Gregory Billings, former New Brunswick Fire Fighter and Captain who resigned from his position after 21 years of service, is suing the city and union for $280,000 in compensation and damages.

A career firefighter who knew exactly where he stood on the issue of vaccines and mandates was only looking to navigate his departure from his lifelong career. He was advised by his employer that, if he allowed himself to be dismissed, he would forfeit his pension and severance, but if he resigned, he would retain both.

He acted on this advice and now finds himself in a fight to maintain his grasp on the pension he worked hard to build.

Also named in this lawsuit is the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1053, his former union, for failing to provide representation and guidance to their member, as is their duty. They did not file a grievance on his behalf nor provide guidance as he navigated his departure.

To be denied gainful employment as a result of expressing what should have been an irrefutable human right is significant but to be denied your pension, accumulated through decades of dedicated work, as a direct result of erroneous advice from those tasked to support you through these processes, is appalling and demands accountability.

The slow-rolling train wreck that was the pandemic (and its aftermath) opened our eyes to conditions we had been blind to. One of which is acknowledging just how incestuous the relationship has become between unions and employers. While claiming to have the back of the employee, happily accepting dues for the privilege of this support, unions continue to side with the employers.

If our unions cannot or will not support us in these situations, what value remains in having them represent us at all?

This system of union representation is just another broken and politically biased process within Canada, denying the individual their right to due process while leaving them without legal representation. It is time to re-evaluate all these systems as we look forward to mending our broken country and restoring the rights and freedoms that should never have been denied in the first place.

To read the True North article written by Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, click here