Public Service Labour Relations Act (S.C. 2003, c. 22, s. 2)

Marginal note:Continuation of terms and conditions

56. After being notified of an application for certification made in accordance with this Part, the employer may not, except under a collective agreement or with the consent of the Board, alter the terms and conditions of employment that are applicable to the employees in the proposed bargaining unit and that may be included in a collective agreement until

• (a) the application has been withdrawn by the employee organization or dismissed by the Board; or

• (b) 30 days have elapsed after the day on which the Board certifies the employee organization as the bargaining agent for the unit.

Marginal note:Determination of unit

• 57. (1) When an application for certification is made under section 54, the Board must determine the group of employees that constitutes a unit appropriate for collective bargaining.

• Marginal note:Consideration of employer’s classification

  (2) In determining whether a group of employees constitutes a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, the Board must have regard to the employer’s classification of persons and positions, including the occupational groups or subgroups established by the employer.

• Marginal note:Unit co-extensive with occupational groups

  (3) The Board must establish bargaining units that are co-extensive with the occupational groups or subgroups established by the employer, unless doing so would not permit satisfactory representation of the employees to be included in a particular bargaining unit and, for that reason, such a unit would not be appropriate for collective bargaining.

• Marginal note:Composition of bargaining unit

  (4) For the purposes of this Part, a unit of employees may be determined by the Board to constitute a unit appropriate for collective bargaining whether or not its composition is identical with the group of employees in respect of which the application for certification was made.

Marginal note:Determination of questions of membership in bargaining units

58. On application by the employer or the employee organization affected, the Board must determine every question that arises as to whether any employee or class of employees is included in a bargaining unit determined by the Board to constitute a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, or is included in any other unit.

Marginal note:Application

• 59. (1) After being notified of an application for certification made in accordance with this Part, the employer may apply to the Board for an order declaring that any position of an employee in the proposed bargaining unit is a managerial or confidential position on the grounds that

  • (a) the position is confidential to the Governor General, a Minister of the Crown, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court or the Tax Court of Canada, or a deputy head;

  • (b) the position is classified by the employer as being in the executive group, by whatever name called;

  • (c) the occupant of the position provides advice on labour relations, staffing or classification;

  • (d) the occupant of the position has substantial duties and responsibilities in the formulation and determination of any policy or program of the Government of Canada;

  • (e) the occupant of the position has substantial management duties, responsibilities and authority over employees or has duties and responsibilities dealing formally on behalf of the employer with grievances presented in accordance with the grievance process provided for under Part 2;

  • (f) the occupant of the position is directly involved in the process of collective bargaining on behalf of the employer;

  • (g) the occupant of the position has duties and responsibilities not otherwise described in this subsection and should not be included in a bargaining unit for reasons of conflict of interest or by reason of the person’s duties and responsibilities to the employer; or

  • (h) the occupant of the position has, in relation to labour relations matters, duties and responsibilities confidential to the occupant of a position described in paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (f).

• Marginal note:Content of application

  (2) The application must set out every position that the employer considers to be a position referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (h).