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AUDIO
CONFERENCE
Grievance Arbitration: Building a better process
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| WHEN: |
Thursday, May 7, 2009
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT
Playback: Monday, May 11, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT |
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| WHERE: |
Your
own office or boardroom |
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| MODERATOR: |
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Michael Lynk
Arbitrator/Mediator |
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| SPEAKERS: |
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Peter McLellan
Employer Counsel
Stewart McKelvey |
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Jan O'Brien
Staff Representative
B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union |
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ISSUES:
Grievance procedures are often riddled with bottlenecks that impede efficiency, escalate tensions and produce suboptimal resolutions. Our panel of experts will highlight dispute resolution techniques that are designed to enhance the grievance process and improve grievance outcomes. Issues to be covered include:
- Disclosure of information: Are employees entitled to see their personnel files and other documents in the employer's possession? Must a grievor submit to a medical examination at the employer's request? What information are parties entitled to obtain from each other, and on what terms? What information is "privileged" and therefore not subject to forced disclosure?
- Meetings: Should notes be kept? Agreed on? A transcript? Videotape? Do employees have a right to remain silent during a disciplinary meeting or at other stages of the grievance procedure? What role should the union representative play? As an advocate? As an advisor? As an observer?
- Timelines: Are timelines a good idea? Should they be mandatory? Which kinds of grievances should be expedited? Which should be started at a higher level? When will arbitrators extend deadlines?
- Settlements: What conditions encourage settlement at an early stage? Why is it important for each side to send a representative with decision-making authority to the union-management meeting? How can trust be built so that grievances are discussed candidly and resolved quickly? How should settlements be documented in order to avoid future problems? Who should participate in settlement discussions? What legal effect should settlements be given?
- Improving the grievance process: What are the advantages of getting a legal opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of your case at an early stage of the process? Should different procedures be followed for different types of grievances? Which types of grievances can be consolidated? Which should be accompanied by written briefs? Which types of grievances should receive a full-dress hearing? How can effective arbitrators be selected?
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This Audio Conference has been approved by the Law Society of B.C. for 1.5
hours of 2009 Continuing Professional Development credits, and by the Law Society
of Upper Canada for 1.5 hours towards the professional development requirement
for certification. |
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| Q
& A: |
Gather
your colleagues around a speakerphone in your own office or boardroom. Have the
opportunity to ask questions in the Question & Answer portions of the sessions.
An additional 15 minutes will be added at the end of the session for those who
wish to continue with Q & A. |
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| MATERIALS: |
Valuable,
up-to-date materials and case summaries will be available for downloading from
our website. |
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| REGISTRATION
FEE: |
$195,
plus GST (Registrations must be paid in advance of the audio conference).
Registration costs are per listening site/telephone, so you can have any number
of people listening at your location for one low price. Click here for registration information. |
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| CDs: |
Audio conference CDs, including a PDF copy of the materials from the conference, are available for $175 + GST per conference ($75 + GST for registrants). Click here to order. |
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| REGISTRATION
INFORMATION: |
When you register,
you'll be given a toll-free number to dial at the time of the
session and an access code to join the call. For additional program and registration information,
call Lancaster House at 416-977-6618 or register now. |
