An Ontario arbitrator has upheld the discharge of a "modern
day prophet" who stated, "the first element to attack is
water – the next is fire" after being told that she
was suspended for five days.
The employer had issued the five-day suspension to the employee
for carelessly packing defective product. The employee asked
to speak with the plant manager, and then made the water-fire
statement. Her statement had particular poignancy because of
a serious flood at the facility approximately one year earlier.
The employer discharged the employee. The union
grieved. At the arbitration hearing, the employee testified
that "there was too much wickedness in the plant" and
that the manager's disciplinary decisions had been wicked and
unreasonable. She stated that she was a religious person and
that she believed that bad things happen to wicked people.
She also said that she had no intention of starting any fires and
did not intend any threat. She refused to apologize.
