On March 21, 2022, Arbitrator Somjen upheld a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy in BC Hydro & Power Authority and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 258.
The employer’s vaccination policy was found to be reasonable, except for language contemplating discipline for non-adherence to the policy. The arbitrator held that the express reference to discipline in the policy was excessive but contemplated that a termination could result at some future time.
The arbitrator’s decision is the first in British Columbia to consider a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy that does not provide a testing alternative to vaccination.
Graeme McFarlane, Christopher Munroe, Andrew Nicholl and Gabrielle Berron-Styan from Roper Greyell were counsel for BC Hydro in this matter.
For more information on this decision see: https://ropergreyell.com/covid19-update/mandatory-vaccination-policy-upheld-by-bc-arbitrator/.