Vaccine refusers lose jobs at City of Quesnel

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The former City of Quesnel employees who lost their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 won't be coming back, the municipality's manager says.

In an email to the Citizen, Byron Johnson said the matter has been grieved by their union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"All of those grievances have been resolved. I cannot share the details because it is subject to a confidentiality agreement, but I can share that those former employees will not be returning to the City," Johnson said.

In a separate email to the Citizen, CUPE spokesperson Steven Beasley also said he could not provide details on the outcome due to confidentiality but did say the matters were not taken to arbitration, in which a dispute is taken to a third party for a decision. 

An attempt by 10 of the employees to have their case heard in B.C. Supreme Court was recently dismissed by a judge who found the matter is more appropriately dealt with under the process set out under the collective agreements between the municipalities and the two CUPE locals who represent City of Quesnel employees.

The 10 were terminated in February after they refused to show proof they were fully vaccinated or had received an accommodation under the Human Rights Code.