A provincial arbitrator has reinstated eight of 11 workers fired from their jobs at the Pickering nuclear station a month ago by Ontario Power Generation amid allegations of drug activity. Terms of the arbitration prevent either company or union from identifying individuals, or releasing details of what happened.

OPG called in police last month to investigate the allegations of drug use and a misuse of company resources by the workers, who were described as support and cleaning staff.

“As Ontario‘s public generator, we do things ethically,” Mitchell said in his e-mail which was sent out to OPG staff. “Our core business may be based on the generation and sale of electricity, but it’s built on trust and respect. Respect for our organization, respect for our employees, respect for our host communities and respect for the people of Ontario.”

Restrictions imposed by the arbitrator prevent the company from confirming whether or not the workers will return to the positions they held prior to the firings, and specifics of disciplinary measures that might be imposed, said OPG spokesman Bob Osborne. OPG has consistently said that safety was never jeopardized and none of the workers had been deemed unfit for duty.

The eight who were reinstated have been subjected to varying levels of discipline, Mitchell said in the memo.