Union Employee Fired for Distracted Driving Can’t Sue for Money Damages

A bus driver who got fired for distracted driving denied the accusation and sued his ex-employer for $50,000 in damages for defamation and wrongful dismissal. The Alberta court said it didn’t have jurisdiction over the matter and dismissed the case. The driver belonged to a union and should have pursued his claim as a grievance before a labour board, not as a private lawsuit for money damages in civil court [Sopczak v Diversified Transportation Ltd, 2021 ABPC 269 (CanLII), October 22, 2021].