Unions

How to LOSE a union application for certification

February 25, 2019 Stringer LLP Human Resources, Union Relations

The prospect of becoming unionized is unwelcome for many employers. Along with increased costs and workplace rules, an us-vs-them mentality often creeps in making it difficult to manage your business. So how do you deal with a union application for certification?

certification, Labour Relations Act, unfair labour practices, union certification process, union organizing drive, Unions

Labour Relations Code Review Panel issues report

November 15, 2018 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Human Resources, Union Relations

On October 25, 2018, the Labour Relations Code Review Panel released its report with its recommendations for amendments to the B.C. Labour Relations Code (“Report”).

employment law, Labour Relations Code Review Panel, union certification, Unions

Labour Day is an annual and global holiday

August 31, 2018 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, International HR Law, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Labour Day is an annual and global holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers around the world. For most countries, Labour Day is linked with International Workers’ Day, which occurs on May 1. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country.

Day off with pay, employment law, Labour Day in Canada, Labour Law, Labour movement, Public Holiday, Public Holiday Pay, Statutory Holiday, trade unions, Unions

Labour Day is a global and national annual holiday

September 1, 2017 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Across Canada, Labour Day is a public holiday that is observed on the first Monday in September every year. This year, Labour Day is Monday September 4, 2017. Government bodies and agencies, as well as most businesses, are closed on Labour Day.

Day off with pay, employment law, Labour Day, Labour Law, Labour movement, Public Holiday, Public Holiday Pay, Regular day off with pay, Statutory Holiday, Statutory holiday pay, trade unions, Unions

IRCC announces details of global skills strategy

July 19, 2017 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Announcements and Administration, Corporate Immigration, Employment/Labour Standards, Government Budgets, Throne Speeches and Plans, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Payroll, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

On June 12, 2017, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced details of its Global Skills Strategy. First announced in November 2016, the Global Skills Strategy is intended to help promote global investment in Canada and support the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan.

employment law, foreign nationals, Global Skills Strategy, Global Talent Stream, health and safety, hiring temporary foreign workers, Labour Market Impact Assessment, LMIA, temporary foreign workers, Unions, work permits, working conditions

Certification and recertification requirements change for federally regulated workplaces beginning June 22, 2017

July 5, 2017 Christina Catenacci Human Resources, Union Relations

Employers in unionized workplaces are recommended to become familiar with the changes made by Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Ac and take a careful look at the transitional provisions in Bill C-4 in the case where there is an existing application with the Board.

Bill C-377, Bill C-4, card-check certification, certification, Employees’ Voting Rights Act, employment law, recertification, Union decertification, Unions

Back-to-work postal legislation found in violation of Charter rights

October 28, 2016 Devry Smith Frank LLP Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Union Relations

Justice Firestone of the Ontario Superior Court recently decided that back–to–work legislation introduced in 2011 aimed at striking postal workers from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers was an unjustified violation of the Union’s rights to freedom of association and expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a result, the judge retroactively declared the legislation of no force or effect.

back-to-work legislation, Canada Post labour dispute, canadian charter of rights and freedoms, Canadian Union of Postal Workers v Her Majesty in Right of Canada, Charter protected freedoms, Charter rights, collective agreement, Collective Bargaining, employment law, freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Industrial Relations, Labour Law, lockout, Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act, right to strike, strike, striking postal workers, trade unions, Unions

Construction industry certification: Nova Scotia Court of Appeal weighs in

June 6, 2016 Alison J. Bird Employee Relations, Human Resources, Payroll, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations

In Nova Scotia, an employer in the construction industry may become certified by a union if the Labour Board is satisfied that the applicant union “has as members in good standing more than fifty percent of the employees in the appropriate unit”. Accordingly, the definition of the bargaining unit is a significant issue in construction industry certifications because the employees in the unit materially impact whether the certification application is successful.

bargaining unit, Collective Bargaining, construction industry, Construction industry certification, labour board, Labour Law, Nova Scotia Labour Board, Trade Union Act, union certification, Unions

Ontario Human Rights Commission released updated policy on “preventing discrimination based on Creed”

March 17, 2016 Simon Heath, BA, MIR, LLB, Heath Law Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development, Union Relations

This past December the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a new and comprehensive 173 page Updated Policy on Preventing Discrimination based on Creed to replace its earlier Policy that was first published in 1996. The Commission stated that given the significant demographic changes in Ontario, it has been working on a new policy since 2012. The aim of the policy is to highlight how discrimination on the basis of Creed can be avoided in broader Ontario society which is increasingly more diverse.

creed, discrimination, diversity, employment law, harassment, Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy, Policy on Creed and the Accommodation of Religious Observances, prohibited grounds of discrimination, racial profiling, religion, religious beliefs and practices, Unions

SCC constitutionalizes the right to strike for unionized employees

March 20, 2015 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Employee Relations, Human Resources, Union Relations

In a surprising move, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned its own precedent and found that the right to strike was protected under the Charter.

bargaining agents, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Collective Bargaining, Constitutionalizing of the right to strike, dispute resolution mechanism, essential services, Labour Law, management, Mounted Police Association of Ontario v. Canada, right of freedom of association, right to strike, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan, Supreme Court of Canada, unionized employees, Unions

SCC orders parliament to reconsider RCMP labour relations

February 9, 2015 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Employee Relations, Human Resources, Union Relations

Until last Friday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was Canada’s only police force that was legislatively prohibited from unionizing. On January 16, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled…

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Surreptitious tape recording of bargaining negotiations not admitted into evidence

September 15, 2014 Devry Smith Frank LLP Employee Relations, Human Resources, Payroll, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The issue in this case was whether a surreptitious tape recording of bargaining negotiations was allowed to be admitted into evidence.

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Slaw: A Look at Unionization Rate in Canada in Light of This Year’s Labour Day

August 29, 2014 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

This year, Labour Day falls on Monday September 1, 2014. All provinces and territories observe this holiday. Government bodies and agencies as well as many businesses are closed on Labour Day.

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

September 19, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Source Deductions and Reporting, Standard for Customer Service, Union Relations

The three most read articles on HRinfodesk this week deal with the AODA review, the 2014 Employment Insurance premium rates and how an injured employee was dismissed unjustly.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, canadian employment law, collective agreement, discrimination, EI, Employment Insurance premium rates, employment law, HRinfodesk, human rights code, Injured employee, insurable earnings, Ontario Labour Relations Board, terminated unjustly, terminations, union, Unions, worker’s compensation claim

Labour Day, Monday, September 2, is the next public (statutory) holiday

August 30, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, International HR Law, International Payroll, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Labour Day originates in the labour union movements of the 1800s as a way to celebrate the social and economic advancements and to pay tribute to the driving force of our economy. The history of Labour Day continued to be connected with organized labour. Initially, the first unofficial “Labour Days” in Canada were […]

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