Stay sharp, stay compliant. Missing critical legal updates could derail your next round of bargaining—be the one in the room who knows what’s changed, what’s coming, and how to use it to your advantage.
Learn to confidently navigate tough negotiations without crossing into bad faith territory and explore how transparency through open bargaining can be a powerful strategic advantage. You’ll also get critical clarity on strikes, lockouts, and other job actions—what’s legal, what’s not, and how to protect your organization. Don’t risk costly mistakes or outdated approaches—arm yourself with the latest insights, tactics, and tools to bargain smarter and stay compliant.
Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on emerging trends, legal updates, and strategies to navigate challenges in the workplace. With expert insights, participants will leave better equipped to effectively manage negotiations, advocate for workers, and stay ahead of evolving issues.
What You’ll Learn
Conference attendees will:
Understanding the Legal Landscape
Gain a clear overview of the current legal framework governing collective bargaining in Ontario and across Canada, including key statutory provisions and regulatory trends.
At the Bargaining Table: Rights, Strategies, and Legal Duties
Explore the legal responsibilities of parties during negotiations, along with strategic considerations for effective and compliant bargaining practices.
Hard Bargaining or Bad Faith? Drawing the Line
Delve into the legal distinction between tough negotiation tactics and unlawful bad faith bargaining, with practical examples and guidance.
Open Bargaining: Transparency as a Strategic Tool
Examine the rise of open bargaining approaches, their legal implications, and how transparency can be leveraged for productive negotiations.
Legal or Illegal? Navigating Job Actions with Confidence
Understand the legal parameters around strikes, lockouts, and other job actions
Recent Case Law and Legislative Updates
Stay informed with a concise review of recent decisions and changes in legislation that impact collective bargaining
Who Should Attend
VP’s, Directors and Managers of Human Resources in Unionized Settings
VP’s, Directors and Managers of Labour Relations
Union Presidents, Officials, Business Agents, Stewards and Committee Members
In-House Counsel
Lawyers in Private Practice
Labour Relations Consultants
Mediators, Arbitrators and Conciliators Government Representatives
Faculty
Program Chair
Jodi Martin
Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Instructors
Matthew Badrov
Littler Mendelson PC
Colleen Bauman
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Donald K. Eady
Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Sundeep A. Gokhale
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Michele Hamilton
Interim General Counsel, Ontario Principals’ Council
Samantha Lamb
Jewitt McLuckie & Associates LLP, Ottawa
Mathias Link
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Simon Mortimer
Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Emma Phillips
Goldblatt Partners LLP
Graeme Reniers
Executive Director of the Ontario College of Art and Design Faculty Association (OCADFA)
Joel Schwartz
Legal Counsel, Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Professor Sara Slinn
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Diane Irvine
Director, People Services, York University (Participant of Osgoode's Labour Law Certificate)
“Love online – this affords me the opportunity to attend and its interactive … having a variety of presenters also really helped”
Agenda
Welcome & Opening Remarks from the Chair
Start the day with key insights from the Program Chair and an overview of what’s ahead.
Jodi Martin, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Understanding the Legal Landscape: Collective Bargaining in Ontario and Canada
Gain a strong foundation in the key legal frameworks that shape collective bargaining in both provincial and federal jurisdictions. This session covers the Labour Relations Act (Ontario), the Canada Labour Code, and the constitutional right to bargain collectively – essential knowledge for any labour relations professional.
Overview of key laws: Understand the Labour Relations Act (Ontario) and the Canada Labour Code and their impact on bargaining.
Charter rights: Learn about the constitutional right to collective bargaining and key legal decisions.
Tribunal roles: Clarify the functions of the OLRB and CIRB in enforcing labour laws.
Mathias Link, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Toronto
Professor Sara Slinn, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
At the Bargaining Table: Rights, Strategies & Legal Duties
Explore what’s legally required—and what’s strategically effective— when bargaining a collective agreement. Learn how to navigate the duty to bargain in good faith, manage the disclosure of information, and deal with impasses. We’ll also discuss how to handle the tricky “in-between” period after a collective agreement has expired.
Colleen Bauman, Goldblatt Partners
Hard Bargaining or Bargaining in Bad Faith? Where Do You Draw the Line?
What distinguishes assertive bargaining from unlawful conduct? This deep-dive session explores how tribunals and courts interpret the duty to bargain in good faith—and where negotiators can unintentionally cross the line.
Define the legal duty to bargain in good faith under Ontario and federal law.
Differentiate between tough negotiating tactics and unlawful bad faith bargaining.
Review case law and tribunal decisions that clarify where the line is drawn.
Learn practical tips to stay assertive without breaching legal obligations.
Matt Badrov, Littler Mendelson PC
Michelle Hamilton, Interim General Counsel, Ontario Principals’ Council
Open Bargaining: Transparency as a Strategy
Is more openness the key to more productive bargaining? This session introduces the concept of open bargaining, its potential benefits, the challenges it presents, and the lessons learned by those who’ve tried it.
Understand the concept of open bargaining and how it differs from traditional approaches.
Explore potential benefits, including improved trust, communication, and member engagement.
Consider the challenges, such as managing expectations and maintaining focus at the table.
Hear real-world lessons from organizations that have implemented open bargaining strategies.
Graeme Reniers, Executive Director of the Ontario College of Art and Design Faculty Association (OCADFA)
Joel Schwartz, Legal Counsel, Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Emma Phillips, Goldblatt Partners
Legal or Illegal? Navigating Job Actions with Confidence
Strikes and job actions are high-stakes tools—understanding what’s lawful is critical. This session clarifies the legal thresholds for protected actions and examines the risks of missteps in today’s evolving labour climate.
Nini Jones, Jones Pearce LLP
Recent Case Law and Legislation: Key Updates You Should Know
Stay current with the latest legal decisions and legislative changes affecting collective bargaining. This session provides practical takeaways and highlights how new developments are shaping the bargaining process.
Review recent court and tribunal decisions impacting collective bargaining rights and practice
Get up to speed on legislative changes at both the provincial and federal levels.
Understand how new developments are influencing bargaining strategies and outcomes.
Take away practical insights to help you adapt to the evolving legal landscape.
Sharpen Your Conflict Resolution Skills: Practical Workshop
Gain practical tools for managing disputes and reducing friction at the table. This skills-focused session introduces proven approaches to conflict resolution that can lead to more collaborative—and successful—negotiations.
Roundtable Panel: The Future of Collective Bargaining
Where is collective bargaining headed? This dynamic discussion explores how artificial intelligence, workplace automation, and shifting labour priorities are transforming the way we negotiate. Learn how forward-thinking unions and employers are adapting language, expectations, and process for the next generation of bargaining.
Panelists
Donald K. Eady, Paliare Rolland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Simon Mortimer, Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Moderator
Jodi Martin, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Chairs Closing Remarks and Program Wrap up
Jodi Martin, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
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Faculty, Langara College, Vancouver, B.C. (Participant of Osgoode's Labour Law Certificate)
“Excellent content and case examples”
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