Grievance Mediation

Conciliation Services Grievance Mediation Program is designed to assist management and labour resolve workplace grievances.

Grievance Mediation can be used once the grievance process has been exhausted and prior to the use of arbitration. The program is voluntary and initiated by a request for assistance from both parties. Once a request is received, a professional mediator is assigned to assist the parties. Meetings are normally scheduled within two weeks. With the assistance of the mediator, labour and management are guided through a process which is flexible, informal and creative. The main focus is to identify the interests of the parties in order to find a solution which each can see as a reasonable conclusion to the issue. In the event that the parties are unable to resolve the issue through the mediation process, each party has the right to exercise other options, including arbitration.

Points of Interest

• The parties control the process, actively shaping their own solution, which helps future communications and problem solving;
• The program is a cost effective alternative to arbitration.
• The mediator's services are provided at no cost to the parties. The process attempts to resolve issues in a short time frame, avoiding costly time delays and improving labour/management relations.
• The Department's statistics show a success rate for Grievance Mediation in excess of 85%.

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