Labour Relations 2012


Course Date: June 7, 2012

Course Agenda ▼

Welcome and Introduction

Sandra I. Banister, QC — Banister & Company, Vancouver
Charles G. Harrison — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

The Right to Collective Bargaining: An Update after Ontario v. Fraser

  • how courts in BC and across Canada have grappled with Ontario v. Fraser, including cases on recent Federal wage restraint legislation
  • the future of s. 2(d) cases—issues that may be litigated

Neena Sharma — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver

Charter and Collective Bargaining

  • impact of decisions to date
  • implementation challenges
  • impact on bargaining going forward

Eric J. Harris, QC — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Diane MacDonald — BC Teachers' Federation, Vancouver

Networking Break

Privilege in Labour Proceedings

  • mediation proceedings
  • advice between shop stewards and members
  • advice between labour relations staff and operations management

Jessica L. Burke — Black Gropper, Vancouver
John L. McConchie — Barrister & Solicitor, Arbitrator, Vancouver
David T. McDonald — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Lunch (on your own)

The Developing Scope of Discrimination in Employment

  • difficulties in defining discrimination
  • conflicting social policies
  • sliding spectrum of accommodation
  • issues of prima facie discrimination

Stanley N.E. Lanyon, QC — Arbitrator/Mediator, Stan Lanyon Law Corporation, Vancouver

Social Media Developments

  • social media, union organizing campaigns, and employer communications
  • what level of protection is available under labour relations legislation to communicate opinions and positions through social media?
  • a review of arbitration awards and the decisions of human rights tribunals defining the boundaries for the use of social media in the Canadian workplace
  • the approach of the US National Labour Board on the use of social media by employees
  • determining the expectation of privacy in the workplace
  • the use of social media in the workplace and future developments in the law

Carman J. Overholt, QC — Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Vancouver
Carol Whittome — Moore Edgar Lyster, Vancouver

Networking Break

Labour Law Update

  • key cases
  • analysis and trends

Delayne M. Sartison, QC — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
David W. Tarasoff — Hastings Labour Law Office, Vancouver