Further $300K demanded over UPEI retirements

A human rights hearing began Monday to determine how much more money UPEI may have to pay three additional professors it forced to retire at age 65.

The University is already appealing an order to pay $700,000 in damages to the first group of employees who won discrimination complaints. On Monday the hearing began for three more: Robert O'Rourke and Ron Collins of the school of business, and Barry Bartmann of the political science department.

Of the three, Bartmann made the claim for the greatest loss, $230,000. He was forced to retire in 2007. After mandatory retirement was declared to be discriminatory he was reinstated in 2010.

He said the three years he wasn't working were very tough financially and personally.

"It's the lost income over three years, put very, very severe financial stain on my sister and I," said Bartmann.

"Also it cut me off, cut me out of the university."

O'Rourke and Collins both taught in UPEI's school of business for more than 30 years. They were forced to retire in 2008 and reinstated in 2010. Both chose to retire on their own a few months later. Collins had already committed to teach elsewhere. O'Rourke said UPEI made him feel unwelcome.

Collins is claiming more than $100,000 and O'Rourke $8,000. He also managed to get other work.

UPEI's lawyer questioned the professors on how they calculated those losses during Monday's hearing.

Whatever the human rights panel decides, payment of the claims is not guaranteed. UPEI is appealing the claims of the first group of professors before PEI's Supreme Court. Whether any payment is warranted will be decided there.

All together the six employees are asking UPEI for more than a million dollars.