Focus Area Information

Labour Relations

Labour Relations in the Ontario Public Service

Effective labour relations are critical to the OPS, a diverse working environment comprised of more than 67,000 employees in more than 20 ministries and agencies. In a workforce that is over 85 per cent unionized, labour relations professionals represent the employer in ongoing interactions with employees and union representatives. A labour relations career in the OPS involves:

  • Representing the employer in collective bargaining
  • Representing the employer at conciliations, mediation, arbitration and other quasi judicial panels
  • Working cooperatively with each of the OPS’ bargaining agents including – Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), Association of Management, Administrative & Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO), Professional Engineers Government of Ontario (PEGO) Association of Law Officers of the Crown/Ontario Crown Attorneys Association (ALOC & OCAA), the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) and the Association of Physicians and Dentists in the Public Service (AOPDPS)
  • Interpreting provisions of the collective agreements and employment legislation such as the Public Service Act, the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, the Ontario Labour Relations Act, the Employment Standards Act, and the Ontario Human Rights Code
  • Working with management, employees, and union representation on grievance administration
  • Providing labour relations advice to ministries on policy and corporate matters such as appropriate disclosures, restructuring and divestment
  • Developing critical techniques and strategies to build and maintain effective labour relations.

Skills and Abilities

We are seeking candidates who possess knowledge and can demonstrate a variety of skills and abilities including:

  • Conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation skills to help employees, managers, human resource professionals and bargaining agents work towards joint problem solving
  • Awareness of legislative framework and ability to interpret and apply legislation, collective agreements and policies, such as Ontario Labour and Employment Legislation and a wide range of HR policies, procedures and guidelines related to recruitment, health, safety and wellness, performance management, and learning and development
  • Research and analytical skills to develop options, make recommendations, and provide advice to managers and human resources professionals on grievance management, collective agreement entitlements, and OPS policies, practices, and procedures
  • Teamwork skills refer to working co-operatively and collaboratively within a team or workgroups to achieve group and organizational goals
  • Customer service skills involves identifying and serving an organization's customers who may include the public, colleagues, partners, and peers
  • Communication skills refer to effectively writing and orally presenting information in a clear, concise and accurate manner
  • Problem solving skills involves understanding a situation by breaking it apart into smaller pieces, or tracing the implications step-by-step and working towards solutions
  • Professional judgement refers to the ability to draw on one’s own experience, knowledge and expertise to demonstrate good judgement and relating professional knowledge (technical, theoretical and/or experiential) to specific problems.

What to Expect

As a Labour Relations intern, your work could include:

Managing Conflicts and Issues

  • Gain practical expertise in conflict resolution and client service skills
  • Prepare options and proposals for the resolution of disputed issues and grievances
  • Prepare and present research that reflects an understanding of public and private sector labour jurisprudence and how it relates to or affects current issues.

Mediating and Negotiating

  • Work on grievance administration, negotiations and labour relations research
  • Prepare and assist in the presentation of cases before the Grievance Settlement Board and other resolution forums
  • Participate in the negotiation of collective agreements.

Consulting and Advising Clients

  • Investigate complaints and provide collective agreement interpretations/advice to HR professionals and managers
  • Assist with the development of interpretive bulletins and practical guides on human resources and labour relations in the OPS.

Training and Development

  • Assist in the development and delivery of labour relations training programs to ministries.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning of your career in the Ontario Public Service.

An internship is an opportunity to learn and develop your labour relations skills along with your communications, research, and consulting skills in the public service. It is intended to be the start of a public service career to prepare and develop you for job opportunities in the Ontario Public Service. An internship in this area can prepare you for a career in several areas, among them:

  • Employee Relations Advisor
  • Corporate Staff Relations Officer
  • Mediator/Arbitrator
  • Operations Manager.