GSB #2018-1037;2018-1038;2018-1039

UNION #18-205;18-206;18-207

IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION

Under

THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT

Before

THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD

BETWEEN

Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 1750 (Group, RTWS & WTS et al)

Union

• and –

The Crown in Right of Ontario (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board)

Employer

BEFORE

Gordon Luborsky

Arbitrator

FOR THE UNION

Emma Phillips & Benjamin Katz Goldblatt Partners LLP Co-Counsel

FOR THE EMPLOYER

Brandin O’Connor Shields O’Donnell MacKillop, LLP Counsel

HEARING

June 30, 2020 (by teleconference)

Decision

1At the request of the parties, I convened a telephone conference with counsel to discuss procedural matters in advance of the upcoming hearing dates of July 9, 16, 29 and 30, 2020, already scheduled in this matter.

2The parties have agreed to proceed with this case, as scheduled, via videoconference attendance through the Zoom platform.

3In advance of the next hearing day scheduled for July 9, the Employer has agreed to forward all documents that it intends to rely upon and to prepare a Compendium of Documents derived from the Union’s earlier filings that consolidates all relevant materials. The Employer also agrees to provide me with a hard copy of this documentation (and it either has to will provide Union counsel with an electronic version as appropriate), to be delivered in advance of the next hearing day.

4The Employer has already agreed to proceed first with the presentation of its evidence, with its first witness anticipated to require the full day to complete his testimony in chief. The parties have agreed that the Union will not be required to proceed with its cross-examination until the July 16 hearing date, at the earliest. Both parties have agreed to ensure that the first witness (who has been identified by the Employer) will have a copy of all documents that the parties may refer to during the witness’s examinations.

5In the event that circumstances permit or it seems advisable to have an in-person hearing or hearings in order to deal with the volume of materials, the parties may agree or speak to me about arranging an in-person hearing at a suitable venue for one or both of the upcoming July 29 and 30 hearing dates.

6The hearing in this matter will proceed accordingly and the Registrar will be asked to schedule this matter to proceed via Zoom videoconferencing on July 9, 16, 29 and 30, unless subsequently advised otherwise.