The applicant union brought related employer and sale of business applications, as well as a construction industry grievance, against several electrical contracting companies controlled by a single key principal.
The responding parties brought a preliminary motion alleging reasonable apprehension of bias because the panel had previously attempted to mediate the dispute at the parties' request.
The Board dismissed the bias motion, finding the parties had consented to the mediation-arbitration process.
On the merits, the Board found that the principal was the key person in all the companies, which were engaged in related activities under common control and direction.
The Board declared that a sale of business had occurred and that the companies constituted one employer bound by the provincial collective agreement, but limited the retrospective effect of the declaration due to the union's delay.