Evidence of meeting #7 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was president.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
We understand that you have responded to this partly in another form and that in fact you're not receiving financial assistance on a lawsuit, but can you confirm that you have in fact taken legal action or hired a lawyer to act on your behalf?
As an Individual
Yes, we have retained the services of a lawyer and we are going to institute proceedings for wrongful dismissal.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Okay. I'll go back to Mr. Vallerand.
Are you the subject of a grievance from a unionized staff member who complained that you attached his name to the document without permission and that he was harassed to support the attempt to overthrow the board, and that his working environment was poisoned by your actions?
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Does anybody else have knowledge of such a grievance being filed?
Okay. Were you involved...?
President, Union of Employees of Rights & Democracy, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Could you rephrase the question, please?
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
The question was whether you are the subject of a grievance from a unionized staff member who complained that you attached his name to the document without permission, and that he was harassed to support the attempt to overthrow the board, and that his working environment is now somehow poisoned by these actions. Are you aware of a grievance?
President, Union of Employees of Rights & Democracy, Public Service Alliance of Canada
We are aware of the fact that one of the employees did not feel comfortable with having his name on the letter. There was some procedure undertaken, not by the local union but by PSAC itself. So it wasn't dealt with by us.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Thank you.
For this one, were you involved in discussions from June 2009 until about January 2010 with the Public Service Alliance of Canada representatives or with unionized staff at Rights and Democracy, seeking their support for the dismissal of members of the board of directors at the same time you were negotiating a collective agreement with them?
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Were negotiations in fact going on about the union contract?
As an Individual
The collective agreement had been expired since October 2008 and we were in negotiations. That finished just before Christmas.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Can you just then confirm that, following the unfortunate passing of Mr. Beauregard, a union contract was in fact signed? My question would simply be, were there conditions of the collective agreement tied to the cooperation in seeking dismissal of members of the board of directors, which was signed at the same time?
As an Individual
Absolutely not! The union representatives can confirm that.
Conservative
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
I just want to say for the record, as my friend Mr. Abbott would say, that nothing is more appropriate for this committee and for this Parliament than to recognize a toxic and difficult situation when we see it and to respond accordingly.
Can you tell me, Mr. Vallerand, how long you were an employee of the organization?
Liberal
Liberal
