Confidentiality Agreements – Lessons from Jan Wong

Oftentimes, employees will chafe when they are asked to sign confidentiality agreements limiting their ability to talk about a settlement reached regarding the termination of their employment. Many employees feel (perhaps rightly) that doing so allows the employer to avoid a public shaming for its behavior.  In the end, most employers insist upon confidentiality as one of the terms of the settlement, and they regularly include recourse for themselves if... Read More

Supreme Court breathes new life into the Charter in SFL

On the heels of its recent decision in Mounted Police Association of Ontario,[1] and with more distant roots in its judgments in BC Health Services[2] and Fraser,[3] the Supreme Court of Canada has breathed new life into section 2(d) of the Charter as it relates to the Canadian workplace. The Court’s decision marks a historic moment, not only for workers, but for the continued vitality of the rights protected by... Read More

Andrew Astritis Argues Judicial Review Application on Vacation Credit Entitlement

On January 7 and 8, 2015, Andrew Astritis appeared in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to argue a judicial review application. The application seeks to overturn a decision of an arbitrator on the right of employees to accumulate vacation credits.   Read More

SFL and the Persuasive Power of International Law in Charter Claims

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v Saskatchewan (“SFL”) will be remembered primarily for its historic conclusion that freedom of association under section 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes a protection for workers’ right to strike. But the comprehensive reasons of the majority also offer strong confirmation of the persuasive role that international law and Canada’s international commitments play when interpreting Charter... Read More

2015 Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck Human Rights/Social Justice Internship

Our firm is renewing its partnership with the University of Ottawa and continues its commitment and funding to the Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. Human Rights/Social Justice Internship. This exciting opportunity provides an excellent and meaningful summer work experience to students who are particularly interested in issues pertaining to social justice, human rights or equality rights. This is the 10th consecutive year that this paid internship has been sponsored... Read More

Workplace Privacy and Electronic Surveillance – A Right Still Looking for a Remedy

Nowadays most employees spend at least a portion of their workday using a computer, raising important privacy questions of what kinds of computer surveillance employers can implement on their employees’ work computers and under what circumstances. Questions relating to employer surveillance – when? why? how much is too much? – are long-standing issues in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces. Traditionally, decision-makers have been sharply divided over when employers can implement... Read More

RavenLaw Articling Student Daniel Tucker-Simmons Wins Housing Justice Case

On January 13, 2015, Daniel Tucker-Simmons, an articling student at RavenLaw, won a case before the Landlord and Tenant Board on behalf of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). ACORN has been fighting for years to improve housing conditions in the low – mid income areas in Ottawa for its members and others. The case involved a landlord’s failure to repair a 150-meter stretch of walkway which had... Read More

The Federal Court Endorses a Robust Approach to Protection against Workplace Violence

On November 13, 2014, in PSAC v Attorney General of Canada, 2014 FC 1066, the Federal Court considered Part XX of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, which imposes a host of obligations on employers to prevent and respond to workplace violence. The Court’s decision affirmed the broad definition of workplace violence under the Regulations, and the mandatory obligations on employers to appoint an impartial person to investigate employee... Read More

Supreme Court of Canada affirms collective bargaining rights of RCMP members

In Mounted Police Association of Ontario v Attorney General of Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada today ruled that all workers have a constitutional right to be represented in collective bargaining by an association of their choosing that is independent of the employer. Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are excluded from the Public Service Labour Relations Act. Instead, they are required to address labour relations issues through... Read More

Labour Appreciation Awards a huge success!

On December 1, 2014, the Ottawa and District Labour Council hosted its annual Labour Appreciation Awards to recognize and celebrate the dedicated work of unions, members and activists in advancing workers’ rights. In total, five awards were presented: Community Activist Award, Labour Pioneer Award, Health and Safety Activist Award, United Way Ottawa Ambassador and Labour Activist Award. We congratulate all the nominees and winners. Along with the Ottawa and District... Read More