Dispute resolution at the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia: The application of cooperative approaches

The Labour Relations Board of BC (the “Board”) is the quasi-judicial body responsible for administering the Labour Relations Code (the “Code”). The Code is the legislative framework governing the formation, maintenance and termination of relationships between employers and trade unions within the provincial jurisdiction. Among its various statutory duties, the Board must encourage cooperative participation between employers and trade unions in resolving workplace issues, and promote conditions favourable to the orderly, constructive and expeditious settlement of disputes. Two central research questions are addressed in this paper: (1) How can the Board utilize its structure and processes in keeping with the Duties section of the Code to enhance relationships between employers and trade unions? (2) Should the Board amend its structure and/or processes to enhance relationships between employers and trade unions?; These questions are considered through an action research approach that involves members of the labour relations community and practitioners responsible for administering the Code. The goal of the research is to consider the application of the duties to encourage cooperation and constructive dispute resolution through contextual dialogue between those who administer the Code and those who use the Board's services. This action research is supplemented with concepts and insights from relevant literature. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...