Overview

• The formal arbitration process began Friday as CUPE Ontario pursues Grzejszczak’s reinstatement following her June 20 firing for a Facebook post.
• York Region maintains it dismissed her over “concerning comments” and says its original decision stands.
• Union leaders and free speech advocates argue the 48-hour termination lacked proper investigation and violated her Charter right to political expression.
• Grzejszczak had been due to return to front-line paramedic duties at the end of July after a six-year union leave before her abrupt firing.
• The arbitration outcome could set a precedent for how employer social media policies apply to public employees’ political speech.