Labour Board Now In Place

With the arrival of newly-appointed Labour Board chair Douglas Ruck and the merging of six boards complete, the province's plan to streamline workplace dispute resolution is operational.

The Labour Board was established in February, through the consolidation of four labour relations boards, to hear disputes between employers and the unions that represent their employees. The Labour Standards Tribunal, which hears disputes involving non-unionized workplaces, and the Occupational Health and Safety Appeal Panel, which hears appeals of OH&S orders and administrative penalties, joined the Board in June.

Mr. Ruck is a former Nova Scotia ombudsman, chair of the Labour Standards Tribunal and vice-chair of the Labour Relations Board, who came home to Nova Scotia after a distinguished legal career in Ontario. One of the first African Nova Scotians to serve on adjudicative boards, he is highly regarded at the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.

"As a full-time chair, Mr. Ruck will provide leadership to the new board and promote continued improvement in decision-making and board procedures," said Labour Board chief executive officer Mary-Lou Stewart.

Mr. Ruck will help the former boards come together as one, with common and consistent practices and procedures, and introduce a number of efficiency measures that will make it easier for parties appearing before the Board.

For more information about the Labour Board, see www.gov.ns.ca/lae/labourboard/