NWT Rock Services asks that complaint be dismissed
Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 09/01) - NWT Rock Services has denied any wrongdoing in the dismissal of a former employee who was trying to start a union.
In a reply to the Statement of Claim filed by former employee John Blondeau and the Construction and General Workers Union Local 92, NWT Rock Services has denied all allegations of unfair labour practices.
The company has also asked that the complaint against them be dismissed. The complaint has been filed with the NWT Labour Services Board.
NWT Rock Services maintains that Blondeau was laid off on Jan. 25 because of a shortage of work. He was drilling on BHP Diamond's Misery kimberlite pipe.
Blondeau and the union allege the company fired him because of his union activity.
"I'm a little disturbed that they would come back with such a negative response (to the Statement of Claim," said Blondeau, who is currently seeking employment in Castlegear, B.C. "It's not right." Now, Blondeau said he and the Construction and General Workers Union Local 92 are "going to get very serious" with their complaint against the company.
"We have information documents to prove every fact of the unfair labour practice.
"We are putting the information together here and in a time down the road we are going to induce legal proceedings," said Blondeau.
Cliff Friesen, owner of NWT Rock Services, said he would provide no further comment about the complaint filed against his company.
