The Labour Relations department is mandated to promote, protect, develop, and to represent the employers’ interests when appearing before the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), the Canada Industrial Relations Board (C.I.R.B.), and other administrative tribunals. It is also mandated to negotiate all collective agreements in the Ports of Montreal, Trois-Rivières/Bécancour, Toronto and Hamilton.

The department is also qualified to offer any assistance in the interpretation and application of collective agreements. To this end, important resources are dedicated to labour relations, in particular, four (4) labour relations consultants are available to the members, at all times, in order to resolve potential conflicts and to interpret clauses in the collective agreement.

In addition, Labour Relations handles all grievances. When a grievance is filed, a process is set in motion which will end in either a negotiated agreement or a hearing before an arbitrator. The department acts as a link between the member company, legal counsel and all other persons involved.