BC Hydro’s Mandatory Vaccine Policy was Reasonable, but Threat of Discipline was Not
Taylor Topliss Summary A recent arbitration decision, BC Hydro and Power Authority v International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 258, 2022 CanLII 25764 (BC LA), determined that BC Hydro’s mandatory vaccine policy was reasonable but the threat of discipline against…
B.C. Government Re-Introduces Automatic Union Certification
Negina Khalil On April 6, 2022, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 10 to amend the Labour Relations Code (the “Code”). The proposed changes to the Code will re-introduce a single-step certification process which enables unions to be certified,…
The Minimum Wage in British Columbia Will Increase on June 1, 2022
Taylor ToplissThe minimum wage in British Columbia will increase from $15.20 to $15.65 as of June 1, 2022. The BC Provincial Government calculated the increase based on a 2.8% average inflation rate. It appears the current provincial government intends to…
Ontario Labour Relations Board held Union Acted Properly in Representing Unvaccinated Healthcare Employees
Negina Khalil Ontario’s labour legislation, like British Columbia’s, provides an opportunity for union members to bring complaints against their union to the Labour Relations Board asserting that the union did not properly represent their interests. On January 10, 2022, the Ontario…
Surreptitious Recording of a Co-Worker was Just Cause for Dismissal
Taylor Topliss Summary In Shalagin v Mercer Celgar Limited Partnership, 2022 BCSC 112, the BC Supreme Court dismissed an employee’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit on the basis that the employee’s secret recordings of his co-workers was just cause for his termination…
Union Application for Stay of Mandatory Vaccination Policy Denied
Negina Khalil On January 12, 2022, Arbitrator Randall Noonan issued a decision denying an application by the International Association of Professional Firefighters to stay the implementation of a mandatory vaccination policy (the “Policy”) by the City of Richmond (the “Employer”)….
Mandatory Vaccine Policies: Ontario Arbitrators Weigh In
Elizabeth Lotfali Two Ontario Labour Arbitrators recently heard grievances from unions claiming the Employers’ mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies were a violation of the respective collective agreements. In one case, the grievance was dismissed. In the other, the grievance was upheld. While these decisions come out of Ontario, they provide insight…
Five paid sick days introduced under the Employment Standards Act of British Columbia
Elizabeth Lotfali The Province, after consulting with workers and employers across British Columbia, has legislated five paid sick days for employees regulated by the Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”).[1] Effective January 1, 2022, employees can take up to five days…
British Columbia’s Mandatory Vaccination for Non-Essential Services
Lianna ChangBritish Columbia’s Public Health Officer recently announced proof of vaccination requirements in order to access certain non-essential events, services and business. The proof of vaccination requirements applies to all people in British Columbia who are 12+ years old.Key Dates…
Transitioning from COVID-19 Safety Plans to Communicable Disease Prevention in the Workplace
Kris Liset On July 1st, 2021, B.C. progressed to Step 3 of the Province’s Restart Plan. Employers are no longer required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan pursuant to WorkSafeBC requirements. Instead, employers can transition to developing a Communicable Disease…