(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

CUPE v Battleford

Arbitrator rules against Town of Battleford for laying off two employees

Feb 7, 2024 | 4:43 PM

An arbitrator has found in favour of two former employees for the Town of Battleford after they were laid off and had their jobs reposted for a singular “out-of-scope” position.

The decision in the matter of CUPE 3003 versus the Town of Battleford was made in mid-January, marking two years since a virtual hearing was held to determine whether the town breached the collective agreement.

The case stems from a situation involving the two former employees – both women – when they were informed that due to restructuring, their “positions were to be abolished” and would be effective in the first two days of March 2021. After that, the employees were placed on a recall list.

According to the decision, the union stated the town gave “bargaining union work” to the newly created position which was a violation of the collective agreement.

According to the agreement, “Out-of-Scope employees of the town shall not work on any jobs, which are included in the bargaining unit, except in cases of emergency or as mutually agreed upon by the parties.”

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The newly created position was reportedly considered out-of-scope.

In the decision, the arbitrator commented on the town’s then chief administrative officer’s decision not to offer either employee a position to bump into, rather placing them on a “recall list.” The CAO had said they weren’t going to place an employee from one category into another.

A settlement has yet to be reached and will be decided at a later date.

battlefordsNOW reached out to the union but has yet to receive a reply. Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said he cannot speak as the matter is still with the town’s lawyers.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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