Employer violated statutory freeze by unilaterally altering wage increase dates, cancelling profit-sharing, and changing starting rates.
The union filed complaints alleging the employer violated the statutory freeze provisions of section 79 of the Labour Relations Act.
Following the union's application for certification, the employer, which had recently been acquired by a new parent company, unilaterally changed the date of the annual wage increase, cancelled an existing profit-sharing plan, implemented a new incentive plan for only a portion of the bargaining unit, and lowered starting rates for certain classifications.
The Board applied the 'reasonable expectations' test and found that the employer's actions violated the statutory freeze, as employees reasonably expected the continuation of uniform treatment, the profit-sharing plan, and the historical timing of wage increases.
The Board deferred remedial orders to allow the parties to negotiate a resolution.
