In a rare move by the City of Saskatoon, it has released a statement from Marno McInnes, their Chief Human Resources Officer regarding the termination of an employee.
The information is being shared in response to a news conference Thursday morning held with participants Jackie Morley, a former City of Saskatoon employee, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and the Saskatchewan Pride Network. They are claiming Morley, who is described as a tireless advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and refused to dispense with using gender neutral language, was consequently terminated. The gender-neutral language was the use of the word human.
“As a queer woman, I believe my human rights have been violated, and I have filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. I am shocked and saddened that the City has taken exception to my commitment to build an inclusive work environment by adopting a gender-neutral term of ‘humans,’” Morley stated.
The City of Saskatoon, in a written statement, says she referred to her staff as “my humans” and that staff brought forward concerns which the City addressed by trying to have Ms. Morley use other language that was still inclusive. They say her refusal to do so was not the reason for her termination but rather, “her leadership style was incompatible with the City’s values, was causing extensive workplace strife, and she refused to change her approach despite numerous attempts by her supervisors.”
The SFL and Saskatchewan Pride Network says Jackie Morley was a dedicated city employee with 21 years of service and the President of the Saskatoon Civic Middle Management Association, IFPTE Local 222 for seven years. The City says her termination also had nothing to do with her role as an association president. They say Morley was paid the equivalent of 18 months pay as severance.
SCMMA is demanding that Ms. Morley be reinstated, and she be paid her regular salary from the date of termination to the date of reinstatement together with damages for breach of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018. Or receive severance equivalent to 42 months pay. The City feels the union’s request is unreasonable but says it respects due process and that the union has a right to take the matter to arbitration.
