I asked the Association of Academic Staff – University of Alberta (AASUA) to get involved. They agreed and investigated.
The AASUA had several meetings with the University. During these meetings, the University repeatedly stated that there were no complaints. The University argued that their decision to terminate was “Management Rights”.
Numerous University policies state that the University hires based on merit and give existing employees the right of first refusal. How are novice instructors more meritorious than an award-winning instructor? Why hire them over an existing, award-winning instructor with years of experience and University involvement?
The AASUA filed a grievance, citing policies and the Collective Agreement stating that the University was obligated to give existing instructors the right of first refusal and to hire the most qualified. Shortly before the hearing, the University capitulated, settling the grievance in favor of the AASUA. I was not given my position back, with the University citing a breakdown in the employment relationship — a breakdown caused completely by Tykwinski.
Years later, the University suggested that there was a complaint against me. For the entirety of the AASUA investigation, the University made no mention of a complaint. Just repeatedly argued “Management Rights” through the AASUA investigation and grievance. If there was a compliant, the University failed to disclose it and failed to investigate it (as required by policy and the Collective Agreement). If there was a complaint, the University repeatedly lied to the AASUA, and suppressed the existence of the complaint for years!
Assuming there was a complaint, the employment relationship was broken by Tykwinski and the University. Tykwinski failed to investigate the complaint and defamed me to cover-up his misconduct. The University also covered-up Tykwinki‘s misconduct.
It took years for the complaint to be disclosed. When the AASUA was informed of the complaint, they chose to do nothing. They said that the matter was closed. Effectively, the AASUA colluded with University Administration to cover-up Tykwinski‘s and the University’s misconduct and abuse of power.
The outstanding issues are
- Tykwinski‘s failure to properly disclose and investigate the complaint
- the University lying to and withholding pertinent information from the AASUA
- Tykwinski‘s defamatory email to over 400 people in the department
- the University blacklisting me at other academic institutions, and beyond
- Tykwinski‘s malicious decimation of my career
- the University’s grossly improper investigation of Tykwinski
- the University covering-up Tykwinski‘s wrongdoing
- the University’s repeated threats of legal action
- …
An investigation is only as good as the information contributed to it.