This threat took place on a Thursday March 5,2015 while it was confirmed to the Human Recourses Manager by Mr. Richardson that he would return to the job with a firearm to shoot a coworker. This incident was communicated to the managing Director of PSS on that same day.
SMCU find out about the treat the following day which was Friday March 6,2015 when we learn about this incident, we immediately went to PSS to address this dangerous situation. The reason for the union to make an immediate move on this matter is because the matter took place on a Thursday and Mr. Richardson was still working as if it is legally right to make such statements without any consequences.
At our arrival the management of PSS and the Board of directors were in a meeting, what the meeting was about the union don’t know. At that time the manager director left the meeting along with the HR manager to have an urgent meeting with the union.
The union at the time informed the director that the union was aware of the gun threat made by Mr. Richardson on Thursday March 5,2015 and the union informed the manager director that if no action is taken against Mr. Richardson the union and all the employees of PSS shall wait outside of the building until action is taken against Mr. Richardson.
The manager director then met quickly with the board and came back with the decision that Mr. Richardson will be suspended with pay pending further investigation.
Prior to March 16,2015 management, broad and union met to discussed the matter of the gun threat made by Mr. Richardson and also the ongoing behavior of Mr. Richardson on the work floor with the employees of PSS. The union was informed in that meeting that Mr. Richardson will received a writing warning for his gun threat made towards an employee/ employees.
SMCU informed management and board at that time that a written warning was not enough for such infringement. We were told that management will look into this case again with they legal council and see what other decision management could take.
SMCU received a letter dating March 16,2015 directed to Mr. Richardson with the subject “last warning/dismissal” immediately after receiving the letter an urgent meeting was called with the director of PSS to inform the director that there are no such thing name final warning/ dismissal.
SMCU also informed the manager director that if it was an employees who had made a gun threat he/she would be immediately dismissed for urgent reason. We also told the director that the letter sent to Mr. Richardson weight to heavy with heavy words like “in a meeting held on March 5,2015 with amongst others the undersigned, you confirmed making such a verbal threat” in another paragraph from the same letter dated March 16,2015 also mentioned “it goes without saying that the above described is unacceptable and should in principal warrant your immediate dismissal (“ontslag op stand event”).
After having such of heavy letter with the words immediate dismissal mention the manager director still decided to give Mr. Richardson a final warning without Mr. Richardson receiving any warning before, a complete something that makes no sense.
All of the above mention leaves a clear indication that Mr. Richardson is being protected either by the manager director or the board of director or some one unknown by the Union.
In the meantime the employees of PSS stand the grounds that they will no longer work with someone that may have a psychological situation.
