Labour Relations: FAQ

• Content Last Reviewed: June 2009

Collective Bargaining, Agreements and Negotiations: FAQ

• What is the unionization rate in Ontario?
• What is a collective agreement?
• What is collective bargaining?
• How are negotiations for a collective agreement begun?
• What happens if, during negotiations, the employer and the union cannot agree on the terms of a collective agreement?

Conciliation: FAQ

• What is conciliation?
• How do you request the appointment of a Conciliation Officer?
• What if the employer and the union cannot reach agreement in conciliation?
• What further assistance is available to the bargaining parties after a "no board" gets issued?

Strike and Lock-out: FAQ

• What is a strike?
• What is a lock-out?
• When are the parties in a legal position to strike or lock-out?
• Must there be a strike vote before a strike can take place?
• Can the employer request a vote of employees on the employer's final offer?
• Do all employees covered by the Labour Relations Act, 1995 have the right to strike?

Arbitration: FAQ

• What does the term arbitration mean?
• What is an arbitrator?
• What is the difference between rights and interest arbitration?
• How binding is the decision of an arbitrator or arbitration board?
• What does "grievance" mean as the term is used in labour relations?
• What if an employee or a trade union feels the employer is not following the terms of the collective agreement, or if there is a disagreement about the meaning of part of the collective agreement?
• What if the union and the employer cannot settle a grievance?
• What if either the union or the employer refuses to appoint a representative to an arbitration board, or if agreement cannot be reached on the selection of a chair?
• What is the difference between sections 48 and 49 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995?
How do I apply to be included on the Minister's list of arbitrators?

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