	Home \| Sitemap \| Contact Us \| Media Room \| Links

Campaigns & Issues Publications & Research Upcoming Events Need a Union?About AFL

Health Care

Health Care Overview
Third Way

Fort McMurray

Battleground Fort McMurray

Farm Workers

End the Drought!
Background Information
Alberta Farm Workers Day
Farm Worker Exemptions

First Contract Arbitration

First Contract Arbitration Overview

Phony Unions

Beware of Phony Unions

Temporary Workers

Temporary Foreign Workers
Policy Statement
Background
Advocate
Letter to Iris Evans

Kids in Restaurants

Our Oil Our Jobs Campaign

Shipping Jobs Down the Pipeline
Oil Sands Development Hearing, Sept 2006
AFL Oil Sands Policy

Bill 26

Transparency, Integrity at Labour Relations Board

UPDATE!! LRB Agrees to New Protocol [April 2007]

In April 2007, the LRB agreed to adopt a new protocol governing interactions between LRB officials and the Alberta government. The protocol adopts all the principles of the Sossin Report, and sets up one of the strongest accountability and transparency regimes in the country.

As a result, UNA, CEP and the AFL have announced that they are withdrawing their legal action against the LRB.

AFL Media Release on the Protocol, April 3, 2007

New LRB Protocol

Involvement of Key LRB Officials in drafting anti-worker legislation raise questions about Board impartiality

In 2003, Bill 27 was passed in 2003 to amalgamate bargaining units in the health sector. Its effect was to rip up dozens of collective agreements, force bitter run-off votes, and remove the right to strike for mental and community health workers. It was widely viewed as an anti-worker piece of legislation.

In late 2005, documents came to light demonstrating that key Labour Relations Board (LRB) officials were actively involved in the drafting of Bill 27. This participation was a serious breach of their role as the independent "court" for labour relations. The documents are linked below.

Report Identifies Need for Better Accountability

In June 2006, the AFL released a report it commissioned from the Associate Dean of Law at the University of Toronto examining the role of the LRB in the affair. Read the report here.

The report finds a number of areas where the LRB failed in its duty to protect the integrity and transparency of the tribunal, placing at risk its relations with stakeholders. The report also finds that other jurisdictions hold their LRBs to a higher standard than Alberta does.

It makes three recommendations for how to prevent the identified shortcomings in the future, including instituting a protocol for LRB officials.

Why This is Important

The LRB was charged with interpreting and implementing Bill 27, and in doing so made key decisions affecting thousands of workers in Alberta.

By particpating in the legislation's drafting, the LRB compromised itself. It cannot legitimately act as both drafter of legislation and then act as that law's judge and executioner. If that happened in the courts, no one would expect a fair trial.

The AFL and its affiliates continue to pursue this matter, through the courts, FOIP applications and political pressure. We want changes to the operation of the LRB to ensure the integrity and impartiality of the tribunal is protected.