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labour relations

McMillan's Employment and Labour Relations Group provides advice to companies on all aspects of labour relations, from a union's initial efforts to organize a company's employees through to the negotiation of collective agreements and dispute resolution.

Our lawyers have assisted clients with certification applications, collective agreement negotiations and strike and lockouts, including drafting communications on the employer's behalf and securing injunctive relief where required.

We regularly provide advice on collective agreement interpretation, including the management of layoffs, job posting disputes and benefit issues. Our lawyers are experienced advocates at arbitrations and before labour relations tribunals and can assist clients in either reaching a resolution through the mediation process or in advocating our client's position through the arbitration process.




Publications / Presentations
May 2013
Le droit à la vie privée au travail : l'employeur peut-il fouiller ses employés ?
May 2013
preparing for "round 2" of the AODA: the integrated accessibility standards
employment bulletin
May 2013
can an employer waive the employee's notice of resignation without paying any indemnity? - the
Québec court of appeal says it can

employment and labour bulletin
May 2013
employing foreign workers just got harder
employment and labour bulletin
April 2013
juries punish employers: two recent cases highlight the risk of treating employees poorly1
employment and labour bulletin
April 2013
beware a failure to accommodate
employee ordered reinstated with back pay
after an 11.5 year absence

employment and labour bulletin
March 2013
even transactional employment covenants need careful review
employment and labour bulletin
February 2013
"modern family": the Federal Court recognizes an employer's duty to accommodate childcare obligations
employment and labour bulletin
January 2013
beware the strike in protest's clothing: labour relations board holds that a political protest is still an unlawful strike
employment and labour bulletin
September 2012
employment and labour newsletter - September 2012
August 2012
Ontario's austerity measures and the limits of Charter protected bargaining rights
employment and labour relations bulletin
July 2012
overtime class actions given the green light
employment and labour bulletin
June 2012
"you can't have your cake and eat it too": the duty to mitigate in employment agreements
employment and labour bulletin
June 2012
the clash between government restraint and the charter rights of labour: where do we stand?
employment and labour bulletin
May 2012
work permit processing in light of visa office closures
employment and labour bulletin
May 2012
Pension Claims in Employee Termination Cases
employment and labour bulletin
May 2012
employment and labour newsletter - May 2012
May 2012
harassment in the workplace: limitations on an employer's responsibilities
employment and labour bulletin
March 2012
internet and web-browsing: the importance of copyright assignments and potential vicarious liability for employers
employment and labour bulletin
March 2012
employee non-competition covenants: no place for blue pencils
employment and labour bulletin
February 2012
mandatory retirement eliminated for Canadian federal sphere employees
employment and labour bulletin
December 2011
employment and labour newsletter - December 2011
December 2011
labour arbitrators need not be "correct" – just be "reasonable"
employment and labour bulletin
November 2011
BC labour relations board dismisses charter challenge
employment and labour bulletin
November 2011
suspect your employee is using drugs or drinking?
employment and labour bulletin
October 2011
laying off employees and deferring severance: practical considerations for Ontario employers
employment and labour bulletin
October 2011
Love Hurts – SCC Refuses Leave to Appeal in Love v. Acuity Investment Management Inc.
employment and labour bulletin
August 2011
employment and labour newsletter - August 2011