Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Written by Aleysha Haniff

Hillel @ Ryerson, the school’s Jewish Students’ Association is concerned that Jewish voices will be silenced on campus issues if the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) holds its annual general meeting on March 31.

Currently, the meeting coincides with Passover, a Jewish holiday.

“Passover is one of those fundamental keys of the religion that every single Jew celebrates, no matter how religious, no matter how secular. That’s how important it is,” said Maiya Keidan, president of Hillel @ Ryerson.

The annual general meeting, which allows full-time students to vote about any changes to the RSU, is a situation where every vote counts, said Adam Solomon, who does marketing and promotions for Hillel @ Ryerson.

Solomon said he learned of the scheduling conflict on March 8 and spoke to RSU president Jermaine Bagnall. He also sent an email.

In reply, Solomon said, he was informed that since the AGM was advertised to take place on a certain date, it would not be changed.

“It’s really important because every voice matters… and by having it on Passover it’s really just silencing a bunch of Jewish students,” he said. Bagnall was unavailable for comment. Solomon said that failing to reschedule the meeting discriminates against Jewish students under the Ontario Human Rights Code because it would impede their ability to vote or voice opinions. The code says protection against religious discrimination applies to unions.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission’s website states “where a rule conflicts with religious requirements, there is a duty to ensure that individuals are able to observe their religion, unless this would cause undue hardship because of cost, or health and safety reasons.”

If the meeting proceeds on March 31, Solomon said they plan to approach Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services.

Keidan said that as a representative of a diverse Jewish group, she will not attend the meeting on March 31.

“I won’t be choosing because it’s not a choice. What I am sad for is that they put people in that position,” she said.

Sourced from here at :

http://www.theeyeopener.com/articles/4511-Students-union-accused-of-violating-human-rights-code

Hey, Toby, why , tell us why you rip posters down… at  other  schools.

Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Written by Carys Mills

The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) has been ordered to pay missing termination pay to seven former workers, following a probe by the Ministry of Labour.

Representatives met with the ministry last November after complaints about missing termination pay and claims of reprisal were filed against the RSU.

The claims, filed by eight former community service group workers, accused the RSU of breaking Employment Standards Act (ESA) requirements. The RSU has been ordered to pay about $1,500 in termination pay according to documents obtained by the Eyeopener.

Termination pay must be given to workers in lieu of notice of the end of employment under the ESA.
Disagreements between the employees and the RSU involved if contracts ended early and if termination pay was owed.

“It’s not just about the money, because the money is like nothing,” said Kiera Chion, one of the former workers.

The ministry didn’t find any other violations under the ESA.

“We made the claims and produced as much evidence as we could,” said Jesse Trautmann, a former community service group employee. He said reprisal claims taken to the Ministry of Labour are typically hard to prove.

According to the ministry documents, the RSU terminated Chion and Trautmann for willful misconduct, a reason for dismissal that cancels compensation pay.

This type of misconduct means an employee intentionally behaved in a way that justified ending their employment without compensation, according to Avner Levin, law and business professor.

“You don’t end up winning those things, statistically speaking,” said Levin.

He said it’s easier for employers to dismiss an employee, compensate them and hire someone else.

The ministry found that Chion and Trautmann’s actions weren’t willful.

“In our view, we were not willful and it really helps to have the ESA investigator now back us up,” said Chion.

The former workers and the RSU have 30 days to appeal the decision made by the Ministry of Labour.
“We’re going through and reviewing,” said Toby Whitfield, RSU vice-president finance and services and president-elect.

“It’s hard to comment.”

Whitfield wouldn’t say whether the RSU is considering appealing the decision made by the Ministry of Labour.

According to Trautmann and Chion, they don’t plan to appeal the ministry’s decision but they’ll have to get involved again if the RSU decides to appeal.
“I would like to just put it to rest,” said Chion.
“I don’t want to have to defend it any further.”

sourced from here at :

http://www.theeyeopener.com/articles/4486-Ministry-of-Labour-orders-RSU-to-pay-former-workers

Two of the plaintiffs in a defamation lawsuit against the Ryerson Students’ Union have been banned from the Student Campus Centre.

More than a month after serving court documents to current and former RSU executives and staff, plaintiffs Jesse Trautmann, former outreach co-ordinator for RyePride, and Frank Nyitray, former employee of RyeAccess, are no longer welcome in any RSU-run space, including the Student Campus Centre (SCC).

This is the most recent action after claims of libel, slander, defamation and vilification were filed against Toby Whitfield, current vice-president of finance and services, Rebecca Rose, former vice-president of education, and executive director of communications and outreach Denise Hammond, by Trautmann, Nyitray and another former community service group employee.

Trautman and Nyitray were  in the lobby of the SCC last Thursday when an Oakham House manager told them Eric Newstadt, general manager of the SCC, would call the police if they didn’t leave immediately.

“I’m an alumni, so technically I have rights to still be a part of the Ryerson community,” said Trautmann, adding that since Nyitray is still a student, he shouldn’t need a reason to be in the SCC.

“We actually have no idea why we were banned from the Student Centre,” said Nyitray.

Letters were passed between Davis LLP (the RSU’s lawyers), Trautmann and Nyitray on Dec. 21, saying the two were no longer authorized to enter any space owned or operated by the RSU.

A letter obtained by The Ryersonian, addressed to Nyitray from the Student Centre, says he is “no longer authorized to be in any space owned or operated by the Ryerson Student Centre.”

The letter also says he will be removed by security if he returns, and suggests that legal action could be taken in that scenario.
Nyitray said he never received this letter.

The letter also says that if he needs to be in the SCC he must first receive written permission from the general manager.

The letter was signed by Newstadt, who Nyitray alleges assaulted him last month while he was trying to serve Hammond court documents.

The ban also prevents Nyitray from using student services provided within the building.

“I identify as a student with a disability, as such I use RyeAccess,” said Nyitray. “I do not have access to purchasing a discount bus pass, and no longer have access to CopyRITE, which I use for academic assignments.

“It’s a personal vendetta,” Nyitray said about the ban.

Newstadt said that the foundation that runs the SCC had recieved complaints.

“We have a duty to provide a safe working environment for our staff,” he said.

The lawsuits, which were filed in November, involve a Facebook message sent by Hammond, a letter and memo sent by Whitfield and a Facebook message sent by Rose.

“What we really want to get out of this is to see in effect real change in the RSU,” said Nyitray. “We’re not out to destroy the RSU because this school needs a good strong students’ union with good strong leadership that places Ryerson students first and not their own personal agendas.”

Trautmann said the lawsuit is about protecting their reputations.

“As a new person entering the workforce, the allegations they’re making are seriously damaging to my professional and personal reputation, that’s why we’re fighting back on this.”

While the defendants will have counsel through their RSU insurance, which is partially funded by student fees, the three plaintiffs will be representing themselves.

“We have to,” said Trautmann. “We don’t have the money for a lawyer . . . we have to put a lot of faith in the judge who handles our case.”

Whitfield declined to comment on the case while it is before the courts.

Hammond and Rose could not be reached.

The plaintiffs will meet with Whitfield, Hammond and Rose on Feb. 1 for the pre-trial settlement meeting.

http://www.ryersonian.ca/article/2954