NORTH BAY, Ont. – The Ontario Grievance Settlement Board has ordered the province’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) to pay $20,000 in compensation to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and $5,000 to one of its former Local presidents, after throwing out the MCSCS’ accusations of bullying, harassment and intimidation by the union rep. OPSEU Local 616 president Mike Bisaillon was suspended with pay for three months more than three years ago for alleged intimidation and threats against management of the North Bay Jail, according to a May 26 press release from the union. But the Board’s vice chair, Bram Herlich, dismissed these accusations as nothing more than rumours, while rebuking the prison’s management for “conspiracy to target the grievor and teach him a lesson” and “anti-union animus,” as quoted in the release. Herlich also ordered the MCSCS to post a notice at the correctional facility, warning management not to discourage union membership or interfere with union actions. “This is a great day… for every worker in Ontario who is represented by a union or wants to be,” OPSEU president Warren “Smokey” Thomas said in a media statement. “This employer used dirty tactics to tarnish the good name of a local president and attack the whole union. They violated the collective agreement, and they broke the law. Now they’ve been exposed and will pay the price for their misdeeds.” The union called Herlich’s decision “an unprecedented award from the Board” in its release.