Full disclaimer. I’m not a yeller. It’s not that I don’t possess the capability to be loud, it’s just not my style in the workplace — I’d rather win an argument on its merits, not my volume.
Workplaces, after all, can be extremely challenging environments. There are moments that push us, moments that test our patience and professionalism. But yelling at someone, confronting them with hostility, especially when tensions are high, is not the answer. And that’s where I take issue with a recent court ruling involving the Power Workers’ Union and PUC Services.
The heart of this case lies in an uncomfortable truth: we have a culture that sometimes excuses bad behavior under the guise of representing others. As a journalist who covers workplace issues, I’ve seen it all. I’ve heard the stories of unfair dismissals, wrongful accusations, and power plays. But at the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves, what does it mean to conduct ourselves with professionalism? What does it mean to be respectful?
Here’s what happened: J.P., a union representative for the Power Workers’ Union, was disciplined for unprofessional conduct during a termination meeting for another worker. He made rude comments, berated management, and openly confronted a human resources employee in a public space. PUC suspended him for one day for his behaviour.
But the arbitrator struck down the suspension after a grievance was filed, and a court backed that decision in a new ruling we reported on in HR Law Canada this week. Both argued that as a union representative, J.P. was afforded certain “latitude” in his behavior. I disagree.
I believe in unions. They have a vital role in protecting workers’ rights, advocating for fairness, and standing up for those who may not have a voice. But being a union representative does not entitle anyone to speak to others with contempt. Respect doesn’t come with an asterisk. It’s not about having a thick skin or thin skin; it’s about the basic decency we owe each other.
In my view, the court and the arbitrator missed a crucial point. The issue isn’t about whether J.P. was representing his colleague; it’s about how he chose to represent them. Confrontation, especially in a heated moment, only escalates conflict. It pushes people apart rather than bringing them together. As human beings, we all react differently to adversity, but professionalism requires a level of self-control, a willingness to engage in dialogue rather than throw words as weapons.
J.P. told the HR professional that she “botched” the termination and questioned how she could sleep at night. The arbitrator found that he said “Don’t waste your time. This is unbelievable. We will get in front of an arbitrator and we’ll get the fucking truth.” That’s not right.
The role of HR is hard enough. They are often the bearers of bad news, the enforcers of company policy, and, yes, sometimes the ones who deliver pink slips.
But they are also people, doing a job that requires a level of emotional fortitude many of us can’t fathom. To belittle them publicly for carrying out their duties isn’t just unprofessional; it’s unacceptable. The truth is that many of them don’t sleep well at night because of the burdens they carry.
The arbitrator and the court decided that J.P.’s actions fell within the “latitude” afforded to union reps. But if we start to excuse disrespect and rudeness as simply part of the job, then what message are we sending? Are we saying that as long as you’re defending someone, you can throw courtesy out the window? I don’t buy it.
If J.P. disagreed with the decision to fire his colleague, he could have expressed it calmly and professionally. Since this was a unionized workplace, the termination meeting isn’t the end of the conversation. The firing can be grieved, and corrected by a third party if it was truly a wrong decision by management.
The punishment meted out to J.P. for his outbursts was a one-day suspension. That is not a major penalty. It wasn’t termination of his employment. It was a corporate slap on the wrist delivered not for defending the worker who was being fired, which is very much his role, but rather how he defended her. That matters.
I believe in fighting for what’s right. But I also believe in doing so with dignity. You can be firm without being rude, assertive without being aggressive, passionate without being disrespectful.
We’re living in a time when civility seems to be on the decline, but let’s not throw in the towel and let it go without a fight. Not in our workplaces, not in our communities, not in our daily interactions with colleagues. We can disagree, we can advocate fiercely, but we must always, always respect each other.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters. It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it.
