Labour Relations

The Preamble to Part I of the Canada Labour Code provides, among other things, that the Parliament of Canada "deems the development of good industrial relations to be in the best interests of Canada in ensuring a just share of the fruits of progress to all."

The Government of Canada "desires to continue and extend its support to labour and management in their cooperative efforts to develop good relations and constructive bargaining practices."

The Labour Program has, over the years, developed numerous services, measures and initiatives to assist employers and employees in creating and maintaining a workplace that is conducive to good industrial relations.

It may be equally interesting to note that, according to the experts, good relations in the workplace are more important for job satisfaction than pay and benefits. In the experts' view, good industrial relations are in fact the essential factor in what is considered a "good job".

This section therefore concerns:

• The various tools enabling employers and employees to prevent and resolve disputes. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service provides conciliation, mediation, preventive mediation and arbitration services. Here you will also find information on the Industrial Relations Internship Program, a conciliator and mediator recruitment program.
• Collective Bargaining Information and Analysis, access to the Labour Program databases. This is an up‑to‑date source of information on industrial relations and collective bargaining. For example, employers and employees will find information on wage adjustments, an annual survey of labour organizations and negotiations currently under way.
• The Labour-Management Partnerships Program, a contribution program designed to encourage effective labour-management relations in the workplace or at the sectoral level by providing funding assistance that supports efforts by unions and employers to jointly explore new ways of working and of working together.
• The report of the Study on Work Stoppages in the Federal Private Sector examines the causes that influence the risk, frequency and duration of work stoppages in businesses and undertakings covered by Part I of the Canada Labour Code.
• Useful links, including Provincial/Territorial Governments Labour Relations Contacts and the Canada Industrial Relations Board.