OTTAWA, April 18, 2013 /CNW/ - A three-year battle by a USGE/PSAC member has led to a guilty verdict of gross mismanagement against the former Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
According to the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Ms. Shirish Chotalia, a Harper appointee as Chairperson of the CHRT, committed acts of harassment, discrimination and abuse of power.
The OPSIC writes that "…she repeatedly harassed and abused employees and members of the CHRT, demonstrated improper behaviour and made inappropriate remarks in the workplace, disregarded essential advice from her staff…"
John Edmunds, the President of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE), the union that represents the worker, hopes that this decision will bring about the changes needed to provide workers with a better protection of their rights.
"Under the current rules, complaints of abuse of authority, harassment and discrimination must be heard by the CEO or Deputy Head of a branch of the federal government. In this case, the guilty parties were the CEO or Deputy Head. That is why the complainant and his union filed a complaint with the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner."
For Edmunds, the OPSIC can play an important role in protecting workers' rights.
"I'm quite prepared to recommend to public service employees that they consider disclosing concerns to this office when there are no other viable options, such as with this case," Edmunds said.
Similar complaints were also filed against the Executive Director of the CHRT, but the OPSIC could not hear the complaints after the resignation of the Executive Director.
Edmunds believes it is now necessary to improve OPSIC's mandate and authority so that senior managers cannot escape a review of their actions simply by resigning from the public service.
Robin Kers, the USGE labour relations officer assigned to this case, is concerned with the length of time it took to complete the investigation. Requests for a complete assessment of the workplace at the CHRT were presented three years ago to the Justice Minister and the PCO. Both rejected the request.
"I suppose the message here from OPSIC is that the CHRT, the Justice Minister and the PCO should have listened three years ago." Kers said.
"As far as I'm concerned, the Justice Minister and the PCO are just as culpable for their inaction as the ex-Chair is guilty for her abuse of authority, harassment and discrimination, all of which continued after our first complaints were filed," he added.
SOURCE: PSAC
and to arrange media interviews:
Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications
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