File your Collective Agreement Online: The Labour Relations Board’s New Online Filing Tool

Under section 51(1) of the BC Labour Relations Code (the “Code”), each of the parties to a collective agreement must file a copy of it with the Board within 30 days of the collective agreement’s execution. If the collective agreement is not filed, the Board has the discretion to decline to consider it in a Board proceeding.  

Previously, parties were required to submit copies of collective agreements to the Board via email. Now, parties can submit the relevant information via the Board’s online filing tool.

The online filing tool allows employers/ employers’ associations, unions/ bargaining associations, or third parties supporting bargaining to upload collective agreements.

The online filing tool requires the submitting party to provide their name and contact information, as well as mandatory details about the collective agreement, including:

1. employer name;
2. union name;
3. term start and end date; and
4. whether the collective agreement is a Master collective agreement.

Following upload of the collective agreement, submitting parties will have the opportunity to provide information regarding:

1. whether this is the first collective agreement or a renewal of a collective agreement;
2. whether job action occurred during bargaining;
3. whether agreement was reached at the bargaining table, mediation, or binding arbitration;
4. wage provisions;
5. non-wage provision changes;
6. the date of the first bargaining meeting; and
7. the date of settlement.

Parties that wish to continue to file collective agreements with the Board may do so. However, the online filing tool will provide parties with another avenue to comply with their obligations under section 51(1) of the Code. If you have any questions regarding the Board’s online tool, please contact your Harris lawyer.