Workers, laid off following union organizing drive, will receive one year's back pay
The Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Board has ordered the re-hiring of 25 workers at the Hibernia oil platform.
The workers were laid off following a union organizing drive in 2000. The board also ordered the company to pay the workers one year’s back pay.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ Union of Canada called it a “partial victory.”
“We are pleased that our members are getting their jobs back but we think they should have received full restitution for lost wages,” said CEP Atlantic Region vice-president Max Michaud.
The board originally ruled the layoffs were contrary to the legislation, but the company appealed an order of re-instatement and won its case before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. But the union took the fight to the Appeal Court, which reversed the Supreme Court decision and ordered the labour board to reconsider the case.
“CEP will never back away from seeking what is right for our members,” said national president Brian Payne. “Canadian workers have the right to unionize without fear of unjust treatment, including layoffs, and we will always uphold that right.”
