Rénard Grondin, who was elected president of the FTQ-Construction even though he sexually assaulted a secretary, made advances to other employees, reveals an independent investigation launched 10 months ago.
“More than one witness reported having suffered unwanted advances from [Rénald Grondin],” notes Me Anaïs Lacroix of the firm Latitude. On the other hand, Rénald Grondin “denied having committed the alleged acts”, specifies the report made public Thursday afternoon.
The FTQ launched this external investigation following the revelations of La Presse on the person who became president of the FTQ-Construction, first on an interim basis in 2017, then following the elections in 2018. For two years, between 2008 and 2010, he harassed and sexually assaulted a secretary while he was director-general of the Association of Inter-Provincial Maneuvers (AMI).
He called the victim into his office and repeatedly locked the door to assault him. The actions are documented in a 2012 decision by the Professional Injuries Commission.
The Latitude investigation, however, found that “the evidence does not overwhelmingly demonstrate” that the union executive was aware that the man had assaulted and harassed a secretary.
“[The victim] had not reported the situation or filed a complaint with the AMI (Inter-Provincial Maneuvers Association) in connection with the events,” the report said.
“[Rénald Grondin] appointed a prosecutor to represent the AMI in this case, which reported directly to him alone as the director general of the AMI,” adds the lawyer who conducted this independent investigation.
Me Anaïs Lacroix also makes 10 recommendations to prevent such events from happening again.
She suggests the creation of an “independent and impartial entity reporting to the highest authorities of the FTQ” to take charge of the process for handling complaints and reports of psychological and sexual harassment.
More details to come…