Guide To Bill 148 | Labour Relations Act Amendments

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Examining the many provisions of Bill 148, both in amending the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Act, a "holistic" analysis of the reforms suggests that Ontario's principal objective is to make it easier for unions to organize and become certified bargaining agents in the Province's private sector workplaces.

Ontario has for decades adhered to a version of the "Wagner model" of collective bargaining, where employees have a right to select a bargaining agent and have that agent "certified" by the Labour Relations Board. Thereafter, an employer may not bargain directly with an individual employee. The bargaining agent is the sole voice of employees in negotiating terms and conditions of employees under the contract, the "collective agreement."  Unions also have a duty of representation towards employees, in matters under that collective agreement.