Labour board sinks plumbing company in decision

A Charlottetown plumbing company has been found guilty of unfair labour practices in the firing of four former employees.

Mr. Plumber, Blaire LaPierre Inc. has been ordered to compensate the four who were fired because of suspected union activity.

The decision, released this week by the P.E.I. Labour Relations Board, said the tradespeople working for Mr. Plumber were talking about forming a union last April. Over one weekend that month, the employees held a union organizing meeting with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.

Their boss, Blair LaPierre, found out about the meeting and when the four tried to go to work on Monday they weren't allowed back in. They were ordered to turn over their equipment, their trucks and cellphones. They were given separation papers that stated they had quit their jobs and were escorted off the property.

Back pay to April

The union and the workers filed a complaint with the P.E.I. Labour Relations Board. The board ruled the men were fired because of suspected union activities.

In its decision, the board said LaPierre fired the burner technicians because he found out about the union organizing drive. It ordered the plumbing firm to give full pay and benefits, retroactive to last April, to three of the four: Chris Devens, Michael Doucette and Travis Outhouse. They were not given their jobs back.

The fourth man, Paul Milligan, died last July. LaPierre has been ordered to pay his estate.

The union never became certified. The board found that less than half of the 16 eligible employees had signed union cards, so Mr. Plumber remains non-unionized.

Calls to Blaire LaPierre by CBC News were not returned.