An Ontario arbitrator has struck a written warning against a worker for parking where he shouldn’t, but has upheld a three-day suspension for giving his manager “the finger.”
The worker was employed with Active Dynamics Group, a manufacturer of exhaust systems in Scarborough, Ont. Hired in 2013, he was an operator in the manufacturing side of the plant. He was also a union steward with one instance of discipline for insubordinate behaviour on his record.
Active Dynamics had a policy that required hourly employees such as the worker to park at the rear of the plant. A parking lot at the front of the building was reserved for salaried employees. Any hourly employees caught parking in the front lot would be warned on the first occasion and disciplined on the second.