Two employers closed their businesses and gave their unionized employees notice of termination in accordance with the Act respecting labour standards.
The unions filed grievances claiming additional termination pay based on the reasonable notice requirement in art. 2091 of the Civil Code of Québec.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the arbitrators did not have jurisdiction to hear the grievances because the individual right to reasonable notice of termination under the Civil Code is incompatible with the collective labour relations scheme.