P.E.I. court upholds discriminatory hiring practices

Provincial public sector union exploring avenues to appeal decision by top provincial court.

Charlottetown (28 June 2010) - The P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) is disappointed that the Supreme Court of P.E.I. has upheld a decision to allow 'male only' job ads by the provincial department of health. 

Shelley Ward, the union's president, says she is concerned that the decision may open the door to further discriminatory hiring practices within the province. 

“Both men and women should be allowed to apply for any job offered within the department of health’s addiction services division and the best qualified applicant should receive the job," she argues.

"Designating jobs as ‘male or female only’ is discrimination and allows the employer to hire less qualified candidates than may be available otherwise,” she adds.   

“The province could now try to justify hiring ‘males or females only’ for just about any job they design their policy to fit. The principle of fairness is in jeopardy and the door to discrimination is now wide open,” Ward says.

PEIUPSE is exploring legal options to appeal the decision.  

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE