Jacek Janczur

The City of Hamilton brought applications under the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act, 1997 following the amalgamation of various local authorities.

During a consultation, the parties reached agreements to exclude certain bargaining units, including those related to HECFI and specific lodges, from the proceedings.

The Board recorded these agreements, released UFCW and IATSE from the applications, and issued directions for the filing of proposals and scheduling of further consultation dates to determine the remaining bargaining unit configurations.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board issued a bottom-line decision regarding the restructuring of bargaining units at the newly amalgamated City of Kingston under the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act, 1997.

The Board directed the preservation of the ONA nurses' unit and a separate utilities unit represented by the IBEW.

Transit workers represented by the CAW were folded into a broader all-employee unit proposed by CUPE.

The Board also defined the firefighters' unit and directed the parties to finalize the remaining bargaining unit descriptions with the assistance of a Board Officer.

The Ontario Nurses' Association filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Comcare, alleging that the employer's actions during a lawful strike violated the Labour Relations Act, 1995.

The union argued that the employer unlawfully intimidated striking nurses by contacting them about their availability, issuing Records of Employment, and terminating their benefits.

The union also alleged that the employer's use and payment of replacement workers constituted unlawful strike-breaking and surface bargaining.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board dismissed the application, finding that the employer's communications, while 'playing hardball' and intended to bring home the economic consequences of the strike, were not unlawfully intimidating or coercive.

The Board also found that the employer had a rational business reason for its use and payment of replacement workers, and that its actions did not constitute a breach of the Act.