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29/12/2000

Tribunal Will Hear Disabled Man's Complaint Against Former Employer

Ottawa - December 29, 2000 - Patrick Eyerley of Powell River, B.C. alleges that his former employer, Seaspan International Ltd., discriminated against him by failing to accommodate his disability. He will appear before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in Vancouver next month. A deckhand with Seaspan, Mr. Eyerley suffered permanent impairment of his wrist after falling from a rail car, resulting in his taking extensive disability leave. He says his employer laid him off without offering him another position that accommodates his disability. The hearings will take place from January 8 to 12 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street, in Strategy Room 420.

In St. Catharines, a tribunal will look into the complaint of George Morris, alleging that his employer, the Canadian Forces, discriminated against him on the basis of age by refusing to promote him. Mr. Morris, a warrant officer and 33-year veteran of the Forces, says he was not promoted despite receiving high performance evaluations and completing the necessary training course, while the majority of his colleagues who took the same course were promoted. The hearings will take place from January 8 to 10 at the Four Points Sheraton Suites Hotel, 3530 Schmon Parkway.

In Ottawa, hearings will continue in the pay equity complaint of the Union of Northern Workers, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The Union alleges that the Government of the Northwest Territories discriminated against its employees in female class code jobs by paying them less than employees in male-dominated jobs for work of equal value. Hearings will be held from January 3 to 5, 16 to 19, and 23 to 26 at 473 Albert Street.

In Montreal, a tribunal will look into the complaint of Gabriel Cavero, a longshoreman at the Port of Montreal. He alleges that the Longshoremen's Union, CUPE Local 375 discriminated against him by taking reprisals against him after he filed a complaint with the CHRC. Mr. Cavero maintains he had to stop work because of depression. The hearings will take place from January 15 to 19, and from 22 to 26 at the Federal Court of Canada, 30 McGill Street.

In Summerside, P.E.I. tribunal hearings will continue in the complaint of Phyllis McAvinn of Borden-Carleton, who alleges that Strait Crossing Bridge Ltd. discriminated against her because of her sex. In April 1997, Ms. McAvinn applied for a position as a bridge patroller with Strait Crossing Bridge. She says that despite possessing all the qualifications specified for the position, she was not hired because she is a woman.

She claims that men less qualified were given employment, and believes that only men were hired as bridge patrollers. The hearings are scheduled for January 4 and 5, and 8 to 10 at the Linkletter Inn and Convention Centre, Beattie/Schurman Room, 311 Market Street.

Hearings start at 9:30 a.m. local time.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is an independent body responsible for adjudicating complaints referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The Commission refers a complaint to the Tribunal when it believes further inquiry into a complaint is warranted.

For more information:
Catherine Barratt
Media and External Relations
(613) 943-9119