaktoher aboutitfirst.ShecalledJamice,aco-workerattheotherfacility.Shereadthenoteto Jamice.JamicesaidtothegrievortolethertalktoMsBrownsothegrievorpassedthephonetoMsBrown.ShethengotthephonebackwhenMsValeracameintotheloungeandstartedshoutingatherthat"IwrotethenoteandIalsogaveonetoJohntoo".John isamanageratthefacility.ThegrievoraskedMsValerawhyshedidnotspeaktoherfirst beforepassingthenoteontomanagement.MsValeracameclosertothegfievorandMsBrowncameinbetweenthetwoofthem.ThegrievortoldMsValeratogetoutofher faceandtoldhershewasugly.Theywerebothshoutingateachother.MsBrown tookMsValeraoutofthelounge.Shortlyafter,MsValeraandthegrievorpassedeachother Ithehall,MsValerashovedherandsaid"nigger".Shefiledanincidentreportabout thismatterandatthesametimegaveherversionofthewholeincident.The grievorwasadamantthatMrOngeriwasnotintheloungeduringthisincident.ShedeniescompletelythestatementsattributedtoherbyMsValera,MsBrownandMr Ongeri.Shesaysthattheyarealllying.Shehasnoideawhytheywouldlieinthisway.Shethoughtthatshehadagoodrelationshipwithallthesepeople. Thegrievoracknowledgedthatmakingnegativecommentsintheworkplaceabout someone'srace,eolourorcreedisunaeceptable.ShewasawareoftheNo DiscriminationClauseinArticle3oftheCollectiveAgreementandthePolicyontheManagement andPreventionofAbuseissuedbytheEmployer.Sheacknowledgedthatifan employeeweretohavesaidthethingsthatsheisaccusedofthatthiswouldbea violationoftheOntarioHumanRightsCode.Shedeniesmakinganyofthenegativecomments attributedtoherbyallofthewitnesses.Shereviewedallthestatements submittedbyherco-workersanddeniesmakinganyofthenegativestatementsattributedtoher.Shetestifiedthatallofthewitnesseswerelyingbutthatshedoesnotknowwhythey arelying.Shebelievedthatshehadagoodrelationshipwithallofthem.ShealsodeniedtellingMsBrowntoforgetaboutwhatshesaworheardinthelounge. OtherAllegations Asaresultofthestaffloungeincident,theEmployeraskedthegrievor'scoworkers iftheyhadanyotherincidentsregardingthegfievortoreport.Manyemployeesfiled repmasrelatingotherexamplesofthegrievor'sactionsThefollowingwitnessestestified atthehearing: MrEgzawGhebrehiwet,aPCAforover10years,workedonaregularbasiswiththe grievor.Hetestifiedthatthegrievorwouldputdownthestaff,sayingthatshedidnottrustthem,thattheywereuneducated,andthatClarendonwasadirtyplace. MsBethValeratestifiedthatthegrievoroftensworeandcursedwhileinthestaff loungetosuchadegreethatsheavoidedusingthestaffloungeifthegrievorwaspresent.Shefeltthatthegrievorhadbeenharassingherformonths.Inthepastshehadsimplytried toavoidherandignoretheharassment. MsAnnmarieEllis,aPCAforovertwoyears,workedonaregularbasiswiththe grievor.Shesaidthatthegrievorhadcalledhera"JamaicanKingstoniananddirty".In 4 Jamaicanlingothismeansthatthegfievorwascallingheradirtyorbadgirl.Thiswitness wasborninJamaica,aswasthegfievor.Thegrievoralsocalledhera"Kingstoniancatchmanthievingpeoplewhocannotgohome".Theterm"catchman"inJamaicanlingomeans"prostitute".Thesestatementsmadehersouncomfortablethatshewouldavoid thestaffloungewhenthegrievorwasthere.Thegrievorconstantlysworeinthe workplace,thiswitnesstestified. MsYolmldaMoralisaPCAsince199atClarendonwhoregularlyworkedwiththe grievor.SheisoriginallyfromthePhilippines.Shecommentedonthefactthatthe grievorwouldoftenmakenegativecommentsaboutpeoplefi'omthePhilippines.Thismadethewitnessfeelbadandhurtherfeelings. MrSolomonBuenaguahasbeenaPCAattheEmployerforsevenyears.Hehasbeeninthestaffloungewiththegrievor.HealsoisoriginallyfromthePhilippines.Abouttln'eeyearsagohegotintoadisputewiththegrievor(whomheadmitshetoldto luckoff)whothen,accordingtohiswrittenreport"So,shegotmorewildandcursingwhy Iamtalkingtoher.Shesaidthatsheisatalentedwoman,educatedandthen,shesaidyottFilipinopeoplelotsofF-wordnonstopcrowingswearing".Hesaidthatthegrievor threatenedtofileareportagainsthim.Hewasscaredthathewouldlosehisjobso hedidnothingatthetime. MrBrianPooranwasaPCAattheEmployersince1997.Hewasaveryarticulateand impressivewitness.Heisfi'omGuyanaandofEastIndianorigins.OnadayinJuly2005,MrPooranwastheDesignatedStaff,whichislikealeadhandposition.Whileintilestafflounge,heoverheardtheGfievortalkingonthephonetoJamise,anotherco worker.ShewasaskingJamisewhethershecouldaskanotherco-workerifhewouldbe availabletowork.MrPooraninterruptedthegrievorandremindedherthattherewere certainfactorstoconsiderbeforeaskingastaffpersontowork.Atthispointthegrievorbecame agitatedandcalledMrPoorana"youngasshole,awant-to-bemanager,abitch,aDesignatedStaffisnothingmorethandogshit"and"adirtyoldcoolieboy".MrPooran testifiedthattheterm"coolieboy"isanextremelyoffensiveterm,similartothe "N"wordwhenreferringtoablackperson.Hehasheardherusethe"coolie"termon manyoccasions.MrPooransaidthathefoundthegrievor'spresencesooffensiveinthe staffloungethathewouldbringearplugsasherverbalabusecreatedapoisonedworkenvironment.Sinceherdepm"ture,tilestaffloungehasbeenahealthyandsafeenvironment whichthestaffnowusefreelyandwithoutfearofabuse. MsWinniffedBrowntestifiedthattilegrievorrefen'edtotheotherstaffat Clarendonasdirty,uneducated,ignorantandilliterate.MsBrownsaidthatsheavoided theloungeintheeveningsbecauseofthebehaviourofthegrievor.Sincethedepartureofthe grievor,theloungehasbeenapleasantplace. Thegrievor'sresponsetoalltheseallegationswastofirstdenyallofthem,then accuseallthewitnessesofallbeingliarsbutprovidingnoexplanationastowhytheywouldlieandthenclaimthatshegotalongfinewithallthewitnesseswhotestifiedabout her. 5 FindingonLiability Ihavenohesitationinfindingthatallofthewitnessescalledbytheemployer testifiedinahonestandstraightforwardmanner.Therewas11oexaggeration, therewasinaconsistencytotheirevidencewithoutaduplicationorrecitationofthe samecomplaintsandwhatseemedtobeatrueexpressionofhowthegrievor'sactions hadadverselyaffectedtheirworkenvironment. Thegrievorontheotherhandwassimplynotcredible.Themosttelling momentwasherinsistencethatMr.Ongeriwasnotinthestaffloungewhentheincident tookplace.Shemaynotnoticedhimintheroom(asshewasbusycursingandattackingMs Valeri),inwhichcaseanhonestwitnesssimplywouldhavetestifiedthatshehadno recollectionoftlispresence.Ratherthansaythat,sherepeatedonatleastthreeoccasions inhertestimonythatshewassurethathewasnotthereeventhoughbothheandMs Browntestifiedthathewaspresent. Herdenialofsayinganythingoffensiveatall,includingeverswearingintheworkplace,hasanairofunbelievably. Accordingtoher,shegotalongfinewithallthewitnesses,evenMs Valeri.Heraccusationthatallthesepeoplewerelyingfornoapparentreasonormotive isquiteremarkableandsimplynotcredible. Ifindthatthegrievordidmakealltheoffensivestatementsattributedto herbythewitnesses. Thereisnodoubtthatthesestatementswereracistandsexist.Shehas deeplyoffendedmanyofherco-workersandcreatedapoisonedworkenvironmentwhich nooneshouldhavetoputupwith. DeterminationofPenally follows:Thefactorsinfavourofsubstitutingapenaltyshortofdischargeareas l.Herseniorityofahnost14years. 2.Hercleandisciplinerecord 3.Nopriorwarning Thefactorsinupholdingthedischargeareasfollows: 6 , Theseriousnessoftheoffence.Shemakemanyoffensiveandillegal statementstoco-workersbasedontheirrace,countryoforigin,sexualhabits,gender,education,andmaritalstatus.Shedidsooveralengthyperiod oftime.Ontopofallofthat,shetriedtointimidateMsBrown afterthestaffloungeincidentwhenshewarnedhernottotalkaboutwhat shehadseenandheard.Herbehaviourresultedinmanyofherco-workersnotbeingabletoproperlyusethestafflounge,arightthatisopentoallemployees,notjustsome. . 3 4. . 5 Thisbehaviourwasnotasingleincident,infacttherewasadefinite patternofmisconductoveraperiodoftime. Therewasnoprovocation. Sheneitheracknowledgedherbehaviournorapologizedforit.Infactsheattackedthevictimsofherbehaviour.Sheshowedabsolutelynoremorse. Otberthanbeingunemployed,Iheardnospecialeconomiccircumstances flowingfi'omherdismissal. Therewasabsolutelynothingwhichwouldleavemetobelievethatthe grievorwouldmodifyherbehaviourifsheweretobereturnedtothe workplace.Infactitwouldbefairtoassumethatherreturnwouldcause theworkplacetoagainbecomeapoisonedandunpleasantplacetoworkfor others. Consideringallthefactorssetoutabove,Ifindthatdischargewastheappropriatepenalty. Thegrievanceisthereforedismissed. Datedat 1 BaniB December8,2006 7