Arbitrator rules 9 Ontario nurses who were fired over the COVID-19 vaccine policy was “unreasonable”

Arbitrator James Hayes has ruled that nine Ontario nurses, dismissed for not receiving two COVID-19 vaccinations, should be reinstated as their termination was deemed "unreasonable" according to the decision.

Hayes wrote, "Nurses intent on remaining unvaccinated are a small minority everywhere, but their employee rights may not be ignored."

The decision says that the vaccine policy should have led to placing employees on unpaid leave, enabling their return if there were policy changes or changes in their vaccination status, instead of terminating them for misconduct.

You can read the ruling at the link below.

https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onla/doc/2024/2024canlii14991/2024canlii14991.html