Ontario Ministry of Labour called upon for a ruling of unsafe work.

[struckus]

Through this whole rotten mess, I've gotten more help from management than anyone else. I want a refund on my union dues...

why not file a breach of fair representation against the union?

Labour Law - Unionized Employees and Duty of Fair Representation Complaints

 

[DKM2]

Thanks astounded.



DKM2, not sure how to answer that? I (we) did nothing to provoke this action. Management put out directives and we have followed and the unions weren't satisfied with that obviously so they pushed it. BTW I can't even begin to imagine the costs (tax payer dollars) that have been consumed unnecessarily in the last two weeks over this issue.

If any bridges need mending its the fact that our labour organization (there are two in this ordeal) did sweet eff A to try and speak with us or for that matter represent our position. They went into this with one side to the story, with preconceived ideas of what they wanted for an outcome. They did nothing to inform themselves, had they, this would have been different. They (IMHO) owe us an apology, which I sincerely doubt will be forthcoming.

I am more inclined to want to escalate this issue than let it die at the moment. There are important lessons learned here that we can evaluate and fix.

Unions are only as strong as their memberships level of involvement. In this case all these union reps were elected by acclimation (they were the only ones to step forward). I come back to my assertion earlier that they were rogue on this issue and it was handled extremely poorly. I don't want to let them forget that. They have a responsibility to all members, not just the ones they choose.

I understand completely, and truely feel for you.
I was just kind of hinting at continuing the "war" but in a more peaceful manner for a more comfortable work place.
work place politics sucks

 

[Kagey K]

Congrats on the victory. Can't wait to see what happens next.

 

[Esharp]

Wars are won by winning many battles. This was a good battle to win. Congrats SloHand.

 

[premquit]

Way to go SloHand!!! That was fantastic

 

[Ravenlunatique]

Very happy to hear this positive outcome, congrats Slohand

 

[vintagerider]

Sorry slohand but I just had to ask how did this whole no vaping thing start at your work?
Did u just start vaping there or did u ask one of the management staff about it?
Just curios to see how this senseless thing began

 

[SoUnique]

Thank you SloHand, for what you have done for all of us. If and when I make it to a Kingston area vape meet I will buy you a drink or 3.

 

[vintagerider]

Great job not sure how this all came about but congrats on this victory just same
Keep on fighting the good fight

 

[maritimer]

Congrats SloHand, this is a victory for all vapors.

 

[SloHand]

Sorry slohand but I just had to ask how did this whole no vaping thing start at your work?
Did u just start vaping there or did u ask one of the management staff about it?
Just curios to see how this senseless thing began

June 2011 was when I first vaped. It was Goatscrote that I kept seeing in the smokers area at work with his teabag carto’s and peppermint tin mods. I asked him about it and that was it. On to the boards I went (anonymously at first) and became a vaper. Goatscrote had been vaping at his desk so I also vaped at my desk (discreetly of course).

My Manager at that time was curious, I explained, she liked the harm reduction concept and didn’t see it as a problem. I was even given time at a staff meeting to talk about it. Many thought it was great and encouraged me from a health perspective …. This didn’t last long. In August 2011 someone complained and the first directive came out that we could only vape outside with the smokers. We followed the directive but I pushed with all the data that was available about the safety and efficacy of vaping. Management stubbornly stuck with the Health Canada 2009 argument.

I was more than happy to talk to anybody and everybody about how great vaping was and managed to recruit many to vaping and in turn they were becoming pro-vaping. The ANTZ who had started the ‘ban vaping’ campaign escalated their efforts as we escalated ours. Both sides were convinced that what they were doing was right, but their tactics became nasty. Many vapers in our building don't do it durning the day anymore 'cause they didn't want the 'hassle'. They smoke cigarettes at work and vape at home.

Over the next year and half I ended up with 4 letters of reprimand in my HR file, from unknown accusers, for allegedly vaping in the offices. Every smell in the building became a vaping smell. Every headache someone suffered was from vaping. Even an ANTZ, who is also a smokers (???) once said to me “blow that here in my face, I’d love to take some paid leave”.

It took me the better part of a year to get management to realize that I was a victim of harassment with these baseless accusations about vaping indoors. The “cry wolf” finally started to take hold in the management ranks and the accusations were no longer believable.

The ANTZ moved to using the Joint Health and Safety Committees to advance their push to have vaping completely eradicated. We (vapers) were slow to realize that they had cornered the H&S committees opinion against vaping. Even if we had done something earlier on that front we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere because the committee was made up of 100% ANTZ anyway. The H&S committee got management to reissue their anti-vaping directives with stronger language and had management send out ‘reminder’ bulletins to all staff about their anti-vaping policy three times over a four month period. It was harassment. With every new bulletin we got more and more stink-eyes from people. Very stressful times to say the very least!

Their next strategy is the one that starts here in this thread.

 

[DuaneNeveu]

Geez...do they also routinely accuse women in the office of witchcraft?

 

[Projectguy]

Geez...do they also routinely accuse women in the office of witchcraft?

I know that Slohand's employer regularly burns people at the stake

 

[Esharp]

SloHand - Why would they have a policy that would force vapors to be in the smoking areas with smokers? The hole idea of vaping is to be smoke free, now they force you to the smoking area to breath second hand smoke. They wouldn't force a non smoker to do that, so why would they do that to an ex-smoker. Maybe you need to get the MOL back in to get rid of the smokers out of the smoking area, as it is bad for your health to breath in their second hand smoke!

 

[Projectguy]

SloHand - Why would they have a policy that would force vapors to be in the smoking areas with smokers? The hole idea of vaping is to be smoke free, now they force you to the smoking area to breath second hand smoke. They wouldn't force a non smoker to do that, so why would they do that to an ex-smoker. Maybe you need to get the MOL back in to get rid of the smokers out of the smoking area, as it is bad for your health to breath in their second hand smoke!

Take the employer to de wall

 

[DKM2]

sad case of mass ignorance, they don't even realize that all the compounds in ecigs
is in everything in their daily lives. even nicotine, there's no escaping it.
ban bell peppers, tomatos, and potatoes too,
all in the same family of plants that have nicotine, tobacco just has more than those.

 

[SoUnique]

SloHand - Why would they have a policy that would force vapors to be in the smoking areas with smokers? The hole idea of vaping is to be smoke free, now they force you to the smoking area to breath second hand smoke. They wouldn't force a non smoker to do that, so why would they do that to an ex-smoker. Maybe you need to get the MOL back in to get rid of the smokers out of the smoking area, as it is bad for your health to breath in their second hand smoke!

A Vaper is a NON SMOKER

 

[Projectguy]

SloHand - Why would they have a policy that would force vapors to be in the smoking areas with smokers? The hole idea of vaping is to be smoke free, now they force you to the smoking area to breath second hand smoke. They wouldn't force a non smoker to do that, so why would they do that to an ex-smoker. Maybe you need to get the MOL back in to get rid of the smokers out of the smoking area, as it is bad for your health to breath in their second hand smoke!

Actually E I think we leave smokers where they are. We need their presence to highlight the difference and because vaping is "Not likely to Endanger" vapers should therefore be permitted to vape at their desks or other such location as to not put them at risk of second hand smoke.

 

[Esharp]

A Vaper is a NON SMOKER

That's not necessarily true, not all vapers are non-smokers. I know a number that mostly vape, but still smoke cigarettes.

 

[GoatScrote]

why not file a breach of fair representation against the union?

Labour Law - Unionized Employees and Duty of Fair Representation Complaints

I was thinking of doing exactly that. I would like to ensure that more union members and employees become aware of this issue, and that they remember that they got called on their BS, so that hopefully this crap doesn't have to happen to anyone else. This might be the only way to accomplish that.

I agree with Projectguy, I think I'm going to try to present a case to the joint health and safety committee recommending removing the silly policy restrictions on bringing liquid or refilling etc... there's also an unused boardroom that is too noisy for people to use (loud ventilation, but not harmfully loud), I'm going to try and see if they'll let us vape indoors as long as we do it there. A dedicated vape room.

Although, maybe I should go for broke and recommend that the policy be removed entirely, so we can vape at our desks. After all, there's no harm.

Of course, all my preponderance may be moot, as the JH&S is comprised entirely of hardcore antz, as far as I can tell. They do not seem interested in facts or research, their minds are set.

I think we're on the right track though, and this whole situation seems a whole lot more manageable after this significant victory over ignorance and fear.

SloHand, making this thread was pure GENIUS! This is a lot of great thinking you've started here, and hopefully this will make it much easier going for the next sorry bastage this happens to.

You guys all should have seen the happy dance after we read that MOL report. LOL!