Alberta college ordered to pay former teacher who was fired for pregnancy

A human rights commission has ordered the Alberta Pipe Trade College to pay $35,000 to a former instructor who was fired because she was pregnant.

The decision from the Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta said the technical college in Edmonton did not try to accommodate Branka Turnbull’s pregnancy in the male-dominated workplace and instead immediately terminated her. “I got tears in my eyes. I cried,” Turnbull said in an interview Friday. “I was just overjoyed and I couldn’t believe that I could turn a chapter on this journey. …There was vindication.”

Turnbull had been an instructor at the college for two years when she became pregnant in 2013. She said she was passionate about teaching in the trades and was proud of her position.

The tribunal’s decision said Turnbull’s pregnancy was highrisk and her doctor advised that she’d need some changes at work, including a change in hours because of severe morning sickness. The doctor also advised she should avoid too much heavy lifting.

A colleague at the college told Turnbull to speak with department head Jack Johnston, who had the authority to make those types of decisions. At a meeting later that day, Turnbull told Johnston she had a medical issue and would need the accommodations directed by her doctor.

After a brief discussion, Turnbull and Johnston agreed to meet again the next morning to continue the conversation.

However, the decision said, the next day when Turnbull showed up for the meeting, she was instead informed that her employment was terminated.

“My happiest moment in my life was taken away from me in their decision to dismiss me so callously,” Turnbull said.

Kathryn Oviatt, the tribunal chair, wrote in her decision that the dismissal happened in the context of “a poor working relationship” between Johnston and the Turnbull because she had previously alleged sexual harassment against another colleague.

“The complainant worked in a male-dominated workplace where she felt unsupported,” Oviatt said. “And her direct report to whom she requested accommodation was the same person who did not address to her satisfaction previous sexual harassment allegations.”