Union files grievances after workers accused of copper thefts and fired
Posted July 25, 2018 2:08 pm.
Last Updated July 25, 2018 2:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – Seven workers who were accused of stealing and reselling new and recycled copper pipes are being backed by the union.
CUPE Local 498 has confirmed it’s launched grievances against the City of Port Coquiltam, after the employees were fired following an internal investigation.
“I don’t think that’s usual in this circumstance,” explains Chief Administrative Officer John Leeburn with the City of Port Coquitlam. “You would expect the union to protect, or attempt to protect, the workers’ interests, so we’ll work the resolution of the grievance process through the grievance process.”
The investigation began in February, after the city received a tip through its whistle blower policy, which was introduced in November of last year. The workers are said to have sold the copper items for about $75,000 — much cheaper than the original cost, the city says.
The city has described this as a “highly coordinated” theft scheme.
Leeburn would not discuss the details of the grievance, but says the labour relations matter would be resolved internally.
“There’s a grievance process that’s described in the collective agreement. We’ll go through those stages and we’ll actually expedite part of that process. If we can’t resolved it internally, then the final step in the grievance process is an arbitration.”
The seven workers were fired on two separate days, in June and early July.
The Coquitlam RCMP has confirmed it has received a complaint of theft involving multiple employees from the City of Port Coquitlam. While the investigation in ongoing, Mounties say no other information is available.
Leeburn adds the city’s investigation was separate from that of the RCMP.
“The employment context is one context, the criminal context is a separate context,” he says. “So we have conducted our investigation as the employer and with respect to the employment relationship. Having completed that we’ve handed our information over to the RCMP and as I understand their roll they will determine whether they think it’s appropriate to lay charges, and then Crown can decide what to do with those charges.”
The revelations come two months after another former employee was sentenced for stealing $175,000 from the city over three years.
