Burnard, who while employed also filed a grievance with the union concerning harassment, threats to her livelihood, and belittlement in front of staff, has since gone to the Human Rights Commission with further grievances, she says. Challenging the authorities in any way seems to bring repercussions. Further, high employee turnover is symptomatic of problems at the WCB office, she says. Former WCB contract worker and friend Jane Murphy agrees. Murphy says it was more than just a coincidence she was released from her contract just two weeks after Burnard was fired.
People are very, very fearful of their job security there.
Rick Hoenisch has been the Whitehorse WCB shop steward for the Yukon Government Employees Union for eight years. Any claims of a terrorized workforce are without substance, he says. I'm aware that there are a few people here who are unhappy. There will always be somebody who won't be happy for one reason or another. Yukon WCB president and chief executive officer Ron Farrell declined to speak about Burnard's case specifically.