The Canadian Press(CP)
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VANCOUVER — Harassment and discrimination claims from a female firefighter against the City of Richmond and several of her colleagues have been thrown out of B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.
Justice Brian Joyce ruled his court doesn’t have the jurisdiction to hear Jeannette Moznik’s allegations that she suffered personal injuries, nervous shock and depression because of the actions of her co-workers.
Joyce ruled that the woman’s sexual discrimination allegations are directly related to her employment and can be dealt with through her union’s arbitrator.
The judge noted Moznik’s complaints are connected to her working conditions and are covered by the Human Rights Code.
Moznik’s statement of claim alleges a series of harassment with a sexual theme from her male co-workers.
She alleged the City of Richmond failed to stop the harassment and even fostered a culture of discrimination against its female firefighters.
The fire department has been rocked by allegations from four female firefighters that they have been victims of sexual harassment and other forms of harassment from male colleagues.
Labour negotiator Vince Ready, hired after the Richmond Fire Fighters Association Local 1286 filed a grievance against the city in May 2005, described the workplace culture as “characterized by juvenile and hostile behaviour” towards women.
He said the women faced conduct that left some of them feeling unwelcome, unsafe and at times unable to work.
Since Ready’s report was released, the Richmond fire department has banned its front-line firefighters from wearing their own underwear while on duty.
Both sexes are now wearing mandatory standard underwear at a cost to the city of $16,000 to provide each firefighter with six pairs.
City spokesman Ted Townsend said when firefighters are called out they remove all their clothes down to their underwear and don protective firefighting gear.
Everyone strips in a common area and the standardized underwear came “from a sense in the department” that this was the best approach to the issue, he said at the time.