The breadth and complexity of human rights issues in the workplace can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. The lawyers at Koskie Glavin Gordon have achieved success handling a wide range of these issues, from challenging a discriminatory employer policy, to resolving issues surrounding the accommodation of a mentally or physically disabled worker, to challenging discriminatory legislation.
We have experience on behalf of various individuals and union clients in cases before the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal and routinely assist our clients in identifying issues of discrimination, and determining effective strategies for having those issues resolved. At grievance arbitration, we have handled complex cases involving medical and other expert opinion evidence.
In advising and representing our clients, we seek ways to advance the law through advocating a large and liberal interpretation of human rights protections.
A few examples of the firm’s experience in litigating human rights disputes include the following cases:
- In C.S.W.U. Local 1611 v. SELI Canada and others (No. 8), 2008 BCHRT 436, we sought equal treatment for temporary foreign workers’ from Latin America employed to bore a tunnel under downtown Vancouver to construct the Canada Line.
- In a case involving discrimination of a worker on the basis of mental disability, Okanagan College v. Okanagan College Faculty Assn. (Fu Grievance – Damages), [2008] B.C.C.A.A.A. No. 57 (Hall) the decision established an arbitrator’s power to award damages for injury to dignity under the Human Rights Code,.
- In United Steelworkers, Local 1-423 v. Weyerhaeuser, 2009 BCHRT 328, the Union achieved a finding that Weyerhaeuser had discriminated against a group of disabled employees on LTD benefits, and won an award of severance pay and damages for injury to dignity.