Ousted president of B.C. Nurses’ Union sues for damages and to get job back

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The former president of the B.C. Nurses’ Union is suing to get her job back after she says she was fired amid false allegations of bullying.

Gayle Duteil’s statement of claim filed Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court says she had surgery for breast cancer in May 2017 and weeks later the union’s board passed a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

The document says the motion was approved over concerns that Duteil was using alcohol and prescription medication that affected her ability to be president, and there were allegations she verbally abused staff and council members.

“It’s reprehensible that a nursing organization would accuse somebody of something like substance abuse when it’s false,” Duteil told NEWS 1130. “They did it to humiliate me and they did it hoping I would just go away. Well, I’m not going away and I will stand up for the nurses of British Columbia and I will stand up for myself.”

The lawsuit says the union launched a confidential investigation into Duteil’s actions, but investigators informed her last April that the allegations were largely unsubstantiated.

Duteil denies the allegations and is seeking damages, as well as reinstatement to the presidency and as a member of the union.

“The report and the investigation we understand largely vindicated me, which is why I believe that the BCNU doesn’t want to release it,” Duteil said.

Union CEO Umar Sheikh says it hasn’t been served with the lawsuit, but Duteil was invited to go through the union’s appeal process.

“It’s disappointing that she’s gone to the media and the courts,” Sheikh said.

“The board of 25 nurses has reviewed the evidence and the investigation, made a decision, 500 delegates have been informed about the decision at our convention and of course their questions have been answered.”

He said that as of Tuesday the union hadn’t been served with the documents.

-With files from Kayla Butler

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