DIVISION IV — Collective Bargaining and Collective Agreements

Either party to a collective agreement may, within the period of four months immediately preceding the date of expiration of the term of the collective agreement, or within the longer period that may be provided for in the collective agreement, by notice, require the other party to the collective agreement to commence collective bargaining for the purpose of renewing or revising the collective agreement or entering into a new collective agreement.

Idem

Where a collective agreement provides that any provision of the collective agreement may be revised during the term of the collective agreement, a party entitled to do so by the collective agreement may, by notice, require the other party to commence collective bargaining for the purpose of revising the provision.

In this section and sections 52 to 55, technological change means

Application of sections 52, 54 and 55

Sections 52, 54 and 55 do not apply, in respect of a technological change, to an employer and a bargaining agent who are bound by a collective agreement where

An employer who is bound by a collective agreement and who proposes to effect a technological change that is likely to affect the terms and conditions or security of employment of a significant number of the employer’s employees to whom the collective agreement applies shall give notice of the technological change to the bargaining agent bound by the collective agreement at least one hundred and twenty days prior to the date on which the technological change is to be effected.

Contents of notice

The notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be in writing and shall state

Details of proposed change

An employer who has given notice under subsection (1) to a bargaining agent shall, on request from the bargaining agent, provide the bargaining agent with a statement in writing setting out

Regulations of Governor in Council

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Board, may make regulations

Where a bargaining agent alleges that sections 52, 54 and 55 apply to an employer in respect of an alleged technological change and that the employer has failed to comply with section 52, the bargaining agent may, not later than thirty days after the bargaining agent became aware, or in the opinion of the Board ought to have become aware, of the failure of the employer to comply with section 52, apply to the Board for an order determining the matters so alleged.

Order respecting technological change

On receipt of an application for an order determining the matters alleged under subsection (1) and after affording an opportunity for the parties to make representations, the Board may, by order,

Idem

The Board may, in any order made under paragraph (2)(b), or by order made after consultation with the parties pending the making of any order under subsection (2),

Order deemed notice

An order of the Board made under paragraph (2)(b) in respect of an employer is deemed to be a notice of technological change given by the employer pursuant to section 52, and the Board shall concurrently, by order, grant leave to the bargaining agent to serve on the employer a notice to commence collective bargaining for the purpose referred to in subsection 54(1).

Where a bargaining agent receives notice of a technological change pursuant to section 52, the bargaining agent may, in order to assist the employees affected by the change to adjust to the effects of the change, apply to the Board, within thirty days after the date on which it receives the notice, for an order granting leave to serve on the employer a notice to commence collective bargaining for the purpose of

Order to serve notice to bargain

Where the Board has received from a bargaining agent an application for an order under subsection (1), and it is satisfied that the technological change in respect of which the bargaining agent has received notice given pursuant to section 52 is likely, substantially and adversely, to affect the terms and conditions or security of employment of a significant number of employees to whom the collective agreement between the bargaining agent and the employer applies, the Board may, by order, grant leave to the bargaining agent to serve on the employer a notice to commence collective bargaining for the purpose referred to in subsection (1).

Every collective agreement shall contain a provision for final settlement without stoppage of work, by arbitration or otherwise, of all differences between the parties to or employees bound by the collective agreement, concerning its interpretation, application, administration or alleged contravention.

Where arbitrator to be appointed

Where any difference arises between parties to a collective agreement that does not contain a provision for final settlement of the difference as required by subsection (1), the difference shall, notwithstanding any provision of the collective agreement, be submitted by the parties for final settlement

Idem

Where any difference arises between parties to a collective agreement that contains a provision for final settlement of the difference by an arbitration board and either party fails to name its nominee to the board in accordance with the collective agreement, the difference shall, notwithstanding any provision in the collective agreement, be submitted by the parties for final settlement to an arbitrator in accordance with paragraphs (2)(a) and (b).

Request to Minister for appointment of arbitrator or arbitration board chairperson

Where a collective agreement provides for final settlement, without stoppage of work, of differences described in subsection (1) by an arbitrator or arbitration board and the parties or their nominees are unable to agree on the selection of an arbitrator or arbitration board chairperson, as the case may be, either party or its nominee may, notwithstanding anything in the collective agreement, make a written request to the Minister to appoint an arbitrator or arbitration board chairperson, as the case may be.

Appointment by Minister

On receipt of a written request under subsection (4), the Minister shall, after such inquiry, if any, as the Minister considers necessary, appoint an arbitrator or arbitration board chairperson, as the case may be.

Effect of appointment by Minister

Any person appointed or selected pursuant to subsection (2), (3) or (5) as an arbitrator or arbitration board chairperson shall be deemed, for all purposes of this Part, to have been appointed pursuant to the collective agreement between the parties.

Every order or decision of an arbitrator or arbitration board is final and shall not be questioned or reviewed in any court.

No review by certiorari, etc.

No order shall be made, process entered or proceeding taken in any court, whether by way of injunction, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto or otherwise, to question, review, prohibit or restrain an arbitrator or arbitration board in any of their proceedings under this Part.

Status

For the purposes of the Federal Courts Act, an arbitrator appointed pursuant to a collective agreement or an arbitration board is not a federal board, commission or other tribunal within the meaning of that Act.

An arbitrator or arbitration board has

Power to extend time

The arbitrator or arbitration board may extend the time for taking any step in the grievance process or arbitration procedure set out in a collective agreement, even after the expiration of the time, if the arbitrator or arbitration board is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the extension and that the other party would not be unduly prejudiced by the extension.

Power to mediate

At any stage of a proceeding before an arbitrator or arbitration board, the arbitrator or arbitration board may, if the parties agree, assist the parties in resolving the difference at issue without prejudice to the power of the arbitrator or arbitration board to continue the arbitration with respect to the issues that have not been resolved.

Idem

Where an arbitrator or arbitration board determines that an employee has been discharged or disciplined by an employer for cause and the collective agreement does not contain a specific penalty for the infraction that is the subject of the arbitration, the arbitrator or arbitration board has power to substitute for the discharge or discipline such other penalty as to the arbitrator or arbitration board seems just and reasonable in the circumstances.

Every order or decision of an arbitrator or arbitration board shall be made or given within sixty days after, in the case of an arbitrator, their appointment as arbitrator, and, in the case of an arbitration board, the appointment of the arbitration board chairperson, unless

Days not included

For the purposes of subsection (1), any day that is included in a period for which the arbitration proceedings are suspended pursuant to subsection 65(2) shall not be counted as one of the sixty days referred to in subsection (1).

Late order or decision not invalid

The failure of an arbitrator or arbitration board to make or give any order or decision within the sixty days referred to in subsection (1) does not affect the jurisdiction of the arbitrator or arbitration board to continue with and complete the arbitration proceedings and any order or decision made or given by the arbitrator or arbitration board after the expiration of those sixty days is not for that reason invalid.

Where any question arises in connection with a matter that has been referred to an arbitrator or arbitration board, relating to the existence of a collective agreement or the identification of the parties or employees bound by a collective agreement, the arbitrator or arbitration board, the Minister or any alleged party may refer the question to the Board for determination.

Arbitration proceeding not suspended

The referral of any question to the Board pursuant to subsection (1) shall not operate to suspend any proceeding before an arbitrator or arbitration board unless the arbitrator or arbitration board decides that the nature of the question warrants a suspension of the proceeding or the Board directs the suspension of the proceeding.

Any person or organization affected by any order or decision of an arbitrator or arbitration board may, after fourteen days from the date on which the order or decision is made or given, or from the date provided in it for compliance, whichever is the later date, file in the Federal Court a copy of the order or decision, exclusive of the reasons therefor.

Idem

On filing an order or decision of an arbitrator or arbitration board in the Federal Court under subsection (1), the order or decision shall be registered in the Court and, when registered, has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken thereon, as if the order or decision were a judgment obtained in the Court.

Where a collective agreement contains no provision as to its term or is for a term of less than one year, the collective agreement shall be deemed to be for a term of one year from the date on which it comes into force and shall not, except as provided by subsection 36(2) or with the consent of the Board, be terminated by the parties thereto within that term of one year.

Revision of collective agreement

Nothing in this Part prohibits the parties to a collective agreement from agreeing to a revision of any provision of the collective agreement other than a provision relating to the term of the collective agreement.

Board may order alteration of termination date

The Board may, on application made jointly by both parties to a collective agreement, order that the termination date of the collective agreement be altered for the purpose of establishing a common termination date for two or more collective agreements binding a single employer.

Provision for settlement of differences to remain in force

Notwithstanding anything contained in a collective agreement, the provision required to be contained therein by subsection 57(1) shall remain in force after the termination of the collective agreement and until the requirements of paragraphs 89(1)(a) to (d) have been met.

Power of arbitrator where agreement terminates

Where a difference between the parties to a collective agreement relating to a provision contained in the collective agreement arises during the period from the date of its termination to the date the requirements of paragraphs 89(1)(a) to (d) have been met,

Powers of arbitrator when conditions of paragraphs 89(1)(a) to (d) have been met

Where a disagreement concerning the dismissal or discipline of an employee in the bargaining unit arises during the period that begins on the date on which the requirements of paragraphs 89(1)(a) to (d) are met and ends on the date on which a new or revised collective agreement is entered into, the bargaining agent may submit the disagreement for final settlement in accordance with the provisions for the settlement of differences contained in the previous collective agreement. The relevant provisions in the collective agreement and sections 57 to 66 apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to the settlement of the disagreement.

Revision of term

Despite subsection (2), if a notice to bargain referred to in subsection 65.12(1) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act has been served, the parties may agree to revise the term of the collective agreement without approval of the Board.

Revision of term

Despite subsection (2), if a notice to bargain referred to in subsection 33(2) of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act has been served, the parties may agree to revise the term of the collective agreement without approval of the Board.

In this section, referral includes assignment, designation, dispatching, scheduling and selection.

Operation of hiring halls

Where, pursuant to a collective agreement, a trade union is engaged in the referral of persons to employment, it shall establish rules for the purpose of making such referrals and apply those rules fairly and without discrimination.

Posting of rules

Rules applied by a trade union pursuant to subsection (2) shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place in every area of premises occupied by the trade union in which persons seeking referral normally gather.

Where a trade union that is the bargaining agent for employees in a bargaining unit so requests, there shall be included in the collective agreement between the trade union and the employer of the employees a provision requiring the employer to deduct from the wages of each employee in the unit affected by the collective agreement, whether or not the employee is a member of the union, the amount of the regular union dues and to remit the amount to the trade union forthwith.

Religious objections

Where the Board is satisfied that an employee, because of their religious conviction or beliefs, objects to joining a trade union or to paying regular union dues to a trade union, the Board may order that the provision in a collective agreement requiring, as a condition of employment, membership in a trade union or requiring the payment of regular union dues to a trade union does not apply to that employee so long as an amount equal to the amount of the regular union dues is paid by the employee, either directly or by way of deduction from their wages, to a registered charity mutually agreed on by the employee and the trade union.

Designation by Board

Where an employee and the trade union are unable to agree on a registered charity for the purposes of subsection (2), the Board may designate any such charity as the charity to which payment should be made.

Definitions

In this section,