Labour Board Overturns Discipline of Officer
A federal board found a correctional officer should not have been punished for giving the middle finger to two government buildings.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Unions
Canada's Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board ruled that federal correctional officer Glenn Collison should not have been disciplined over an incident in July 2019. The Correctional Service of Canada must reimburse Collison one day's pay of CAD $285, with interest.
Why it matters
The ruling checks how far employers can go in disciplining off-duty or workplace conduct that is rude but not directed at people. It also clarifies that the labour board can reverse discipline imposed by a federal agency.
The decision concerns a single day's pay of CAD $285 (about £152) deducted from Collison as discipline. The source does not indicate whether an appeal is planned or when the reimbursement will be paid.
The players
Glenn Collison
A federal correctional officer whose one-day pay deduction for a gesture toward government buildings was overturned by the labour board.
Correctional Service of Canada
The federal agency responsible for federal prisons, which imposed the one-day pay deduction and must now reimburse Collison.
Christopher Rootham
The labour board adjudicator who found the gesture was not worthy of discipline and ordered the reimbursement.
The details
Collison was attending a dog handler recertification course at the Canada Border Services Agency training facility when he turned away from a colleague and gave the middle finger to two government buildings. The incident was reported to management, which led the Correctional Service of Canada to impose the pay deduction. Adjudicator Christopher Rootham found the gesture puerile but ruled that buildings do not have opinions and that the act was not worthy of discipline.
Timeline
July 2019: Collison gave the middle finger to two government buildings during a dog handler course.
November 2, 2026: The labour board ruling was reported, finding Collison should not have been disciplined.
Political Context
The decision shows the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board reviewing whether federal agencies can discipline conduct that is merely disrespectful. Critics of federal discipline in the public service have long argued for clearer limits on penalties for workplace conduct.
Federal public servants facing discipline for workplace conduct can now point to this ruling when grieving penalties for conduct that did not target anyone. Employees who receive a pay deduction for disrespectful but non-threatening conduct may have grounds for an appeal before the labour board.
The takeaway
Employers must weigh whether conduct is directed at people or merely offensive before imposing discipline, and workers facing penalties can challenge them before the labour board. The ruling suggests that a rude gesture alone is not enough to justify a pay penalty.
Further reading
For more on labour rights for federal workers, see the Unions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Scottish Legal News.
