Confrontation during arbitration hearing doesn't help case
Allegations of racism against an actor by a worker in the wardrobe department of a television production company were given as a reason to deny the employee future work with the employer.
Dudley Wright had 18 years’ seniority in the movie and TV production industry in Ontario when an encounter with a former colleague escalated into threats of violence.
On Nov. 11, 2014, Wright was working in the wardrobe department on the set of a television series called Reign. Richard Veltri, a background actor, went to receive his costume for the day when he came upon Wright.
Veltri, who is white, said he was refused a costume by Wright, who is black, who then loudly said: “This guy tried to abuse me on another set.”
Wright then said: “This guy talks big because he has a union behind him. If I saw him in public, it’d be different.”
Veltri then responded: “I would love to see you in public.”
Six or eight times that day, according to Wright, Veltri directed various martial arts poses his way, which made Wright feel threatened.
The day went downhill from there, according to Veltri, as Wright continued to make him feel uncomfortable by making loud comments about alleged racist behaviour directed toward him in the past.
Veltri notified his agent the following day, which brought the incident to the attention of the union.
The employer was notified and it hired Gillian Shearer to investigate the allegations.
Previous interactions were reported between Wright and Veltri on the sets of television shows Copper and Pompeii.
They met again on the set of Pixels, a movie, and Veltri reported Wright for his behaviour after another costumer collapsed and had to be taken to a hospital.
The employer on the Pixels set gave Wright a cease-and-desist letter regarding his behaviour.
The union, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories, and Canada, Local 873, grieved the decision on May 15, 2015, to not allow Wright further access to any work with Reign II Productions.
Arbitrator Elaine Newman dismissed the grievance.
“There is no evidence that he acknowledges his angry workplace behaviour toward others, that he has reflected on that behaviour in any way, or that he has personally taken steps to learn how to modify or control that behaviour. There is no evidence that he takes personal responsibility for his behaviour at work,” said Newman.
During the arbitration hearing, Wright exhibited anger management issues toward Shearer regarding another incident on another set that he claimed showed racism was directed his way.
“When Wright approached Shearer on the street during this hearing, he said to her, ‘You think it was OK for that guy to throw my food in the garbage? I hope you find it OK what happens in this case,’” said Newman.
“It is disturbing to note that this is a case in which Wright is accused of being aggressive with co-workers, angrily confronting them, violating their personal space, using his words to intimidate and make them uncomfortable and failing to use established processes for voicing his concerns. In this very case — in which his behaviour is being examined in detail — and in which he professes his innocence of all allegations, he demonstrated similar conduct.”
Reference: Reign II Productions and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories, and Canada, Local 873. Elaine Newman — arbitrator. Jonathan Maier for the employer. Ernie Schirru for the employee. April 24, 2017.
