Arbitrator: Ontario Hospital Workers Unjustly Fired for Refusing COVID Vaccine

An Ontario arbitrator has determined that two hospital workers who were fired for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine were terminated unjustly by Humber River Hospital in Toronto after their union challenged the hospital’s actions. Arbitrator Jasbir Parmar ruled on March 11 that the hospital did not have sufficient grounds to fire part-time clerical staff members Stacy Hughes and Marisol Sanchez. Ms. Parmar noted that while the August 2021 provincial directive implemented during the pandemic permitted hospitals to allow unvaccinated staff to take regular antigen tests, Humber River Hospital removed that option in December 2021. It chose to only allow those considered fully vaccinated and those with proof of a medical exemption to remain at work....