Appellate Court Finds National Day of Mourning Not a Paid Holiday Under Collective Agreements

The issue of whether the National Day of Mourning is considered a “holiday” under a particular collective agreement has been the topic of recent arbitral decisions. On November 7, 2023, the Divisional Court weighed in on the issue and found that the National Day of Mourning is not a paid holiday under the applicable collective…

Supreme Court Expands “Freedom of Association” and Recognizes Right to Strike

In three decisions released in late January, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada has once again revisited, and expanded, the reach of section 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter“), which guarantees “freedom of association”. In two cases involving the RCMP, the Court held that the unique bargaining scheme imposed on…

Hicks Morley Cited in Canadian Civil Liberties Association Rights Watch Blog

Hicks Morley’s FTR Now entitled “No Charter-Protected Right to Strike Says Saskatchewan Court of Appeal” was cited in the October 17, 2013 edition of Canadian Civil Liberties Association Rights Watch blog in an article entitled “Supreme Court of Canada to Decide on the Right to Strike“. Hicks Morley’s Paul Broad authored this FTR Now, which…

No Charter-Protected Right to Strike Says Saskatchewan Court Of Appeal

In a much-anticipated decision – Government of Saskatchewan v. Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, 2013 SKCA 43 – a five-member panel of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has found that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter“) does not guarantee a right to strike for unions and their members. Rather, the Court found that…

Michael Hines Mentioned in The Globe and Mail

Hicks Morley’s Michael Hines was mentioned in the April 11, 2013 edition of The Globe and Mail in an article entitled, “Ontario teachers’ union call to halt voluntary activities was illegal strike action: labour board.“ The article discusses a recent decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board where it was decided that the Elementary Teachers’…

International Employment Lawyer Newsletter Publishes an Article by Michael Hines

An article by Hicks Morley’s Michael Hines was published in the September edition of International Employment Lawyer Newsletter. In the article entitled, “Canada – Freedom of Association under the Charter: Snake or Tree?“, Michael discusses recent contradictory judicial decisions concerning the “right to strike” asserted under section 2(d) of the Charter as interpreted by the…