Public Sector Labour Law (LAW260H1F)

As union density shifts from the private to the public sector, the unique legal constructs governing public sector labour relations are now clearly central to the practice of labour law. School boards, hospitals, municipal emergency services, universities, social service agencies, and the Ontario public service are all part of the collective bargaining regimes that this course will examine from a practical and critical perspective. We will review the public interest rationale used to justify unique departures from the standard collective bargaining model in areas such as interest dispute resolution, bargaining structure, content of collective bargaining, choice of bargaining agents, statutory characteristics of employment, and even access to collective bargaining itself.

Law in this area changes constantly in response to government interest in reorganizing and affecting outcomes. The course will provide an overview of this constantly changing environment, including the recent constitutional law developments which may be redefining the reach of government authority over public sector labour relations.