COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON PICKET LINE SETTLED

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has announced the settlement of sexual harassment complaints by two corrections workers against the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union.

"These complaints stand for the important principle that trade unions, like employers and other organizations, have a positive obligation to prevent discrimination from occurring in settings which they control," Human Rights Commission Chief Commissioner David Arnot said. "Unions are responsible for ensuring that the union environment is a safe one, free from sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination.''

T.M. and A.P. (whose names cannot be published because of a ban issued in a related criminal proceeding) allege that they were sexually harassed by another union member while on picket line duty in December 2006. They say T. M. complained to union officials but SGEU took no steps to protect them, and the same person verbally and physically harassed them a second time during picket line duty some weeks later. The harasser later plead guilty to charges of sexual assault under the Criminal Code for these actions.

Under the terms of settlement, SGEU agreed to pay each complainant $5,000 in compensation and to take proactive steps to strengthen its Strike Manual and Anti-Harassment Policy and ensure it would be understood and respected by its membership. The settlements were made without admissions by the parties.

"SGEU worked with the complainants during the settlement process to develop systemic measures that would protect all union members from future discrimination," Arnot said.

SGEU agreed it would recommend that its Provincial Council adopt specific changes to the Strike Manual which, Chief Commissioner Arnot described as "positive innovations which could serve as a model for other unions developing anti-discrimination strategies".

The changes include requirements that all strike leaders be familiar with SGEU anti-harassment policies and do their best to prevent incidents or resolve them on the spot, that all incidents of harassment be immediately reported to the strike committee and the SGEU President, that the picket captain call the police if an incident involves criminal behaviour, and that a harasser be directed to leave a picket line if such action is needed to protect the victim. Victims who are uncomfortable about confronting a harasser directly are to report incidents to their picket line captain immediately and may also complain to the SGEU Ombudsman.

Sexual harassment was alleged in a total of 9.2 per cent of all discrimination complaints received by the SHRC during the past five years.

"It is troubling that sexual harassment is still a major problem in our society," Arnot said, noting that the percentage increased to 10.8 per cent in 2010-2011, up from 7.5 per cent the year before.

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For more information, contact:

Rebecca McLellan
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2530