National Academy of Arbitrators 75th Annual Meeting & Education Conference: Arbitration in a Changing World: COVID, COVID, COVID: A Multitude of Workplace Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on workplaces and union-management relations. Arbitrators, unions, and employers have dealt with new and developing issues such as mandatory vaccination, testing, accommodation, protection of worker health and safety, sick pay, discipline for safety violations, leaves of absence, and many other issues.

Arbitrator Upholds TDSB Mandatory Vaccination Policy

On March 22, 2022, Arbitrator William Kaplan issued The Toronto District School Board and CUPE, Local 4400 (Re COVID-19 Vaccine Procedure), an award in which he upheld the mandatory vaccination policy (Policy) of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). He found that the Policy did not infringe section 7 (life, liberty and security of person)…

Further Easing of Ontario Public Health Restrictions Coming March 21, 2022

On March 11, 2022, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 213/22 which amends O. Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. O. Reg. 213/22 gives effect to the further reduction of public health restrictions in force…

Reminder to Universities and Colleges: New Requirements for Sexual Violence Policies Coming into Force on March 1, 2022

On March 1, 2022, new requirements will come into force that require universities and colleges to ensure that their sexual violence policies prevent discipline against a student who is found to have violated the institution’s drug and alcohol policies when such a violation is disclosed in the course of good faith efforts to report sexual…

Ontario to Ease Capacity Limits and Lift Proof of Vaccination Requirements

With the key public health indicators improving and the Omicron variant beginning to retreat, the Ontario government has announced that public health measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 will be eased, effective February 17 and March 1, 2022. The province has announced that it intends to lift proof of vaccination requirements and all…