Bill 70 explained in plain English
York University Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2018
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 41st Parliament, 3rd Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
The York University Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2018 requires an end to the labour dispute between York University and CUPE Local 3903, and mandates a mediation-arbitration process to reach new collective agreements.
This Act addresses a labour dispute between York University and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3903. It aims to end a strike or lock-out, and establish a process for creating new collective agreements through mediation-arbitration. The Act outlines the roles of a mediator-arbitrator, the criteria for making decisions, and the process for finalizing new agreements. It also includes provisions for penalties if the Act is not followed and states that the Act itself will be repealed at a later date.
- Requires York University and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3903 to end any strike or lock-out.
- Requires York University to operate and continue its operations.
- Establishes a process for resolving outstanding matters in the labour dispute through mediation-arbitration.
- Appoints a mediator-arbitrator to facilitate the creation of new collective agreements.
- Specifies the powers and duties of the mediator-arbitrator.
- Outlines the criteria the mediator-arbitrator must consider when making decisions.
- Sets timelines for the mediation-arbitration process and the execution of new collective agreements.
- Makes the mediator-arbitrator's award final and binding.
- Establishes penalties for contravening the Act's provisions.
- States that the Act will be repealed on a future date determined by proclamation.
- York University (employer)
- Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3903 (bargaining agent)
- Employees represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3903
- Students at York University
- Minister of Labour
- Employer must use all reasonable efforts to operate and continue operations.
- Employer must terminate any lock-out in effect.
- Bargaining agent must terminate any strike in effect.
- Employees must terminate any strike in effect and resume duties, unless for health reasons or by mutual consent.
- Prohibition on employees striking or persons calling/authorizing a strike, except as allowed after a new collective agreement is in place.
- Prohibition on the employer locking out employees, except as allowed after a new collective agreement is in place.
- Terms and conditions of employment remain the same until a new collective agreement is executed or comes into force, unless parties agree otherwise.
- Parties are required to jointly appoint a mediator-arbitrator within a specific timeframe.
- Parties must notify the mediator-arbitrator of agreed-upon matters.
- Parties must execute documents giving effect to the mediator-arbitrator's award within a specified period.
- The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
- The mediator-arbitrator must be appointed on or before the fifth day after the Act receives Royal Assent.
- The mediation-arbitration proceeding must begin within 30 days after the mediator-arbitrator is appointed.
- The mediator-arbitrator must make all awards within 90 days after being appointed, unless extended or the proceeding is terminated.
- Parties must execute documents giving effect to the award within seven days after the award is made, or within an extended period of no more than 30 days.
- If parties fail to execute documents prepared by the mediator-arbitrator, they come into force seven days after receiving them.
- The Act is repealed on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.
- Each party (York University and CUPE Local 3903) must pay one-half of the fees and expenses of the mediator-arbitrator.
- The mediator-arbitrator's award may provide for retroactive alteration of terms and conditions of employment to dates after August 31, 2017.
- The mediator-arbitrator must consider the employer's ability to pay in light of its fiscal situation and the extent to which services may have to be reduced if current funding and taxation levels are not increased.
- Contravention or failure to comply with sections related to ending strikes/lock-outs and prohibitions on strikes/lock-outs is an offence.
- Individuals convicted of an offence may be liable to a fine of not more than $2,000.
- Other entities convicted of an offence may be liable to a fine of not more than $25,000.
- Each day of contravention or failure to comply constitutes a separate offence.
- Strikes or lock-outs in contravention of specific sections are deemed unlawful strikes or lock-outs for the purposes of the Labour Relations Act, 1995.
- The specific day the Act will be repealed is not yet determined, as it is subject to proclamation.
- The Act does not preclude an employee from not reporting to work or performing duties for reasons of health or by mutual consent.
- The exact number of students whose courses were adversely impacted is stated as approximate (76 per cent of York's student population).
- The text does not specify the exact date of Royal Assent, only that it receives it.
- The definition of 'listed bargaining unit' for Unit 2 has several exclusions which could lead to interpretation questions.
- The specific date for the commencement of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 provisions regarding strike and lock-out rights after a new collective agreement is executed or comes into force under subsection 19 (5) is dependent on the timing of the new agreement.
The Act will govern the right to strike or lock-out only after a new collective agreement is in place. In cases of conflict with this Act, this Act prevails. Certain sections of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, regarding offences and mediation-arbitration proceedings, apply with necessary modifications.
Source: Sections 2(2), 2(3), 7(3), 8, 14(3), 6
The Act itself will be repealed on a day to be named by proclamation.
Source: Section 20
The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Source: Section 21
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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