HI: Payment of Negotiating Costs

Negotiations are often held at a neutral location to facilitate a positive labour relations climate.  Costs of these sessions are shared equally between the Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) and the group with which the Board is negotiating.  The Board is invoiced directly and subsequently invoices the appropriate group for one half of the total cost.  When meetings are held at the Board offices or at the offices of the union with which the Board is negotiating, there is no cost to either party. 

Subject to agreements between the parties, an employee who is a member of the union with which the Board is negotiating may be granted leave of absence without loss of pay to prepare for or to participate in negotiations (leave for union business), and the Board shall continue payment of wages and benefits to the employee.  The Board shall invoice the union for those days when the parties do not meet but not for those days when negotiations take place. When representatives of the Board and the union meet in the presence of a third party for conciliation, mediation, or arbitration, each party shall pay its own fees, expenses, and costs, as well as the fees and expenses of the member of the arbitration board that it appoints, and share equally the fees and expenses of the chairman or single arbitrator.  Where the Minister of Labour appoints a chairman or single arbitrator, the parties will share equally the fees and expenses of the person appointed. 

Where the parties proceed to arbitration, the fees and expenses of the chairperson are shared between them.  Each party is responsible for the fees and expenses of its representative, whether nominated by the party or appointed by the Minister of Labour. The amount of the fee is usually established during discussion of the appointments. 

The printing of union agreements to standard size and format is at the cost of the Board.  The Board may also print a small pocket-sized version if there is a reasonable period left to be covered by the contract.  Distribution of the agreements to each union member is the responsibility of the respective union and the costs are borne by the union.  New employees of the Board are given a copy of the collective agreement of the union which the employee must join as a condition of employment.

DMT Responsibility: AS-HR