Harassment in the Town of Desbiens: The Commission municipale du Québec has to stop dragging thier feet

CUPE has denounced the lack of action in a major case of psychological harassment in the Town of Desbiens in the Lac-Saint-Jean region . Ever since a grievance on psychological harassment against mayor Ginette Sirois was filed last April, the ensuing procedure has been plagued by a series of breakdowns.  During this time, unionized and non-unionized employees have had to cope with a working environment that continues to be unhealthy. The general manager has also made a complaint against the mayor on the same grounds.

First, the Town of Desbiens was placed under supervision on June 19 to ensure proper management, but this slowed down the processing of the grievance.

Over the summer, an outside firm presented its investigation report, which dealt with the working atmosphere and interference. Much to the union’s surprise, no follow-up action was taken.

The harassment grievance was running its course and drawing to a close until the union learned that the recommendations made in the investigation report prepared by the town’s lawyer, which were almost complete and about to be presented to council, would be sent back to the drawing board because the Commission municipale du Québec decided instead to retain a Quebec law firm apparently to process the grievance and the general manager’s complaint jointly.

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as the union is concerned.

“As we see it, it’s as if the Commission municipale du Québec allowed the case to drag on. It is also preventing managers from handling working relations as they see fit but is not dealing with the issue itself. In the meantime, the people of Desbiens are bearing the brunt of this dysfunctional working atmosphere and the rising legal fees this entails. If this weren’t enough, municipal employees continue to be affected by this situation,” said CUPE  representative Claire Simard.

CUPE is also wondering whether the proximity of some elected officials from various political levels may have had a bearing on this unfortunate affair and delayed the process.