FPSLREB Decisions

Financial penalty (3 days' pay) - Harassment of fellow employee - Correctional Officer - the grievor had a contentious relationship with B, a fellow employee - in February 1999, the grievor travelled to make representations at the fourth-level hearing of his own grievance - he requested his bargaining agent to reimburse him the amount of $325 for his travelling expenses - the grievor presented a motion at the local union meeting held on February 26, 1999, to get reimbursement and the motion was adopted - B, who had not been present at that meeting, was elected president of the union local in March 1999 - B refused to reimburse the grievor for his travelling expenses as, in his opinion, to do so would be contrary to the bargaining agent's By-laws and Regulations - subsequently, the grievor repeatedly requested B both at work and at his home, in person and by telephone, to reimburse him for his travelling expenses - ultimately, B submitted a harassment complaint to the employer against the grievor - following an investigation, the employer concluded that the complaint was substantiated and imposed a financial penalty equal to 15 days' pay upon the grievor, which was reduced to 3 days' pay at the third level of the grievance process - subsequently, the bargaining agent reimbursed the grievor for his travelling expenses as the bargaining agent did not agree with B's interpretation of the By-laws and Regulations - the adjudicator concluded that the grievor had harassed B, as alleged by the employer, and that the penalty imposed was reasonable under the circumstances. Grievance denied.