The municipality of Summerland spent close to $99,000 in legal fees after a municipal worker was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early in the pandemic, the municipality dismissed an employee. The employee then grieved the termination through the union, which led to labour arbitration and a decision by an arbitrator.
The municipality then appealed the arbitrator’s decision to the BC Labour Relations Board.
The municipality lost both the arbitration and the appeal. The employee was reinstated by the municipality and did not appeal the matter further.
The cost of the municipality’s total legal fees for this termination came to $98,891.10.
The information was released following a Freedom of Information request from Brad Besler.
Besler submitted his request in June, 2021. The matter then went to arbitration and the municipality was ordered to provide the information.
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