Coastal Gaslink sued by former employee

In a notice of lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia earlier this month, JM, a woman we identified with her initials, claimed to have suffered sexual abuse from someone who kissed him without permission at one of the Coastal Gaslink camps and told him caressed, then forcibly arrested the buttocks.

Both were sued by the 30-year-old Civeo Premium Servicesthe company provides housing and services to workers constructing 670 kilometers of pipeline, and Coastal Gas Linkwhich he called the indirect defendant.

Breach of contract, negligence and damage

JM sued Civeo for breach of contract and the same company for negligence and damages he says he suffered because of a lack of respect for his privacy and welfare.

He insisted the companies did not proven the suitability of [leurs] agents, employees and guests, especially in light of the remote nature of the workplace and the prevalence of sexual violence in these remote workplaces.

He also accuses that Civeo at Coastal Gas Link He was not given a chance to evacuate the area before a blockade by protesters last fall, which led to water and supplies cut off.

Even more embarrassed

JM said he began working in June 2021 as executive chef at 9A Lodge and P2 Lodge, labor camps located on a remote resource road about 100 miles east of Houston. His work ended in April 2022.

He claims the alleged sexual assault happened in his private office a while ago agent ng Coastal Gas Link kissed her without permission, touched her buttocks and commented inappropriate in his body.

According to him, his employers failed to conduct a proper investigation and his supervisor disclosed the details of the incident to his colleagues and subordinates, which even more embarrassed.

JM also said that due to lack of staff, he and his team worked until 8 pm shift a day for 30-40 day shifts. When he was hired, he was told he would have 10 days off after 20 days on site.

When he complained, he claimed he had succumbed poor performance of reviews and audits in retaliation.

None of the allegations made in the notice of suit have yet been proven in court.

Unclean and unsafe

The gas pipeline Coastal Gas Link became the subject of ongoing demonstrations in support of the hereditary leaders of the Wet’suwet’en. They believe that the company did not have the permission of this First Country to cross its territory.

If completed, the pipeline Coastal Gas Link will extend around Dawson Creek in eastern British Columbia to Kitimat on the Pacific coast.

The company won a court order preventing protesters from interfering with pipeline construction, which led to dozens of arrests in November after the company complained 500 of its workers were pinned down by three blockade.

The British Columbia Prosecution Service is expected to announce this week whether the arrests will result in criminal contempt charges against the 27 protesters.

At the time of the locks, the company warned that water and supplies could run out due to blocked access to the outside world and workers might not be able to access medical care in the event of an emergency.

In his complaint, JM insisted Civeo at Coastal Gas Link not informed him impending blockade of protesterswhich left him and others stranded in labor camps.

He accused the companies of having limiting access to septic supplies, water and services [aux camps pour travailleurs] 9A Lodge and P2 Lodge, which creates an unsanitary and unsafe working and living environment.

JM said he and his team were not cleared wash their clothes or leave their workplace to bathe for about 10 days on three different occasions.

Neither company reacted to the complaint

He also maintains that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and the situation has exacerbated previous heart problems.

JM believes corporations have a duty provide a safe and humane work environment at properly educate and train staff on matters of professional conductincluding the harmful and dangerous effects of sexual misconduct.

Coastal Gas Link said he would not comment on the matter while it was in court. Civeo did not respond to a request for comment.

There is information from Jason Proctor