- June 9, 2021
- Miscellaneous
IATSE, Local 63 files an application with the Manitoba Labour Board (the “Board”) seeking to amend and merge two certificates with respect to stage hands working at the Prairie Theatre Exchange on the basis that the two bargaining certificates and corresponding collective agreements that were in place created a fragmented situation and unnecessarily complicated labour relations matters. The first certificate and collective agreement concerned supervisory employees and the other concerned non-supervisory “casual” employees. Local 63 argued that the collective agreements were similar and, as such, labour relations efficiency and convenience would be enhanced if the collective agreements were combined and negotiated together.
The Board dismissed the application of Local 63 on the basis that it was not satisfied that the consolidation would enhance labour relations stability without creating labour relations problems for the parties. The evidence regarding the history of collective bargaining between the parties suggested that the existing configuration had worked “more than adequately for the parties and ha[d] not caused labour relations problems” (para 6(h)) over several rounds of collectively bargaining renewal collective agreements for each bargaining unit. In particular, there had been no strikes or lockouts or grievances filed. There was no evidence of significant or material change that would justify consolidating the bargaining units. Further, maintaining a separate bargaining unit for supervisory employees was consistent with other cases.