Employer Can Bar Union Reps from Workplace during Work Hours

The Treasury Board wouldn’t let union reps into the worksite to conduct meetings with employee members during work hours. The union claimed unfair labour practices but the court disagreed. The Board has a right to control its workplace; the meetings were disruptive and emotional; and the collective agreement granted the union access only for resolving grievances and attending meetings called by management’not for regular communications with employees during work hours [Canada (Attorney General) v. Public Service Alliance of Canada, 2017 FCA 208 (CanLII), Oct. 16, 2017].