John Hurlev

The union applied for certification and requested automatic certification under section 8 of the Labour Relations Act, alleging employer interference.

The Board found that three department managers violated section 64 by directing employees during working hours to sign an anti-union petition.

However, the Board concluded that the employer's conduct was not so severe as to prevent the true wishes of the employees from being ascertained in a representation vote.

The Board ordered remedial measures, including a cease and desist order, a workplace posting, and union access to employees, and directed that a representation vote be held.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board issued several decisions regarding applications for certification and unfair labour practice complaints.

In the first case, the Board found that the employer violated the Labour Relations Act when three managers obtained signatures on a petition opposing the trade union.

The Board directed a representation vote and ordered remedial measures, including a posting and union access to employees.

Other decisions addressed the appropriate bargaining unit for a specialized business centre in a department store, a duty of fair representation complaint involving municipal technical employees, a sale of a business application concerning a retail food store, and the exclusion of a chemical control supervisor from a bargaining unit based on community of interest.