Manitoba's Strategic Advantages: People and the Workforce
Manitoba’s Labour Relations Act
The Labour Relations Act is the primary statute regulating labour relations and collective bargaining in Manitoba. It covers most employees in the private and public sectors.
The Act provides a means whereby a group of employees can choose a union to represent them. They do so by satisfying the Manitoba Labour Board that the majority of them desire such representation. Once a union is certified by the Board, it can then bargain on behalf of the employees in the unit to arrive at an agreement with the employer as to what wages the employees will be paid, and what benefits, working conditions and obligations they will have.
The Act promotes orderly collective bargaining and it contains a number of sections regulating the bargaining process, the content of collective agreements and the timing of strikes and lockouts.
The Labour Relations Act is administered by the Manitoba Labour Board, an independent administrative tribunal with specialized expertise in labour relations matters. Board membership has equal representation from labour groups and employer organizations.
Information about Manitoba's Labour Relations Act and the Manitoba Labour Board can be found here.
