Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.
Application of Act
Subject to this Act, this Act applies to and in respect of every person employed by, and applies to and in respect of,
the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, office of the Senate Ethics Officer, office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Parliamentary Protective Service or office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and
a Member of Parliament who, in that capacity, employs that person or has the direction or control of staff employed to provide research or associated services to the caucus members of a political party represented in Parliament,
and, except as provided in this Act, nothing in any other Act of Parliament that provides for matters similar to those provided for under this Act and nothing done thereunder, whether before or after the coming into force of this section, shall apply to or in respect of or have any force or effect in relation to the institutions and persons described in this section.
For greater certainty, a person who is referred to in section 2 and who is not entitled to present a grievance under section 62 may file a complaint under subsection 94(1) of the Accessible Canada Act with respect to a contravention of an applicable provision of regulations made under subsection 117(1) of that Act if the person has suffered physical or psychological harm, property damage or economic loss as a result of — or has otherwise been adversely affected by — that contravention.
Staff Relations
Interpretation
In this Part,
adjudicator means, subject to subsection 66(4), a member of the Board assigned to hear and determine a grievance referred to adjudication and includes, where the context permits, a board of adjudication established under section 65 and an adjudicator named in a collective agreement for the purposes of that agreement; (arbitre)
arbitral award means an award made by the Board or an arbitrator appointed under section 49 in respect of a dispute; (décision arbitrale)
bargaining agent means an employee organization
that has been certified by the Board as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, and
the certification of which has not been revoked; (agent négociateur)
bargaining unit means a group of two or more employees that is determined, in accordance with this Part, to constitute a unit of employees appropriate for collective bargaining; (unité de négociation)
Board means the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board referred to in subsection 4(1) of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act; (Commission)
Chairman[Repealed, 2003, c. 22, s. 182]
Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Board; (président)
collective agreement means an agreement in writing entered into under this Part between an employer, on the one hand, and a bargaining agent, on the other hand, containing provisions respecting terms and conditions of employment and related matters; (convention collective)
conciliator means a person appointed by the Chairperson under section 40 to assist the parties to collective bargaining in reaching agreement; (conciliateur)
Deputy Chairman[Repealed, 2003, c. 22, s. 182]
dispute means a dispute or difference arising in connection with the conclusion, renewal or revision of a collective agreement, in respect of which arbitration is requested pursuant to section 50; (différend)
employee means a person employed by an employer, other than
a person appointed by the Governor in Council,
a person not ordinarily required to work more than seven hundred hours in a calendar year or one-third of the normal period for persons doing similar work, whichever is greater,
a person employed on a casual or temporary basis, unless the person has been so employed for a period of six months or more,
a person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity, or
a person excluded from the application of this Part by section 4,
and for the purposes of this definition a person does not cease to be employed by an employer by reason only of the person’s discharge contrary to this Part or any other Act of Parliament; (employé)
employee organization means any organization of employees the purposes of which include the regulation of relations between an employer and its employees for the purposes of this Part and includes, unless the context otherwise requires, a council of employee organizations; (organisation syndicale)
employer means
the Senate as represented by such committee or person as the Senate by its rules or orders designates for the purposes of this Part,
the House of Commons as represented by such committee or person as the House of Commons by its orders designates for the purposes of this Part,
the Library of Parliament as represented by the Parliamentary Librarian acting, subject to subsection 74(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, on behalf of both Houses of Parliament,
the office of the Senate Ethics Officer as represented by the Ethics Officer,
the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as represented by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner,
the Parliamentary Protective Service as represented by the Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service on behalf of the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, or
the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer as represented by the Parliamentary Budget Officer; (employeur)
grievance means a complaint in writing presented in accordance with this Part by an employee on his own behalf or on behalf of the employee and one or more other employees, except that
for the purposes of any of the provisions of this Part respecting grievances, a reference to an “employee” includes a person who would be an employee but for the fact that the person is a person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity, and
for the purposes of any of the provisions of this Part respecting grievances with respect to action resulting in termination or suspension, a reference to an “employee” includes a former employee or a person who would be a former employee but for the fact that at the time of the person’s termination or suspension, the person was a person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity; (grief)
member, in respect of a member of the Board, includes a full-time member and a part-time member; (commissaire)
parties means
in relation to collective bargaining, arbitration or a dispute, an employer and a bargaining agent, and
in relation to a grievance, an employer and the employee who presented the grievance; (parties)
person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity means any person who
is employed in a position confidential to the person occupying the recognized position of Speaker of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Commons, Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Commons, Administrator of the House of Commons, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms or Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of either House,
is employed as parliamentary counsel in either House or as legal counsel to a committee of either or both Houses, or
is employed by an employer and, in connection with an application for certification of a bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, is designated by the Board, or, in any case where a bargaining agent for a bargaining unit has been certified by the Board, is designated in prescribed manner by the employer or by the Board on objection thereto by the bargaining agent, to be a person
who has executive duties and responsibilities in relation to the development and administration of employer programs,
whose duties include those of a personnel administrator or who has duties that cause the person to be directly involved in the process of collective bargaining on behalf of the employer,
who is required by reason of the duties and responsibilities of that person to deal formally on behalf of the employer with a grievance presented in accordance with the grievance process provided by this Part,
prescribed means prescribed by regulation of the Board; (règlement et réglementaire)
strike includes a cessation of work or a refusal to work or to continue to work by employees in combination or in concert or in accordance with a common understanding, or a slow-down of work or other concerted activity on the part of employees designed to restrict or limit output; (grève)
Vice-Chairman[Repealed, 2003, c. 22, s. 182]
Vice-Chairperson means a Vice-Chairperson of the Board. (vice-président)
General
Application
Nothing in this Part abrogates or derogates from any of the privileges, immunities and powers referred to in section 4 of the Parliament of Canada Act.
This Part does not apply to or in respect of
the staff of any member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada holding the office of a minister of the Crown;
the staff of the member of the Senate occupying the recognized position of
Leader of the Government in the Senate,
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate,
Government Whip in the Senate, or
Opposition Whip in the Senate;
the staff of the member of the House of Commons occupying the recognized position of
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons,
Chief Government Whip in the House of Commons, or
Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Commons;
the staff of the member of the House of Commons occupying the recognized position of Leader or Whip of a party that has a recognized membership of twelve or more persons in the House of Commons;
the staff of any other individual Member of Parliament;
the staff employed to provide research or associated services to the caucus members of a political party represented in Parliament; or
persons employed on a temporary basis by a committee of one or both Houses of Parliament.
Rights
The purpose of this Part is to provide to certain persons employed in Parliamentary service collective bargaining and other rights in respect of their employment.
Every employee may be a member of an employee organization and may participate in the lawful activities of the employee organization of which the employee is a member.
Nothing in this Part shall be construed to affect the right or authority of an employer to determine the organization of the employer and to assign duties and classify positions of employment.
Prohibitions
No person who is employed in a managerial or confidential capacity, whether or not the person is acting on behalf of the employer, shall participate in or interfere with the formation or administration of an employee organization or the representation of employees by such an organization.
Subject to subsection (3), no person shall
refuse to employ, continue to employ or otherwise discriminate against any person in regard to employment or to any term or condition of employment, because the person is a member of an employee organization or was or is exercising any right under this Part;
impose any condition on an appointment or in a contract of employment, or propose the imposition of any condition on an appointment or in a contract of employment, that seeks to restrain an employee or a person seeking employment from becoming a member of an employee organization or exercising any right under this Part; or
seek by intimidation, by threat of dismissal, or by any other kind of threat, or by the imposition of a pecuniary or any other penalty or by any other means to compel an employee
to become, refrain from becoming or cease to be, or, except as otherwise provided in a collective agreement, to continue to be, a member of an employee organization, or
to refrain from exercising any other right under this Part.
No person shall be deemed to have contravened subsection (2) by reason of any act or thing done or omitted in relation to a person employed, or proposed to be employed, in a managerial or confidential capacity.
Except in accordance with this Part or any regulation, collective agreement or arbitral award, no person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity, whether or not the person acts on behalf of an employer, shall discriminate against an employee organization.
Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed to prevent a person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity from receiving representations from, or holding discussions with, the representatives of any employee organization.
Except with the consent of the employer affected, no officer or representative of an employee organization shall attempt, on the employer’s premises during the working hours of an employee, to persuade the employee to become, refrain from becoming, continue to be or to cease to be a member of an employee organization.
Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board
Application of Certain Acts
Unless otherwise provided in this Part, the provisions of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act respecting the Board apply also in respect of this Part except that, for the purpose of that application,
a reference to either of those Acts in any of those provisions shall be read as a reference to this Part; and
words and expressions used in those provisions that are defined by this Part shall have the meaning given to them by this Part.
Powers, Duties and Functions
The Board shall administer this Part and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions that are conferred or imposed on it by, or are incidental to the attainment of the objects of, this Part including the making of orders requiring compliance with this Part, with any regulation made under this Part or with any decision made in respect of a matter coming before the Board under this Part.
[Repealed]
The Board may make regulations of general application respecting
the manner in which persons shall be designated by an employer, or by the Board on objection thereto by a bargaining agent, to be persons described in subparagraphs (c)(i) to (v) of the definition person employed in a managerial or confidential capacity in section 3;
the determination of units of employees appropriate for collective bargaining;
the certification of bargaining agents for bargaining units;
the hearing or determination of any matter relating to or arising out of the revocation of certification of a bargaining agent, including the rights and privileges that have accrued to and are retained by any employee notwithstanding the revocation;
the rights, privileges and duties that are acquired or retained by an employee organization in respect of a bargaining unit or any employee included in the unit where there is any merger, amalgamation or transfer of jurisdiction between two or more such organizations;
the establishment of rules of procedure for the hearings of an adjudicator;
[Repealed]
the circumstances in which evidence as to membership of employees in an employee organization may be received by the Board as evidence that any employees wish or do not wish to have that employee organization represent them as their bargaining agent;
[Repealed]
the authority vested in a council of employee organizations that shall be considered appropriate authority within the meaning of paragraph 19(2)(b); and
any other matter that is incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects of this Part.
Regulations of general application made under subsection (1) have effect on publication in the Canada Gazette.
The Board shall examine and inquire into any complaint made to it that an employer or an employee organization, or any person acting on behalf of an employer or employee organization, has failed
to give effect to any provision of an arbitral award;
to give effect to a decision of an adjudicator with respect to a grievance; or
to comply with any regulation respecting grievances made by the Board pursuant to section 71.
Where under subsection (1) the Board determines that any person has failed to observe any prohibition, to give effect to any provision or decision or to comply with any regulation as described in that subsection, it may make an order, addressed to that person, directing the person to observe the prohibition, give effect to the provision or decision or comply with the regulation, as the case may be, or take such action as may be required in that behalf within such specified period as the Board may consider appropriate and,
where that person has acted or purported to act on behalf of an employer, it shall direct its order as well to the employer; and
where that person has acted or purported to act on behalf of an employee organization, it shall direct its order as well to the chief officer of that employee organization.
Where any order made under section 13 directs some action to be taken and is not complied with within the period specified in the order for the taking of that action, the Board shall cause a copy of its order, a report of the circumstances and all documents relevant thereto to be laid before each House of Parliament within fifteen days after the expiration of the period or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the first fifteen days next thereafter on which that House is sitting.
The Board has, in relation to the hearing or determination of any proceeding before it, power
[Repealed]
to require an employer to post and keep posted in appropriate places any notices that the Board deems necessary to bring to the attention of any employees any matter or proceeding before the Board;
to enter on the premises of an employer for the purpose of conducting representation votes during working hours; and
Where under this Part the Board may make or issue any order or direction, prescribe any term or condition or do any other thing in relation to any person, the Board may do so, either generally or in any particular case or class of cases.
Subject to subsection (2), the Board may review, rescind, amend, alter or vary any decision or order made by it, or may re-hear any application before making an order in respect thereof.
Any rights acquired by virtue of any decision or order that is reviewed, rescinded, amended, altered or varied pursuant to subsection (1) shall not be altered or extinguished with effect from a day earlier than the day on which the review, rescission, amendment, alteration or variation is made.
Collective Bargaining and Collective Agreements
Certification of Bargaining Agents
Application for Certification
An employee organization seeking to be certified as bargaining agent for a group of employees that it considers constitutes a unit of employees appropriate for collective bargaining may, subject to section 21, apply in the manner prescribed to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for the proposed bargaining unit.
The Board may certify a council of employee organizations as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit where the Board is satisfied that
the requirements for certification established by this Part are met; and
each of the employee organizations forming the council has vested appropriate authority in the council to enable it to discharge the duties and responsibilities of a bargaining agent.
A council of employee organizations shall, for all purposes of this Part except subsection 19(2), be deemed to be an employee organization, and membership in any employee organization that is part of a council of employee organizations shall for the same purposes be deemed to be membership in the council.
When Application for Certification may be Made
Where a collective agreement or an arbitral award is in force and is for a term of not more than two years, an employee organization may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for any of the employees in the bargaining unit to which the agreement or award applies only after the commencement of the last two months of its operation.
Where a collective agreement or an arbitral award is in force and is for a term of more than two years, an employee organization may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for any of the employees in the bargaining unit to which the agreement or award applies only
after the commencement of the twenty-third month of its operation and before the commencement of the twenty-fifth month of its operation;
during the two month period immediately preceding the end of each year that the agreement or award continues to operate after the second year of its operation; or
after the commencement of the last two months of its operation.
Where a collective agreement referred to in subsection (1) or (2) provides that it will continue to operate after the term specified therein for a further term or successive terms if either party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of its desire to bargain with a view to the renewal, with or without modifications, of the collective agreement, an employee organization may apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for any of the employees in the bargaining unit to whom the collective agreement applies at any time permitted by subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, or during the two month period immediately preceding the end of each year that the collective agreement continues to operate after the term specified therein.
Where no collective agreement or arbitral award in respect of a bargaining unit is in force but an employee organization has been certified as bargaining agent for any of the employees in the bargaining unit, an employee organization may, after the expiration of twelve months from the date of that certification or, with the consent of the Board, at an earlier time, apply to the Board for certification as bargaining agent for any of the employees in the bargaining unit.
Where an application for certification of an employee organization as bargaining agent for a proposed bargaining unit has been refused by the Board, the Board shall not certify the employee organization as bargaining agent for the same or substantially the same proposed bargaining unit until at least six months have elapsed from the day on which the Board last refused certification, unless the Board is satisfied that the previous application was refused by reason only of a technical error or omission made in connection therewith.
Determination of Appropriate Bargaining Units
Where an employee organization has made application to the Board for certification as described in section 18, the Board shall determine the relevant group of employees that constitutes a unit appropriate for collective bargaining.
In determining whether a group of employees constitutes a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, the Board shall take into account, having regard to the proper functioning of this Part, the duties and classification of the employees in the proposed bargaining unit in relation to any plan of classification as it may apply to the employees in the proposed bargaining unit.
For the purposes of this Part, a unit of employees may be determined by the Board to constitute a unit appropriate for collective bargaining whether or not its composition is identical with the group of employees in respect of which application for certification was made.
Where, at any time following the determination by the Board of a group of employees to constitute a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, any question arises as to whether any employee or class of employees is or is not included therein or is included in any other unit, the Board shall, on application by the employer or any employee organization affected, determine the question.
Certification
The Board shall, subject to this Part, certify an employee organization as bargaining agent for the employees in a bargaining unit if the Board
has received from the employee organization an application for certification as the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit in accordance with this Part;
has determined the group of employees that constitutes a unit appropriate for collective bargaining in accordance with section 23;
is satisfied that a majority of employees in the bargaining unit wish the employee organization to represent them as their bargaining agent; and
is satisfied that the persons representing the employee organization in the making of the application have been duly authorized to make the application.
examine, in accordance with any regulations that may be made by the Board in that behalf, such evidence as is submitted to it respecting membership of the employees in the proposed bargaining unit in the employee organization seeking certification;
make or cause to be made such examination of records or make such inquiries as it deems necessary; and
examine documents forming or relating to the constitution or articles of association of the employee organization seeking certification.
For the purpose of satisfying itself under paragraph 25(c) that a majority of employees in the bargaining unit wish the employee organization to represent them as their bargaining agent, the Board, in its sole discretion, may direct that a representation vote be taken among the employees in the bargaining unit.
If, under subsection (2), the Board directs that a representation vote be taken, the Board shall
determine the employees that are eligible to vote; and
make such arrangements and give such directions as it deems requisite for the proper conduct of the representation vote including the preparation of ballots, the method of casting and counting ballots and the custody and sealing of ballot boxes.
[Repealed]
Where Certification Prohibited
The Board shall not certify as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit any employee organization in the formation or administration of which there has been or is, in the opinion of the Board, participation by the employer affected or any person acting on behalf of the employer of such a nature as to impair its fitness to represent the interests of employees in the bargaining unit.
The Board shall not certify as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit any employee organization that
receives from any of its members who are employees,
handles or pays in its own name on behalf of members who are employees, or
requires as a condition of membership therein the payment by any of its members of
any money for activities carried on by or on behalf of any political party.
The Board shall not certify as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit any employee organization that discriminates against any employee because of sex, race, national origin, colour or religion.
Effect of Certification
Where an employee organization is certified under this Part as the bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, the employee organization has the exclusive right under this Part
to bargain collectively on behalf of employees in the bargaining unit and to bind them by a collective agreement until its certification in respect of the bargaining unit is revoked; and
to represent, in accordance with this Part, an employee in the presentation or reference to adjudication of a grievance relating to the interpretation or application of a collective agreement or arbitral award applying to the bargaining unit to which the employee belongs.
Where an employee organization is certified under this Part as the bargaining agent for a bargaining unit and another employee organization had been previously certified as bargaining agent in respect of employees in the bargaining unit, the certification of the previously certified bargaining agent is thereupon revoked in respect of those employees.
Where an employee organization is certified under this Part as the bargaining agent for a bargaining unit and at the time of certification, a collective agreement or arbitral award binding on the employees in the bargaining unit is in force, the employee organization
shall be substituted as a party to the agreement or award in place of the bargaining agent that had been a party thereto; and
may, notwithstanding anything contained in the agreement or award, terminate the agreement or award, in so far as it applies to the employees in the bargaining unit, on two months notice to the employer affected given within one month from the certification.
In any case where subsection (2) or (3) applies, any question as to any right or duty of the previous bargaining agent or the new bargaining agent arising by reason of the application of that subsection shall, on application by the employer affected or the previous or the new bargaining agent, be determined by the Board.
Revocations of Certification
On Application
If a collective agreement or an arbitral award is in force in respect of a bargaining unit, any person claiming to represent a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit may, in accordance with subsection (2), apply to the Board for a declaration that the employee organization certified as bargaining agent for that bargaining unit no longer represents a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit.
An application under subsection (1) may be made
where the collective agreement or arbitral award is for a term of not more than two years, only after the commencement of the last two months of its operation;
where the collective agreement or arbitral award is for a term of more than two years, only after the commencement of the twenty-third month of its operation and before the commencement of the twenty-fifth month of its operation, during the two month period immediately preceding the end of each year that it continues to operate after the second year of its operation, or after the commencement of the last two months of its operation, as the case may be; and
where the collective agreement provides that it will continue to operate after the term specified therein for a further term or successive terms if either party fails to give to the other notice of termination or of its desire to bargain with a view to the renewal, with or without modifications, of the agreement or with a view to the making of a new collective agreement, at any time permitted by paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, or during the two month period immediately preceding the end of each year that the agreement continues to operate after the term specified therein.
If no collective agreement or arbitral award is in force in respect of a bargaining unit, any person claiming to represent a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit may, at any time after the 12-month period following the date of certification of the bargaining agent for that bargaining unit, apply to the Board for a declaration that the employee organization certified as bargaining agent for that bargaining unit no longer represents a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit.
On an application under subsection (1) or (3), the Board in its sole discretion may direct the taking of a representation vote to determine whether a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit no longer wish to be represented by the employee organization that is the bargaining agent for that bargaining unit, and in relation to the taking of such a vote the provisions of subsection 26(3) apply.
After hearing any application under subsection (1) or (3), the Board shall revoke the certification of an employee organization as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit if the Board is satisfied that a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit no longer wish to be represented by the employee organization.
For Abandonment or Other Cause
The Board shall revoke the certification of a bargaining agent where the bargaining agent advises the Board that it wishes to give up or abandon its certification or where the Board, on application by the employer or any employee affected, determines that the bargaining agent has ceased to act as bargaining agent.
Where the Board, on application to it by the employer or employee, determines that a bargaining agent would not, if it were an employee organization applying for certification, be certified by the Board by reason of a prohibition contained in section 27, the Board shall revoke the certification of the bargaining agent.
For Fraud
Where at any time the Board is satisfied that an employee organization has obtained certification as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit by fraud, the Board shall revoke the certification of the employee organization.
An employee organization the certification of which is revoked pursuant to subsection (1) is not entitled to claim any right or privilege flowing from that certification, and any collective agreement or arbitral award applying to the bargaining unit for which it was certified, to which the employee organization was a party, is void.
Revocation of Certification of Council
Where an employee organization that is a council of employee organizations has been certified as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, the Board, on application to it by the employer affected or an employee organization that forms or has formed part of the council, shall revoke the certification of the council where it determines that the council no longer meets the additional requirements for certification required for a council of employee organizations by subsection 19(2) by reason of an alteration in the constituent membership of the council or any other circumstance.
Effect of Revocation: Rights of Employee Organizations and Employees
Where, at the time the certification of a bargaining agent for a bargaining unit is revoked, a collective agreement or arbitral award binding on the employees in that bargaining unit is in force, the agreement or award shall thereupon cease to be in effect, except where another employee organization is substituted as a party to the agreement or award on the revocation of that certification.
Where the certification of a bargaining agent for a bargaining unit is revoked by the Board pursuant to section 29, 30 or 32, any question as to any right or duty of that bargaining agent or of any new bargaining agent replacing it shall, on application by either organization, be determined by the Board.
Where the certification of a bargaining agent for a bargaining unit is revoked by the Board pursuant to section 29, 30, 31 or 32 and as a result thereof a collective agreement or arbitral award binding on the employees in the bargaining unit ceases to be in effect or a collective agreement or arbitral award applying to the bargaining unit is void, the Board shall, on application to it by or on behalf of any employee and in accordance with any regulations made by it in respect thereof, direct the manner in which any right acquired by, or determined by the Board to have accrued to, an employee that is affected by the revocation is to be recognized and given effect to.
Successor Rights
Where, on a merger or an amalgamation of employee organizations or a transfer of jurisdiction among employee organizations otherwise than as a result of revocation of certification, any question arises concerning the rights, privileges and duties of an employee organization under this Part or under a collective agreement or arbitral award in respect of a bargaining unit or an employee therein, the Board, on application to it by any employee organization affected, shall examine the question and may, in accordance with any regulations made by it in respect thereof, declare or determine what rights, privileges and duties, if any, have been acquired or are retained, as the case may be, by that employee organization.
Negotiation of Collective Agreements
Notice to Bargain Collectively
Where the Board has certified an employee organization as bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, the bargaining agent, on behalf of the employees in the bargaining unit, may require the employer affected or the employer may require the bargaining agent, by notice in writing given in accordance with subsection (2), to commence bargaining collectively, with a view to the conclusion of a collective agreement.
Notice to bargain collectively may be given
where no collective agreement or arbitral award is in force and no request for arbitration has been made by either of the parties in accordance with this Part, at any time; and
where a collective agreement or arbitral award is in force, within the period of two months before the agreement or award ceases to operate.
Where Notice Given
Where notice to bargain collectively has been given, the bargaining agent and the officers designated to represent the employer affected shall, without delay, but in any case within twenty days after the notice was given or within such further time as the parties may agree, meet and commence to bargain collectively in good faith and make every reasonable effort to conclude a collective agreement.
Where notice to bargain collectively has been given, any term or condition of employment applicable to the employees in the bargaining unit in respect of which the notice was given that may be embodied in a collective agreement and that was in force on the day the notice was given shall remain in force and shall be observed by the employer affected, the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit and the employees in the bargaining unit, except as otherwise provided by any agreement in that behalf that may be entered into by the employer and the bargaining agent, until such time as
a collective agreement has been entered into by the parties and no request for arbitration in respect of that term or condition of employment, or in respect of any term or condition of employment proposed to be substituted therefor, has been made in the manner and within the time prescribed therefor by this Part; or
a request for arbitration in respect of that term or condition of employment, or in respect of any term or condition of employment proposed to be substituted therefor, has been made in accordance with this Part and a collective agreement has been entered into or an arbitral award has been rendered in respect thereof.
Conciliation
Where an employer or a bargaining agent advises the Board by notice in writing of the inability of the parties to reach agreement on any term or condition of employment that may be embodied in a collective agreement and that it desires the assistance of a conciliator in reaching agreement, the Chairperson may appoint a conciliator who shall, forthwith after the appointment, confer with the parties and endeavour to assist them in reaching agreement.
A conciliator shall, within fourteen days from the date of his appointment or within such longer period as the Chairperson may determine, report his success or failure to the Chairperson.
Collective Agreements
Authority to Enter into Agreement
An employer may enter into a collective agreement with the bargaining agent for a bargaining unit applicable to employees in that bargaining unit.
Provisions of Collective Agreement
The provisions of a collective agreement shall, subject to the appropriation by or under the authority of Parliament of any moneys that may be required, be implemented by the parties
where a period within which the collective agreement is to be implemented is specified in the collective agreement, within that period; and
where no period for implementation is specified in the collective agreement, within a period of ninety days from the date of its execution or, on application by either party to the agreement, within such longer period as may appear reasonable to the Board.
No collective agreement shall provide, directly or indirectly, for the alteration or elimination of any existing term or condition of employment or the establishment of any new term or condition of employment
the alteration or elimination of which or the establishment of which, as the case may be, would require or have the effect of requiring the enactment or amendment of any legislation by Parliament, except for the purpose of appropriating moneys required for its implementation; or
that has been or after the coming into force of this Part is, as the case may be, established pursuant to the Government Employees Compensation Act or the Public Service Superannuation Act.
Duration and Effect
A collective agreement has effect in respect of a bargaining unit on and after
where an effective date is specified, that day; and
where no effective date is specified, the first day of the month next following the month in which the agreement is executed.
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 day on and after which it has effect pursuant to subsection (1).
Nothing in subsection (2) shall be construed as preventing the amendment or revision of any provision of a collective agreement, other than a provision relating to the term of the collective agreement, that, under the agreement, may be amended or revised during the term thereof.
A collective agreement is, subject to and for the purposes of this Part, binding on the employer affected, on the bargaining agent that is a party thereto and its constituent elements, and on the employees in the bargaining unit in respect of which the bargaining agent has been certified, effective on and after the day on and after which it has effect pursuant to subsection 44(1).
Provisions Applicable to Resolution of Disputes
Arbitration
The Board shall appoint two panels, one panel to consist of at least three persons representative of the interests of the employers and the other to consist of at least three persons representative of the interests of employees.
A member of a panel appointed by the Board under subsection (1) shall be appointed to hold office for such term as the Board considers appropriate.
A person is not eligible to hold office as a member of a panel if the person is not eligible to be a member of the Board or, if the person is a member of the Board, unless the person is a member of the Board pursuant to a selection under section 48.
In respect of each dispute referred to arbitration, the Board shall be deemed to consist, for the period of the arbitration proceedings and for the purposes of the arbitration only, of a member of the Board and two other persons, one each selected by the Board from each panel appointed under subsection 47(1).
A person selected by the Board from a panel under subsection (1) shall be deemed to be a member of the Board for the period of the arbitration proceedings in respect of which the person is selected.
No person shall act as a member of the Board in respect of a matter referred to arbitration if the person has at any time during the six months immediately preceding the day of the selection of that person under subsection (1) acted in respect of any matter concerning employer-employee relations as solicitor, counsel or agent of the employer affected or of any employee organization that has an interest in the matter referred to arbitration.
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, if the Chairperson considers it advisable to do so, the Chairperson may appoint an arbitrator in place of the Board in respect of any matters in dispute referred to arbitration under this Part.
A person is not eligible to be appointed as an arbitrator under subsection (1) if the person
is not eligible to be a member of the Board;
is a member of the Board or member of a panel appointed by the Board under subsection 47(1); or
is not eligible under subsection 48(3) to act as a member of the Board in respect of a matter referred to arbitration.
An arbitrator appointed under this section has all the powers of the Board set out in paragraph 15(d) of this Act and paragraphs 20(d) and (e) of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act.
Request for Arbitration
If the parties to collective bargaining have bargained collectively in good faith with a view to concluding a collective agreement but have been unable to reach agreement on any term or condition of employment of employees in the relevant bargaining unit that may be embodied in an arbitral award, either party may, by notice in writing to the Board given in accordance with subsection (2), request arbitration in respect of that term or condition of employment.
The notice referred to in subsection (1) may be given
at any time, where no collective agreement has been entered into by the parties and no request for arbitration has been made by either party since the commencement of the bargaining; or
not later than seven days after any collective agreement is entered into by the parties, in any other case.
Where arbitration is requested by notice under subsection (1), the party making the request shall
specify in the notice the terms and conditions of employment in respect of which it requests arbitration and its proposals concerning the award to be made by the Board in respect thereof; and
annex to the notice a copy of any collective agreement entered into by the parties.
If notice under section 50 is received by the Board from any party requesting arbitration, the Chairperson shall as soon as feasible send a copy of the notice to the other party, who shall within seven days after receipt of it advise the Chairperson, by notice in writing, of any matter, additional to the matters specified in the notice under section 50, that was a subject of negotiation between the parties during the period before the arbitration was requested but on which the parties were unable to reach agreement and in respect of which, being a matter that may be embodied in an arbitral award, that other party requests arbitration.
Where arbitration in respect of any matter is requested by notice under subsection (1), the party making the request shall include in the notice its proposal concerning the award to be made by the Board in respect thereof.
Consideration of Dispute and Award
Subject to section 55, the matters in dispute specified in the notice under section 50 and in any notice under section 51 constitute the terms of reference of the Board in relation to the request for arbitration and the Board shall, after considering the matters in dispute together with any other matter that the Board considers necessarily incidental to the resolution of the matters in dispute, render an arbitral award in respect thereof.
Where, at any time before an arbitral award is rendered, the parties reach agreement on any matter in dispute referred to the Board under subsection (1) and enter into a collective agreement in respect thereof, the matters in dispute so referred to the Board shall be deemed not to include that matter and no arbitral award shall be rendered by the Board in respect thereof.
In the conduct of proceedings before it and in rendering an arbitral award in respect of a matter in dispute, the Board shall consider
the needs of the employer affected for qualified employees,
the need to maintain appropriate relationships in the conditions of employment as between different grade levels within an occupation and as between occupations of employees,
the need to establish terms and conditions of employment that are fair and reasonable in relation to the qualifications required, the work performed, the responsibility assumed and the nature of the services rendered, and
any other factor that to it appears to be relevant to the matter in dispute,
and, so far as consistent with the requirements of the employer, the Board shall give due regard to maintaining comparability of conditions of employment of employees with those that are applicable to persons in similar employment in the federal public administration.
[Repealed]
Subject to this Part, the Board shall, before rendering an arbitral award in respect of a matter in dispute, give full opportunity to both parties to present evidence and make submissions to it.
Arbitral Award Matters
Subsection 43(2) applies, with such modifications as the circumstances require, in relation to an arbitral award.
No arbitral award shall deal with the standards, procedures or processes governing the appointment, appraisal, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off or release of employees, or with any term or condition of employment of employees that was not a subject of negotiation between the parties during the period before arbitration was requested in respect thereof.
An arbitral award shall deal only with terms and conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit in respect of which the request for arbitration was made.
Making of Arbitral Award
An arbitral award shall be signed by the member of the Board who is not a member selected from a panel appointed under section 47 and copies thereof shall be transmitted to the parties to the dispute and no report or observations thereon shall be made or given by either of the members selected from a panel appointed under section 47.
Subject to subsection (3), a decision of the majority of the members of the Board in respect of the matters in dispute shall be the arbitral award in respect of the matters in dispute.
Where the majority of the members of the Board in respect of the matters in dispute cannot agree on the terms of the arbitral award to be rendered in respect thereof, the decision of the member of the Board who is not a member selected from a panel appointed under section 47 shall be the arbitral award in respect of the matters in dispute.
An arbitral award shall, wherever possible, be made in such form
as will be susceptible of being read and interpreted with, or annexed to and published with, any collective agreement dealing with other terms and conditions of employment of the employees in the bargaining unit in respect of which the arbitral award applies; and
as will enable its incorporation into and implementation by regulations, by-laws, directives or other instruments that may be required to be made or issued by the employer or the relevant bargaining agent in respect thereof.
Duration and Operation of Arbitral Awards
An arbitral award is, subject to and for the purposes of this Part, binding on the employer affected and the bargaining agent that is a party thereto and on the employees in the bargaining unit in respect of which the bargaining agent has been certified, effective on and after the day on which the award is rendered or such later day as the Board may determine.
A provision of an arbitral award made in respect of a term or condition of employment may be retroactive to the extent that it is capable of being retroactively applied, in whole or in part, to a day prior to the day on and after which the arbitral award becomes binding on the parties but not before the day on which notice to bargain collectively was given by either party.
Where, in relation to any or all of the provisions of an arbitral award made in respect of terms and conditions of employment, there was previously in effect a collective agreement or arbitral award, the previous collective agreement or the previous arbitral award is displaced, to the extent of any conflict, for the term, determined in accordance with section 58, for which the subsequent award is operative.
The Board shall, in respect of every arbitral award, determine and specify therein the term for which the arbitral award is to be operative and, in making its determination, it shall take into account
where a collective agreement applicable to the bargaining unit is in effect or has been entered into but is not yet in effect, the term of that collective agreement; and
where no collective agreement applying to the bargaining unit has been entered into,
the term of any previous collective agreement that applied to the bargaining unit, or
the term of any other collective agreement that to the Board appears relevant.
No arbitral award, in the absence of the application thereto of any criterion referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), shall be for a term of less than one year or more than two years from the day on and after which it becomes binding on the parties.
Implementation of Arbitral Awards
The terms and conditions of employment that are the subject of an arbitral award shall, subject to the appropriation by or under the authority of Parliament of any moneys that may be required therefor, be implemented by the parties within a period of ninety days from the date on and after which it becomes binding on the parties or within such longer period as, on application to the Board by either party, appears reasonable to the Board.
Completion and Variation of Arbitral Awards
Where in respect of an arbitral award it appears to either of the parties that the Board has failed to deal with any matter in dispute referred to it, that party may, within seven days from the day the award is rendered, refer the matter back to the Board, and the Board shall thereupon deal with the matter.
The Board may, on application jointly by both parties to an arbitral award, amend, alter or vary any provision of that award where it is made to appear to the Board that the amendment, alteration or variation thereof is warranted, having regard to circumstances that have arisen since the making of the award or of which the Board did not have notice at the time of the making thereof, or having regard to such other circumstances as the Board deems relevant.
Grievances
Right to Present Grievances
Where any employee feels aggrieved
by the interpretation or application, in respect of the employee, of
a provision of a statute, or of a regulation, by-law, direction or other instrument made or issued by the employer, dealing with terms and conditions of employment, or
a provision of a collective agreement or an arbitral award, or
as a result of any occurrence or matter affecting the employee’s terms and conditions of employment, other than a provision described in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii),
the employee is entitled, subject to subsection (2), to present the grievance at each of the levels, up to and including the final level, in the grievance process provided for by this Part.
An employee is not entitled to present any grievance relating to the interpretation or application in respect of the employee of a provision of a collective agreement or an arbitral award unless the employee has the approval of and is represented by the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit to which the collective agreement or arbitral award applies.
An employee who is not included in a bargaining unit for which an employee organization has been certified as bargaining agent may seek the assistance of and, if the employee chooses, may be represented by any employee organization in the presentation or reference to adjudication of a grievance.
No employee who is included in a bargaining unit for which an employee organization has been certified as bargaining agent may be represented by any employee organization, other than the employee organization certified as bargaining agent, in the presentation or reference to adjudication of a grievance.
Adjudication of Grievances
Reference to Adjudication
Where an employee has presented a grievance, up to and including the final level in the grievance process, with respect to
the interpretation or application in respect of the employee of a provision of a collective agreement or an arbitral award,
disciplinary action against the employee resulting in suspension or a financial penalty,
the termination of employment of the employee, other than rejection on probation in respect of an initial appointment,
demotion of the employee,
where the employee has been denied an appointment, the employer’s evaluation of the skill, fitness and ability of the employee with respect to the employee’s qualification for the appointment,
subject to subsection 5(3), the employer’s classification of the employee, or
the contravention by the employer of any applicable provision of regulations made under subsection 117(1) of the Accessible Canada Act, if the employee has suffered physical or psychological harm, property damage or economic loss as a result of — or has otherwise been adversely affected by — the contravention,
and the grievance has not been dealt with to the satisfaction of the employee, the employee may refer the grievance to adjudication.
Where a grievance that may be presented by an employee to adjudication is a grievance described in paragraph (1)(a), the employee is not entitled to refer the grievance to adjudication unless the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit to which the collective agreement or arbitral award applies signifies in prescribed manner its approval of the reference of the grievance to adjudication and its willingness to represent the employee in the adjudication proceedings.
A grievance with respect to a matter referred to in paragraph (1)(f) shall not be adjudicated under this Part unless the circumstances that cause the grievance are in existence after the day that is one year after this Part comes into force.
When a grievance has been referred to adjudication and a party to the grievance raises an issue involving the contravention of any provision of regulations made under subsection 117(1) of the Accessible Canada Act, that party must, in accordance with the regulations, give notice of the issue to the Accessibility Commissioner, as defined in section 2 of that Act.
If the Accessibility Commissioner is notified of an issue under subsection (1), he or she may make submissions during the adjudication with respect to that issue.
Appointment of Adjudicators
The Board shall assign such members as may be required to hear and adjudicate on grievances referred to adjudication under this Part.
Establishment of a Board of Adjudication
Where a grievance is referred to a board of adjudication, the board shall be composed of three persons, namely,
a member of the Board, who shall be the chairperson; and
two other persons, one nominated by each party.
A person is not eligible to be a member of the board of adjudication established under subsection (1) if the person has any direct interest in or connection with the grievance, its handling or its disposition.
Duty of the Board
Where a grievance has been referred to adjudication, the aggrieved employee shall, in the manner prescribed, give notice to the Board and shall specify in the notice whether an adjudicator is named in any applicable collective agreement or, if no such adjudicator is named, whether the employee requests the establishment of a board of adjudication.
Where a grievance has been referred to adjudication and the aggrieved employee has notified the Board as required by subsection (1), the Board shall, in the manner and within the time prescribed,
where the grievance is one arising out of a collective agreement and an adjudicator is named therein, refer the matter to the adjudicator so named;
where the establishment of a board of adjudication has been requested by the aggrieved employee and no objection thereto has been made by the employer affected within such time as may be prescribed, establish the board and refer the matter to it; and
in any other case, refer the matter to an adjudicator selected by it.
the employee and employer concerned; or
the Chairperson, where the employer and employee are unable to agree on the selection of an adjudicator and either party makes a written request to the Chairperson to select an adjudicator.
shall not be a member of the Board but has, for the purposes of the adjudication, all the powers, rights and privileges of the Board other than the power to make regulations under section 12 of this Act or section 36 of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act; and
shall not have any direct interest in or in connection with the grievance, its handling or its disposition.
An adjudicator has, for the purposes of the adjudication of a grievance respecting a matter referred to in any of paragraphs 63(1)(a) to (c) and (g) that is referred to adjudication, the powers that the Board has under paragraph 15(d) of this Act and paragraphs 20(a) and (d) to (f) of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act, in relation to the hearing or determination of a proceeding before it.
Jurisdiction of Adjudicator
Subject to any regulation made by the Board under paragraph 71(1)(d), no grievance shall be referred to adjudication and no adjudicator shall hear or render a decision on a grievance until all procedures established for the presenting of the grievance up to and including the final level in the grievance process have been complied with.
No adjudicator shall, in respect of any grievance, render any decision thereon the effect of which would be to require the amendment of a collective agreement or an arbitral award.
Where a grievance has been presented up to and including the final level in the grievance process and is not one that under section 63 may be referred to adjudication, the decision on the grievance taken at the final level in the grievance process is final and binding for all purposes of this Part and no further action under this Part may be taken thereon.
An adjudicator may, in relation to the adjudication of a grievance respecting a matter referred to in paragraph 63(1)(g),
interpret and apply the Accessible Canada Act; and
give relief in accordance with section 102 of that Act.
Decision of Adjudicator
Where a grievance is referred to adjudication, the adjudicator shall give both parties to the grievance an opportunity of being heard.
After considering the grievance, the adjudicator shall render a decision thereon and
send a copy thereof to each party, to the representative of each party and to the bargaining agent, if any, for the bargaining unit to which the employee whose grievance it is belongs; and
deposit a copy of the decision with the Board.
In the case of a board of adjudication, a decision of the majority of the members on a grievance is a decision of the board thereon, and the decision shall be signed by the chairperson of the board.
Where a decision on any grievance referred to adjudication requires any action by or on the part of the employer affected thereby, the employer shall take that action.
Where a decision on any grievance requires any action by or on the part of an employee or a bargaining agent or both of them, the employee or bargaining agent, or both, as the case may be, shall take that action.
The Board may, in accordance with section 13, take such action as is contemplated by that section to give effect to the decision of an adjudicator on a grievance but shall not inquire into the basis or substance of the decision.
Expenses of Adjudication
Where an adjudicator is named in a collective agreement, the method of determining the adjudicator’s remuneration and of defraying such expenses as the adjudicator may incur shall be as established in the collective agreement naming the adjudicator, but if the agreement does not specify the method, the named adjudicator’s remuneration and expenses shall be borne equally by the parties.
If a grievance is referred to adjudication but is not referred to an adjudicator named in a collective agreement, and the employee, whose grievance it is, is represented in the adjudication proceedings by the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit to which the employee belongs, the bargaining agent, subject to subsection (3), is liable to pay and shall remit to the Board any part of the costs of the adjudication that may be determined by the Chairperson with the Board’s approval.
Where a grievance is referred to a board of adjudication, the remuneration and expenses of the nominee of each party shall be borne by the parties respectively.
Enforcement of Obligations of Employer and Employee Organizations
Where an employer and a bargaining agent have executed a collective agreement or are bound by an arbitral award and the employer or the bargaining agent seeks to enforce an obligation that is alleged to arise out of the agreement or award, and the obligation, if any, is not one the enforcement of which may be the subject of a grievance of an employee in the bargaining unit to which the collective agreement or arbitral award applies, either the employer or the bargaining agent may, in the prescribed manner, refer the matter to the Board.
Where a matter is referred to the Board pursuant to subsection (1), the Board shall hear and determine whether there is an obligation as alleged and whether, if there is, there has been a failure to observe or to carry out the obligation.
Regulations respecting Grievances
The Board may make regulations in relation to the procedure for the presenting of grievances, including regulations respecting
the manner and form of presenting a grievance;
the maximum number of levels of officers of the employer to whom grievances may be presented;
the time within which a grievance may be presented up to any level in the grievance process including the final level;
the circumstances in which any level below the final level in the grievance process may be eliminated; and
in any case of doubt, the circumstances in which any occurrence or matter may be said to constitute a grievance.
Any regulations made by the Board under subsection (1) in relation to the procedure for the presentation of grievances shall not apply in respect of employees included in a bargaining unit for which a bargaining agent has been certified by the Board, to the extent that such regulations are inconsistent with any provisions contained in a collective agreement entered into by the bargaining agent and the employer applicable to those employees.
The Board may make regulations in relation to the adjudication of grievances, including regulations respecting
the manner in which and the time within which a grievance may be referred to adjudication after it has been presented up to and including the final level in the grievance process;
the manner of giving notice of an issue to the Accessibility Commissioner under section 63.1;
the manner in which and the time within which boards of adjudication are to be established;
the procedure to be followed by adjudicators; and
the form of decisions rendered by adjudicators.
For the purposes of any provision of this Part respecting grievances, an employer shall designate the person whose decision on a grievance constitutes the final or any level in the grievance process and the employer shall, in any case of doubt, by notice in writing advise any person wishing to present a grievance, or the Board, of the person whose decision thereon constitutes the final or any level in the process.
General
Review of Decisions
Except as provided in this Part, every award or decision of an arbitrator appointed under section 49 or an adjudicator is final and shall not be questioned or reviewed in any court.
No order shall be made or process entered, or proceedings taken in any court, whether by way of injunction, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto or otherwise, to question, review, prohibit or restrain an arbitrator appointed under section 49 or an adjudicator in any of the proceedings of the arbitrator or adjudicator.
Offences relating to Strikes
No employee shall participate in a strike.
No employee organization shall declare or authorize a strike of employees and no officer or representative of an employee organization shall counsel or procure the declaration or authorization of a strike of employees or the participation of employees in a strike, the effect of which is or would be to involve the participation of an employee in a strike in contravention of section 73.
Every employee who contravenes section 73 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
Every officer or representative of an employee organization who contravenes section 74 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars.
Every employee organization that contravenes section 74 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars for each day that any strike declared or authorized by it in contravention of that section is or continues in effect.
A prosecution for an offence referred to in section 75 may be brought against an employee organization and in the name of that organization, and for the purposes of any such prosecution an employee organization shall be deemed to be a person and any act or thing done or omitted by an officer or representative of an employee organization within the scope of his authority to act on behalf of the employee organization shall be deemed to be an act or thing done or omitted by the employee organization.
Consent to Prosecution
Protection
No adjudicator, conciliator or person appointed by the Board and no arbitrator appointed under section 49 shall be required to give evidence in any civil action, suit or other proceeding respecting information obtained in the discharge of his or her duties under this Part.
Witness Fees
A person who is summoned by the Board or an arbitrator appointed under section 49 to attend as a witness in any proceedings thereof taken pursuant to this Part and who so attends is entitled to be paid an allowance for expenses determined in accordance with the scale for the time being in force with respect to witnesses in civil suits in the superior court of the province in which the proceedings are being taken.
Oaths and Solemn Affirmations
A person appointed under this Part shall, before entering on his duties, take an oath or solemn affirmation in the form prescribed in the schedule before any person authorized by the Governor in Council to take the oath or solemn affirmation.
Provision of Facilities and Staff
The Chief Administrator of the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada shall provide an arbitrator appointed under section 49 and an adjudicator with the staff, the quarters and the other facilities that are necessary to enable the arbitrator or adjudicator to carry out their respective functions under this Part.
Superannuation
Unless the Governor in Council otherwise orders in any case or class of cases, a person appointed under this Part shall be deemed not to be employed in the public service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act.
[Repealed]
Report to Parliament
As soon as possible after the end of each year, the Board shall prepare a report on the administration of this Part during that year and shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House sits after the report has been prepared.
Standard Hours, Wages, Leave, Etc.
Interpretation
In this Part, employer means
the Senate as represented by such committee or person as the Senate by its rules or orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the House of Commons as represented by such committee or person as the House of Commons by its orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the Library of Parliament as represented by the Parliamentary Librarian acting, subject to subsection 74(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, on behalf of both Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Senate Ethics Officer as represented by the Ethics Officer;
the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as represented by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;
the Parliamentary Protective Service as represented by the Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service on behalf of the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer as represented by the Parliamentary Budget Officer; or
a Member of Parliament who, in that capacity, employs any person or has the direction or control of staff employed to provide research or associated services to the caucus members of a political party represented in Parliament.
Canada Labour Code (Part III)
Part III of the Canada Labour Code applies to and in respect of an employer and persons employed by the employer in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were the federal work, undertaking or business and the persons were the employees to and in respect of which the provisions of that Part apply except that, for the purpose of that application, any reference in that Part to
a “collective agreement” shall be read as a reference to a collective agreement within the meaning of section 3 of this Act; and
a “trade union” shall be read as a reference to an employee organization within the meaning of section 3 of this Act.
Pay Equity
The following definitions apply in this Part.
bargaining agent has the same meaning as in section 3. (agent négociateur)
Board has the same meaning as in section 3. (Commission)
employee means a person employed by an employer and includes the person occupying the recognized position of Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Commons, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms or Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons. (employé)
employer means
the Senate as represented by any committee or person that the Senate by its rules or orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the House of Commons as represented by any committee or person that the House of Commons by its orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the Library of Parliament as represented by the Parliamentary Librarian acting, subject to subsection 74(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, on behalf of both Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Senate Ethics Officer as represented by the Senate Ethics Officer;
the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as represented by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;
the Parliamentary Protective Service as represented by the Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service on behalf of the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer as represented by the Parliamentary Budget Officer;
a member of the House of Commons who employs one or more persons or who has the direction or control of staff employed to provide research or associated services to the caucus members of a political party represented in the House of Commons;
in the case of a person occupying the recognized position of Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Commons, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms or Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons, the Senate or the House of Commons, as the case may be, as represented by the committee or person described in paragraph (a) or (b); or
any other person who is recognized as an employer in regulations made under subsection 19.5(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act or by-laws made under section 52.5 of that Act. (employeur)
Pay Equity Commissioner means the Pay Equity Commissioner appointed under subsection 26(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. (Commissaire à l’équité salariale)
For greater certainty, nothing in this Part is to be construed as limiting in any way the powers, privileges and immunities of the Senate and the House of Commons and their members or as authorizing the exercise of a power or the performance of a function or duty by virtue of this Part if the exercise of that power or the performance of that function or duty would interfere, directly or indirectly, with the business of the Senate or the House of Commons.
The Pay Equity Act, other than sections 125 to 127, 129, 130, 132, 134, 137 to 146 and 180, applies with respect to the employer, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were an employer referred to in paragraph 3(2)(a) of that Act except that, for the purpose of that application,
any reference in that Act to
bargaining agent, employee or employer is to be read as a reference to that expression as defined in section 86.1 of this Act,
“Tribunal” is to be read as a reference to the Board as defined in section 3 of this Act, and
“violation” is to be read as a reference to a “contravention”;
Part I of this Act applies, with any modifications that the circumstances require, in respect of matters brought before the Board under the Pay Equity Act to the extent necessary to give effect to that purpose; and
matters brought before the Board under the Pay Equity Act may be heard and determined only by a member as defined in section 3 of this Act.
Despite subsection (1), sections 90 and 91 of the Pay Equity Act apply with respect to an employer, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were an employer referred to in paragraph 3(2)(e) of that Act except that, for the purpose of that application, any reference to employer in those sections is to be read as a reference to that term as defined in section 86.1 of this Act.
Regulations made under subsection 181(1) or section 182 of the Pay Equity Act apply with respect to an employer, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were an employer referred to in paragraph 3(2)(a) of that Act, but only to the extent that the regulations apply generally to employers that are referred to in that paragraph and subject to the modifications referred to in subparagraph 86.3(1)(a)(i) of this Act.
Regulations made for the purpose of section 90 of the Pay Equity Act apply with respect to an employer, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were an employer referred to in paragraph 3(2)(e) of that Act, but only to the extent that the regulations apply generally to employers that are referred to in that paragraph and subject to the modification referred to in subsection 86.3(2) of this Act.
The Pay Equity Commissioner may issue a notice of contravention to an employer, bargaining agent or other person, and must cause them to be served with the notice, if the Pay Equity Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that the employer, bargaining agent or other person has contravened a provision of, or an order made under, the Pay Equity Act or its regulations that is designated by regulations made under paragraph 127(1)(a) of that Act.
The notice of contravention must
name the employer, bargaining agent or other person that is believed to have committed the contravention;
set out the relevant facts surrounding the contravention;
inform the employer, bargaining agent or other person of their right to contest the facts of the alleged contravention, by way of review, and specify the time within which and the manner in which to do so; and
inform the employer, bargaining agent or other person that, if they do not exercise their right referred to in paragraph (c) within the specified time or manner, they will be considered to have committed the contravention.
An employer, bargaining agent or other person named in the notice that does not file a request for review within the specified time is considered to have committed the contravention.
The employer, bargaining agent or other person named in the notice may, within 30 days after the day on which the notice of contravention is served or within any longer period that the Pay Equity Commissioner allows, and in the manner specified in the notice, file a request for review of the acts or omissions that constitute the alleged contravention.
The request for review must state the grounds for review and set out the evidence that supports those grounds.
At any time before a request for review is filed, the Pay Equity Commissioner may cancel the notice of contravention or correct an error in it.
On completion of a review, the Pay Equity Commissioner must determine on a balance of probabilities whether the employer, bargaining agent or other person that requested the review committed the contravention.
If the Pay Equity Commissioner determines under subsection (8) that the employer, bargaining agent or other person did not commit the contravention, the proceedings commenced in respect of it are ended.
The Pay Equity Commissioner must, on completion of the review, cause the employer, bargaining agent or other person to be served with a notice that sets out his or her decision and the reasons for it.
The decision made on completion of the review is final and is not to be questioned or reviewed in any court.
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, a document that appears to be a notice of contravention issued under subsection (1) is presumed to be authentic and is proof of its contents in any proceeding in respect of a contravention.
The service of documents required or authorized under this section is governed by regulations made under paragraph 127(1)(h) of the Pay Equity Act, but only to the extent that the regulations apply generally with respect to employers that are referred to in paragraph 3(2)(a) of that Act.
The Pay Equity Commissioner must notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, of his or her intention to enter, under paragraph 118(3)(a) or 121(d) of the Pay Equity Act, a place that is under the authority of an employer.
The Pay Equity Commissioner must notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, as soon as possible after he or she, under this Part
makes or issues an order;
begins a compliance audit or an investigation;
is notified of a matter in dispute, an objection or a complaint;
refers a question to the Chairperson of the Board;
discontinues the investigation of all or any part of a matter in dispute, objection or complaint;
dismisses all or any part of a matter in dispute, objection or complaint;
receives a request for review;
causes a notice to be served under subsection 86.5(10) of this Act or subsection 161(6) of the Pay Equity Act; or
issues, varies or cancels a notice of contravention.
The Board must notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, as soon as possible after the Board receives a request for appeal under this Part.
If the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons is notified that an appeal has been requested or a question has been referred to the Chairperson of the Board,
the Board must, at the Speaker’s request, provide to the Speaker a copy of any document that is filed with the Board in the appeal or referral and that is necessary to enable the Speaker to present evidence and make representations under paragraph (b); and
the Speaker may present evidence and make representations to the Board in the appeal or referral.
The Pay Equity Commissioner must provide to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both
an order that is made by the Pay Equity Commissioner under this Part, if the order is not complied with and once all appeals from that order have been finally determined or the time for appeal has expired;
a notice of contravention for which a request for review was not filed within the specified time; or
a decision made under subsection 86.5(8) that a contravention was committed.
The Board must, at the request of the Pay Equity Commissioner, provide to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, an order or decision made by the Board under this Part if the order or decision is not complied with.
The Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, must, within a reasonable time after receiving any document received under paragraph 86.8(1)(a) or subsection 86.8(2), table it in the House over which the Speaker presides.
The Board must, as soon as possible after the end of each year, submit a report for that year on its activities under this Part and under the Pay Equity Act, as it applies with respect to an employer, to the Minister designated as the Minister for the purposes of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act. The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the Minister receives it.
Occupational Health and Safety
Interpretation
The following definitions apply in this Part.
Board has the same meaning as in section 3. (Commission)
employee means a person employed by an employer and includes the person occupying the recognized position of Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Commons, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms or Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons. (employé)
employer means
the Senate as represented by any committee or person that the Senate by its rules or orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the House of Commons as represented by any committee or person that the House of Commons by its orders designates for the purposes of this Part;
the Library of Parliament as represented by the Parliamentary Librarian acting, subject to subsection 74(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, on behalf of both Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Senate Ethics Officer as represented by the Senate Ethics Officer;
the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as represented by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;
the Parliamentary Protective Service as represented by the Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service on behalf of the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament;
the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer as represented by the Parliamentary Budget Officer;
a member of the House of Commons who employs one or more persons or who has the direction or control of staff employed to provide research or associated services to the caucus members of a political party represented in the House of Commons;
in the case of a person occupying the recognized position of Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Commons, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms or Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons, the Senate or the House of Commons, as the case may be, as represented by the committee or person described in paragraph (a) or (b); or
any other person who is recognized as an employer in regulations made under subsection 19.5(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act or by-laws made under section 52.5 of that Act. (employeur)
The definition employer in subsection (1) includes any person who acts on behalf of an employer.
Canada Labour Code (Part II)
Part II of the Canada Labour Code, other than subsections 134(2) and (3) and sections 152 and 153, applies to and in respect of an employer and employees, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the employer were a federal work, undertaking or business and the employees were employees to and in respect of which that Part applies except that, for the purpose of that application,
any reference in that Part to
“arbitration” is to be read as a reference to adjudication within the meaning of Part I of this Act,
“Board” and “collective agreement” are to be read as references to those expressions as defined in section 3 of this Act,
“employee” and “employer” are to be read as references to those expressions as defined in subsection 87(1) of this Act, and
“trade union” is to be read as a reference to an employee organization as defined in section 3 of this Act;
Part I of this Act applies, with any modifications that the circumstances require, in respect of matters brought before the Board under Part II of the Canada Labour Code to the extent necessary to give effect to that purpose; and
matters brought before the Board under Part II of the Canada Labour Code may be heard and determined only by a member as defined in section 3 of this Act.
This Part also applies to any person who is not an employee but who performs for an employer activities whose primary purpose is to enable the person to acquire knowledge or experience, and to the employer, as if that person were an employee of the employer.
For greater certainty, subject to section 2, nothing in this Part shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from the rights provided for under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
For the purposes of this Part, the Deputy Minister of Labour shall exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Minister of Labour under this Part and under Part II of the Canada Labour Code involving a member of the Senate or their staff or a member of the House of Commons or their employees.
If the Deputy Minister of Labour exercises the powers or performs the duties and functions set out in section 88.3 or paragraph 88.4(b), he or she shall provide the direction referred to in that section or that paragraph to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, who shall each table the direction in the House over which he or she presides.
The Head, as defined in section 2 of the Canada Labour Code, shall notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, of the Head’s intention to enter, under subsection 141(1) of the Canada Labour Code, a work place controlled by an employer. The Head shall also notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, as soon as possible after the Head
commences an investigation under Part II of that Act in relation to an employer or an employee; or
issues a direction to an employer or an employee under that Part.
The Board shall notify the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both, as soon as possible after
the Board receives a complaint under subsection 133(1) of the Canada Labour Code in relation to an employer; or
an appeal of a direction issued to an employer or an employee is brought under subsection 146(1) of the Canada Labour Code.
If the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons is notified that an appeal has been brought,
the Board shall, at the Speaker’s request, provide to the Speaker a copy of any document that is filed with the Board in the appeal and that is necessary to enable the Speaker to present evidence and make representations under paragraph (b); and
the Speaker may present evidence and make representations to the Board in the appeal.
The Minister of Labour shall cause to be tabled in the Senate or the House of Commons, or both, a direction that is issued to an employer or an employee under Part II of the Canada Labour Code if the direction is not complied with within the period provided for in the direction and it is not appealed within the period provided for in that Part. The Minister shall cause the direction to be tabled within a reasonable time after the later of the expiry of the period for compliance and the expiry of the appeal period.
If the Minister of Labour considers that exceptional circumstances require that immediate action be taken to prevent a contravention of Part II of the Canada Labour Code by an employer or an employee,
the Minister shall provide a copy of any direction issued to an employer or an employee under that Part to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons, or both; and
The Board shall, at the request of the Minister of Labour or any person affected by an order or decision made or a direction issued with respect to an employer or an employee by the Board under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, cause the order, decision or direction to be tabled in the Senate or the House of Commons, or both, if it is not complied with within the period provided for in the order, decision or direction. The Board shall cause the order, decision or direction to be tabled within a reasonable time after receiving the request.
For greater certainty, nothing in this Part shall be construed as limiting in any way the powers, privileges and immunities of the Senate and the House of Commons and their members or as authorizing the exercise of a power or the performance of a function or duty by virtue of this Part if the exercise of that power or the performance of that function or duty would interfere, directly or indirectly, with the business of the Senate or the House of Commons.
The Board shall, as soon as possible after the end of each year, submit a report for that year on its activities under this Part and under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, as it applies to employers and employees, to the Minister designated as the Minister for the purposes of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board Act. The Minister shall cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the Minister receives it.
Five years after the day on which this Part comes into force and every five years after that, the Minister designated as the Minister for the purposes of this Act shall commence a review of the application, in relation to harassment and violence, of the provisions of this Part. At the conclusion of the review, the Minister shall prepare a report on the review.
The Minister shall cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the report is completed.
Coming into Force
Parts I, II and III of this Act or any of those Parts shall come into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.[Note: Part I in force December 24, 1986, see SI/87-21; Part III in force July 29, 2019, see SI/2019-89.]
Oath or Solemn Affirmation of Fidelity
I, , solemnly and sincerely swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and honestly and to the best of my skill and knowledge fulfil the duties which devolve upon me under Part I of the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act by reason of my duties as .