Collective agreement arbitration in Canada

• 1. Elements of the Collective Agreement

• 1.01 The Role of Arbitrators in Determining Whether a Collective Agreement Exists
• 1.02 The Formal Requirements of a Collective Agreement
• 1.03 The Duration of a Collective Agreement
• 1.04 The Bilateral Nature of a Collective Agreement

• 2. Interpretation of the Collective Agreement

• 2.01 Determination of Parties’ Mutual Intention
• 2.02 Onus of Proof and the Contra Proferentem Rule
• 2.03 Rules of Construction Used as Aids to Interpretation
• 2.04 Implied Terms in the Collective Agreement
• 2.05 Use of Statutes in the Interpretation and Application of the Collective Agreement
• 2.06 Past Practice, Negotiating History and Other Extrinsic Evidence
• 2.07 Estoppel
• 2.08 Stare Decisis
• 2.09 Res Judicata: Issue Estoppel and Cause of Action Estoppel (Collateral Estoppel)

• 3. The Grievance Procedure

• 3.01 The Grievance Procedure and Its Purpose
• 3.02 Types of Grievances
• 3.03 Time for Filing of Grievances
• 3.04 Grievance Hearings and Mediation
• 3.05 Misconduct During the Grievance Procedure
• 3.06 Settlement, Withdrawal and Abandonment of Grievances

• 4. Exclusive and Concurrent Jurisdiction of Arbitrators

• 4.01 Introduction
• 4.02 Statutory Versus Consensual Arbitration
• 4.03 Modern View of Collective Agreement Arbitration
• 4.04 Exclusive Arbitral Jurisdiction Model — Generally
• 4.05 Reconciling Jurisdiction of Arbitrators and the Courts
• 4.06 Reconciling Jurisdiction of Arbitrators and Other Administrative Tribunals
• 4.07 Conclusion

• 5. The Arbitration Process

• 5.01 The Arbitration and Mediation of Grievances
• 5.02 The Arbitrator
• 5.03 The Arbitrator’s Jurisdiction
• 5.04 Pre-Hearing Issues
• 5.05 Disposition of the Grievance Before the Hearing
• 5.06 The Hearing
• 5.07 Post-Hearing Matters
• 5.08 Arbitrator’s Remedial Authority
• 5.09 Enforcement of Arbitrator’s Orders
• 5.10 Challenging the Arbitrator’s Decision

• 6. Evidentiary Issues in Arbitration

• 6.01 Evidence in Grievance Arbitration: General Principles
• 6.02 The Standard of Proof and Order of Proceedings
• 6.03 Proof of Facts at Arbitration
• 6.04 Grounds for Excluding Evidence
• 6.05 Charter Objections to Admission of Evidence

• 7. Judicial Review of Arbitral Decisions

• 7.01 Statutory Authority to Judicially Review Arbitral Decisions
• 7.02 Common Law Authority to Review Arbitral Decisions
• 7.03 Standards of Review
• 7.04 Appellate Review of Judicially Reviewed Decisions
• 7.05 Procedure

PART III – MANAGEMENT RIGHTS AND INSTITUTIONAL UNION CONCERNS

• 8. Management Rights, Discretion and Workplace Policies
  • 8.01 Limits of Management Rights
  • 8.02 Employer’s Discretion and the Duty of Honest Contractual Performance
  • 8.03 Employer Rules and Policies – The KVP Test

• 9. Unions and Collective Agreements
  • 9.01 Introduction
  • 9.02 Legal Status of Unions
  • 9.03 Union as Exclusive Bargaining Agent
  • 9.04 The Union’s Duty of Fair Representation
  • 9.05 Union Security Clauses
  • 9.06 Strikes and Lockouts
  • 9.07 Union Officials—Qualities of the Position and Role

• 10. Discipline and Discharge
  • 10.01 Resignation, Abandonment or Discharge
  • 10.02 Concept of Discipline for “Just Cause”
  • 10.03 Nature and Types of Discipline
  • 10.04 Grounds for Discipline
  • 10.05 Evidence and Proof
  • 10.06 Improper Motivation for Discipline
  • 10.07 Delay in Imposing Discipline
  • 10.08 Duties of Employer
  • 10.09 Procedural Fairness: Investigation and Union Representation
  • 10.10 Variation or Substitution of Penalty

• 11. Insubordination
  • 11.01 What Is Insubordination?
  • 11.02 “Work (Obey) Now, Grieve Later” Principle
  • 11.03 Exceptions to the “Work (Obey) Now, Grieve Later” Principle
  • 11.04 Other Conduct Characterized as Insubordination
  • 11.05 Quantum of Penalty

• 12. Workplace Issues and Industrial Offences§12.01 Introduction
  • 12.02 The Obligation of an Employee to Attend Work
  • 12.03 Obligation of the Employee to Work with Diligence, Care and Honesty
  • 12.04 Harassment, Racism and Violence in the Workplace
  • 12.05 The Obligation of an Employee While Not at Work to Act in a Manner Consistent with Continued Employment

• 13. Non-culpable Termination
  • 13.01 Introduction
  • 13.02 Differences Between Culpable and Non-Culpable Conduct
  • 13.03 Incompetence
  • 13.04 Innocent Absenteeism/Incapacity
  • 13.05 Lack or Loss of Qualifications
  • 13.06 Compelling Retirement

• 14. The Bargaining Unit and its Protection
  • 14.01 Introduction
  • 14.02 Creation of the Bargaining Unit
  • 14.03 Members of the Bargaining Unit
  • 14.04 Entitlement to Benefits under Collective Agreement
  • 14.05 Bargaining Unit Work
  • 14.06 Work Assigned Outside of the Bargaining Unit
  • 14.07 Transfer and Promotion Out of the Bargaining Unit
  • 14.08 Contracting Out
  • 14.09 Contracting In
  • 14.10 Remedies for Inappropriate Work Assignments

• 15. Job Classifications, Descriptions and Postings
  • 15.01 Introduction
  • 15.02 Classification of Jobs
  • 15.03 Job Postings

• 16. Rights and Benefits of Seniority
  • 16.01 Introduction
  • 16.02 Definition and Significance of Seniority under the Collective Agreement
  • 16.03 Establishment and Maintenance of Seniority Rights
  • 16.04 Seniority and Benefits
  • 16.05 Job Qualifications and Seniority
  • 16.06 Breaks in Employment and Seniority
  • 16.07 Bumping
  • 16.08 Recall
  • 16.09 Termination of Employment

• 17. Scheduling Work and Overtime
  • 17.01 Overview
  • 17.02 Reduction in Work Opportunities
  • 17.03 Scheduling of Overtime, Extra Hours and Extra Days
  • 17.04 Variation of Days and Hours of Work
  • 17.05 Alternative Work Arrangements

• 18. Payment for Work Done
  • 18.01 Introduction
  • 18.02 Establishment of Wage Rates
  • 18.03 Protection of Wage Rates (“Red-Circling”)
  • 18.04 Alteration of Wage Rates
  • 18.05 Pyramiding

• 19. Absences from Work
  • 19.01 Introduction
  • 19.02 COVID-19 Impact on Leave Provisions
  • 19.03 Medical Absences
  • 19.04 Pregnancy, Maternity and Parental Leave
  • 19.05 Vacations
  • 19.06 Holidays
  • 19.07 Special Leave

• 20. Human Rights
  • 20.01 Arbitration as an Appropriate Forum to Address Discrimination Cases
  • 20.02 Interpretation and Application of Human Rights Concepts in Arbitration 
  • 20.03 The Accommodation Process
  • 20.04 Defences to Accommodation Claims
  • 20.05 The Roles of Those Impacted by the Accommodation Process
  • 20.06 Absenteeism and Accommodation
  • 20.07 Last Chance Agreements
  • 20.08 Automatic Termination Clauses
  • 20.09 Specific Applications of the Duty to Accommodate
  • 20.10 Remedies to Address Accommodation Shortfalls

• 21. Workplace Privacy 

• 21.01 Introduction
• 21.02 Right to Privacy under the Common Law
• 21.03 Privacy Legislation
• 21.04 Jurisdiction of the Arbitrator to Decide Privacy Issues
• 21.05 Employee-Related Privacy Concerns