THE BIKER CEDES NO GROUND

We were awarded the Renovations and Care Additions to the St Mary’s Hospital at Schelt, B.C. in 1988. We were just rebounding after a difficult series of Manitoba projects and were looking forward to better times in British Columbia

Mobilization for this project involved a great deal of concrete forming and no sub trades for this portion of the project were available at the time of tendering and so it was decided that we look to see what was available for labor in this quite community accessible by ferry from North Vancouver. Rumors quickly spread in this close in this small town and soon many applicants came by looking for work. Along with various Tradesmen were some semi-skilled Workers who appeared to be quite capable with the proper crew.

One such young man was showed up on his motorcycle and suggested that given the opportunity he would prove to be an excellent employee capable of doing carpentry as one of his talents. He was “wiry”, strong and in good health and admitted to some knowledge in carpentry and had his own personal tools. So let’s just call him “Biker” for this story.

Biker started right from the first shift as an enthusiastic worker, willing to do almost anything and performed eight hours out of eight hours and did at least his share and more. In my routine walks around the project, I found him always on the job and I was very satisfied with his performance as a team player. All employees were equipped with safety clothing and several workers had first aid tickets as required for small crews by Workers Compensation Board (WCB as named at that time).

Biker enjoyed working without his shirt (it was hot) and preferred not to wear his hard hat (it would fall off at the wrong times he said). I warned everyone that the WCB regulations applied at all times whether an Inspector was about or otherwise and sooner or later someone will show up and workers will be cited if they were not in compliance and the responsibility would rest on the company in the end analysis. “Yes we know”, was the customary response.

One day we had a WCB Inspector and after a time, he came rushing into my office with “there is one member of your crew without a hard hat” he shouted. “That is not in compliance with Section ___ of the Act. You must immediately get this corrected or I will need to write you up ad fine you”

So I just walked out on the jobsite, directly to Biker and pointed out the Inspector standing on the raised driveway overlooking the jobsite. “See that man over there? He has the entire B.C. Government behind him in that book that he is carrying which says he is the administrator of the Workers Compensation Act and he can fine anyone who is not in compliance”.

Biker looked up and shook his right arm at the Inspector after which he put on his hardhat and started working again at form removal. I went back to my office.

It was only about five (5) minutes later that the Inspector came screaming back into my office with “he took off his hard hat again”

“Did you see me talking to him” I relied calmly.

“Yes, but that is not good enough. You employee is not in compliance and either you do something right away, will write you up, was his firm response

So I put on my hard hat and went to the Biker with “now you see that you got that fellow really upset now and he wants to fine you and me. I don’t know about you but I cannot afford that type of expense and so I have no choice but to let you go. You may work to the end of the shift or leave now. I will arrange to get your termination notice and pay from our Delta offices ASAP.”

“You mean that S.O.B. up there has cost me my job”. He was really excited and his looked defiantly right through me as he took turns shaking his fist at the Inspector and talking wildly to me at the same time.

“You were not prepared to comply with the rules after I gave you a warning a few minutes ago and I have no choice now as it is my duty to ensure compliance to the Act”, I replied calmly and Biker began gathering his tools.

The next morning Biker came back to the job and entered my office which was located in an unused portion of the St. Mary’s Hospital basement. He was always the first in to work on a normal basis. This time he walked up to me and said “I just want you to confirm that I am not to go to work today”.

“That is correct”, I replied calmly.

There was a system of corridors and so I was not able to see him leave but the next employee in was excitedly shouting “you should see what Biker is doing to your pickup truck. We need to stop him”.

“You stay here and stay out of his way while I call the Police”, and with that I made the call to the local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Other employees noted the action to my truck and it was quickly over. The police arrived long after Biker had completed what he wanted to get done to my truck.

So we went to inspect the carnage which was apparently impacted by a large crowbar and looked something like this:

• Both headlights smashed
• Windshield broken
• Both doors with at least one hole through them
• A bent hood
• A bent cab
• A few other dents and significant bruises to the truck body

The Officer asked me for any comments with my immediate answer “where is my new crowbar. They are hard to come by here in Sechelt”

“Do you know where Biker lives? Are there witnesses? Many questions were asked by the Officer and we responded as best we could. I suggested that the Officer be careful when approaching Biker and should have assistance should he decide to go to his house.

A few days later a Representative for the private insurance company came to assess the damage and wanted to know Biker’s address. Like the Police Officer, I warned the Representative about going alone.

The Insurance Company laid charges against the Biker and the court date approached. On the day of court, my employee witness came to me concerned about the threat he had received from Biker. Words to the effect that “he should be careful as to what he says in court!” were apparently said by Biker. I immediately contacted the Crown Counsel and advised him that his key witness was threatened by the accused.

I suspect that had Biker not threatened the witness, he may have got off with a “slap on his wrist” but threatening a crown witness is considered a more serious offense than smashing your boss’s truck. The judge gave Biker a one month sentence in jail for his threat.

The insurance company got no restitution from Biker and I doubt that the Representative even went to see Biker.

I never did get my crowbar back and the truck got all repaired and returned to me in reasonable shape to travel quite a few more miles.

One can take a few morals from this story but until the WCB man showed, Biker was an excellent employee whose only crime was that he would not wear his hard hat.

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