Tag archives: collective agreement

Un Syndicat est tenu responsable de l’entièreté des dommages subis par ses membres visés par une clause jugée discriminatoire au sens de la Charte québécoise

Dans une décision rendue en mars 2023, dans le cadre d’un pourvoi en contrôle judiciaire[1], la Cour supérieure a condamné le syndicat à dédommager l’employeur pour l’entièreté des sommes que celui-ci a dû verser à ses salariés visés par une clause de la convention collective prévoyant une réduction du traitement salarial des retraités à partir … Continue reading

Pour modifier ou faire cesser une pratique passée, la dénonciation est sans effet :le texte en cause de la convention collective doit plutôt être renégocié

Une récente décision (la Décision) rendue par l’arbitre Me François Hamelin (l’Arbitre)[1] confirme qu’au Québec, la dénonciation d’une pratique passée (utilisée comme moyen d’interprétation d’une disposition ambiguë d’une convention collective) n’a aucun effet en l’absence d’une modification, par négociation, du texte en cause. À notre connaissance, il s’agit de la première décision qui le confirme de … Continue reading

Can COVID-19 be considered a superior force (“force majeure”) lawfully limiting an employer’s obligations?

Since the start of pandemic, our courts have rendered a number of decisions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and whether it constitutes superior force (commonly known as “force majeure” ) for the purposes of limiting liability. In particular, we can think of numerous cases in real estate law, whereby lessees and owners looked to the courts … Continue reading

La COVID-19 peut-elle être considérée comme un événement de force majeure limitant les obligations d’un employeur?

Depuis le début de la pandémie, nos tribunaux ont rendu plusieurs décisions concernant l’incidence de la COVID-19 et la question de savoir si elle constitue un événement de force majeure aux fins de la limitation de la responsabilité. On peut notamment penser aux nombreux cas, dans le domaine du droit immobilier, où des locataires et … Continue reading

Dans le cadre de négociations collectives au Québec, l’employeur peut-il communiquer directement avec les salariés afin de faire une mise au point ?

Dans une décision[1] rendue en juillet dernier, le Tribunal administratif du travail (le TAT) s’est penché sur l’équilibre qui, à l’occasion d’une ronde de négociations pour le renouvellement d’une convention collective, doit exister entre, d’une part, le devoir de non-ingérence de l’employeur et, d’autre part, son droit à la libre expression. Quels sont les faits dans … Continue reading

Les Interprétations, politiques et guides fournissent des lignes directrices pratiques aux employeurs en lien avec les modifications du 1er septembre 2019 du Code canadien du travail

Le 1er septembre 2019, une série de nouvelles modifications apportées au Code canadien du travail (« Code ») sont entrées en vigueur et ont eu une incidence sur les heures de travail et repos, les heures supplémentaires, l’assouplissement des conditions d’emploi, les congés annuels bonifiés ainsi que les congés rémunérés et non rémunérés. Le Programme du travail du … Continue reading

Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines offer practical guidance to employers on the September 1, 2019 amendments under Canada Labour Code

On September 1, 2019, a series of new amendments under the Canada Labour Code (“Code”) came into force, affecting hours of work and rest, overtime, flexible work arrangements, enhanced vacation entitlements, paid leaves and unpaid leaves. The federal government’s Labour Program has since published a number of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines (“IPGs”), whose aim is … Continue reading

Hausse du salaire minimum au Québec

À compter du 1er mai 2020, le salaire minimum au Québec sera haussé de 0,60 $ l’heure, pour atteindre 13,10 $ l’heure, soit une augmentation de 4,8 % par rapport au salaire minimum en vigueur (12,50 $ l’heure)[i]. Le Québec emboîte ainsi le pas à l’Alberta, à l’Ontario et à la Colombie-Britannique en haussant le … Continue reading

Enterprise bargaining and the 7 day access period

There are a number of timelines under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) to be aware of when making and applying for approval of a single enterprise agreement.  If these timelines are not complied with, it is likely that the agreement will not be approved by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).  One such … Continue reading

First-ever ‘Riders’ Statute’ signed in Bologna, giving food delivery company riders a set of minimum standards of protection

On 31 May 2018, at the City Hall of Bologna (the fourth most populous city in northern Italy), the city’s mayor, representatives of Italy’s three main workers unions (CGIL, CISL and UIL), and two food delivery companies active in Bologna (Sgnam and Mymenu) met and signed the “Paper of fundamental rights of the digital worker … Continue reading

French employment code reform: Focus on collective negotiation

On September 22, 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron signed five ordinances making important changes to several aspects of the French employment code. The ordinances, which were immediately published in the French Official Journal on September 23rd, 2017, are aimed in particular at providing employers more flexibility and predictability in labour-management relations. Several provisions of this … Continue reading

“Equal pay for equal work” provisions in a collective agreement may prevail over Bill 148 ESA amendments

As we explained in yesterday’s post, the Bill 148 amendments to the ESA minimum standards will generally apply to unionized workplaces as of the effective date of the particular amendment. However, there are two circumstances in which a collective agreement provision in effect on April 1, 2018 will temporarily prevail over certain Bill 148 amendments … Continue reading

Significant changes to French employment code to enter into force no later than January 1st, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron has signed five ordinances making important changes to several aspects of the French employment code. The ordinances, which were immediately published in the French Official Journal on September 23rd, 2017, are aimed in particular at providing employers more flexibility and predictability in labour-management relations. Several provisions of this ambitious reform – … Continue reading

What is the latest on employees’ rights in the event of redundancy in Germany?

In business, the restructuring of a company (such as by the closure of an individual business unit or a necessary reduction in the number of staff) may result in an employee’s redundancy. However, dismissing an employee by reason of redundancy has strict prerequisites under German law. The main requirements which must be observed under German … Continue reading

The (latest) reform of the French employment code is ongoing

As part of candidate Emmanuel Macron’s program during the Presidential elections campaign, a substantial reform of the French employment Code was promised. After his election as President, French commentators anticipated new changes would be implemented quickly, given Emmanuel Macron’s indications that he wished to go ahead as soon as possible, without too much debate before … Continue reading

Overtime Entitlement Did Not Extend to Time Spent at Labour Management Meetings

In Fabrene Inc. v International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 2922 employees who were Union Grievance Committee (“UGC”) members unsuccessfully argued that the hours they spent attending Labour Management meetings on their days off constituted compensable overtime. Factual Background The UGC members worked 12-hour day shifts on Monday and Tuesday, 12-hour night … Continue reading

Key employment law developments expected in 2017

A significant amount of new employment legislation is expected or is already in place for 2017. Key changes will be in the hiring of temporary workers through an agency (referred to as “personnel leasing” in Germany), employee protection and equal treatment. Reform of laws regarding personnel leasing One of the main developments in 2017 will … Continue reading

Key French employment law developments in 2017

As 2017 is a Presidential election year in France, we do not expect major changes in employment legislation to occur in France in the near future.  However, this does not mean that French employment lawyers will be unoccupied. First and foremost, the El Khomri law (dated 8 August 2016), which significantly modified the employment law … Continue reading

What rights do workers have to rest breaks in Germany?

This post was also contributed by Sebastian Kutzner, Trainee, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (Munich). Due to increasing demands for a work life balance, uncertainty as to employees’ rights to rest periods, in particular, is widespread. German law distinguishes between two types of rest periods: Rest breaks (to be granted during working time); and Resting time … Continue reading

Federal unionized employers – Proposal for anti-scab provisions rejected

In March 2016, we issued a legal update discussing Private Member’s Bill C-234. This Bill, tabled by the NDP, proposed the introduction in the Canada Labour Code of measures comparable to the anti-scab provisions contained in the Québec Labour Code. This NDP proposition was undertaken to support longstanding unions’ demands – in the past, similar … Continue reading

Recent Ontario decision confirms that social media spaces are part of the workplace

The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v. Toronto Transit Commission (Use of Social Media Grievance), [2016] O.L.A.A. No. 267 decision deals with the use of social media in the workplace, and to what extent employers are required to manage their accounts in a way that protects their employees. The employer created a Twitter account for … Continue reading

NLRB allows student assistants to form union

In the much anticipated Columbia University decision, the National Labor Relations Board reversed its most recent precedent and held that student teaching assistants at private colleges and universities are statutory employees under the National Labor Relations Act and may therefore vote to form a union.  This decision is a return to an earlier decision by … Continue reading
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