‘What is missing from his apology is any genuine appreciation of, or remorse for, the level of disrespect he exhibited’
A worker’s 43-year career at Trinity Western University ended in termination after a librarian repeated criticisms of his supervisor in a private meeting, and this was reasonable, an arbitrator has ruled.
In a decision dated March 24, 2026, Cathy Knapp dismissed the grievance of a library worker, finding his last-chance agreement had been breached and that no compelling reasons existed to overturn his dismissal.
The arbitrator grounded the final outcome in the terms of the agreement itself: "Just because one is invited to provide feedback does not give a license to do so in a disrespectful manner that does nothing to promote professional working relations or respect organizational hierarchy."
After the worker made disparaging remarks about his direct supervisor in a November 2024 staff meeting, the university issued a three-week unpaid suspension, which was later negotiated down to eight days in exchange for a last-chance agreement signed Dec. 4, 2024.
The agreement required the worker to acknowledge that any further misconduct, "including but not limited to insubordination, disrespectful communication, or behaviour inconsistent with the university's standards of conduct, will result in the immediate termination of employment for just cause, without further notice or compensation."
The agreement also stipulated a meeting involving...
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