The union representing postal workers is asking the arbitrator named to settle a contract with Canada Post to step aside because he has ties to the Conservative party and previously represented the company.
In a bulletin to members Thursday, Denis Lemelin, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, writes that the union learned this week that Labour Minister Lisa Raitt had appointed Guy Dufort as arbitrator, effective March 19, replacing Coulter Osborne who quit in November.
Osborne stepped down after the union went to court over Raitt’s choice, saying he was not bilingual.
As part of the back-to-work legislation brought in last June, the arbitrator is to preside over final offer arbitration, where both sides present their final positions and the arbitrator selects one without blending aspects from the two sides.
Last November, the Labour Department asked the union to submit names of additional arbitrators, and the union included Dufort, who was on a list of Quebec arbitrators. That list is approved by employers and central labour bodies, said Lemelin, adding no further research was done.
However, when Dufort, a labour lawyer, first contacted the union, Lemelin said he revealed that he is involved with the federal Conservative party and worked for Canada Post for several years on a pay equity dispute.
“These issues were unknown to us when the decision to put his name on the list was made,” Lemelin said, adding the union’s lawyer is asking Dufort not to accept the mandate, and if he has already accepted the appointment to recuse himself.
In 2008, Dufort ran for the Conservatives in the riding of Westmount-Ville Marie, and in 2000, he ran in Hull-Aylmer for the Progressive Conservative party.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, Dufort said he informed both sides that he had represented the company as well as his political activities, and there were no objections.
“Everything has been disclosed to everyone. It’s up to them to make up their mind if they’re not comfortable with that,” Dufort said.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Vanessa Lu
In a bulletin to members Thursday, Denis Lemelin, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, writes that the union learned this week that Labour Minister Lisa Raitt had appointed Guy Dufort as arbitrator, effective March 19, replacing Coulter Osborne who quit in November.
Osborne stepped down after the union went to court over Raitt’s choice, saying he was not bilingual.
As part of the back-to-work legislation brought in last June, the arbitrator is to preside over final offer arbitration, where both sides present their final positions and the arbitrator selects one without blending aspects from the two sides.
Last November, the Labour Department asked the union to submit names of additional arbitrators, and the union included Dufort, who was on a list of Quebec arbitrators. That list is approved by employers and central labour bodies, said Lemelin, adding no further research was done.
However, when Dufort, a labour lawyer, first contacted the union, Lemelin said he revealed that he is involved with the federal Conservative party and worked for Canada Post for several years on a pay equity dispute.
“These issues were unknown to us when the decision to put his name on the list was made,” Lemelin said, adding the union’s lawyer is asking Dufort not to accept the mandate, and if he has already accepted the appointment to recuse himself.
In 2008, Dufort ran for the Conservatives in the riding of Westmount-Ville Marie, and in 2000, he ran in Hull-Aylmer for the Progressive Conservative party.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, Dufort said he informed both sides that he had represented the company as well as his political activities, and there were no objections.
“Everything has been disclosed to everyone. It’s up to them to make up their mind if they’re not comfortable with that,” Dufort said.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Vanessa Lu
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