Senior Labour Relations/Employment Law Counsel, Flight Operations

Senior Labour Relations/Employment Law Counsel, Flight Operations

Job Category: Support & Administration

Requisition Number: SENIO002176

• Posted: December 14, 2024
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

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The Senior Labour Relations/Employment Law Counsel will provide strategic and operational expertise in managing labour relations and fostering positive employee-employer relationships. This role is critical in ensuring credible and knowledgeable advice in all areas of Labour Relations, including interpretation of the Collective Agreement, the Canada Labour Code, Health and Safety issues, arbitrations, and jurisprudence to management and personnel responsible for bargaining unit employees, supporting the company’s mission to uphold best practices in the highly dynamic aviation industry.

Essential Position Functions:

Labour Relations Strategy:

• Develop and implement labour relations strategies aligned with the Company’s business objectives.
• Advise management on labour relations policies and practices, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and collective agreements.
• Represent Cargojet in labour arbitration (both in traditional and expedited formats), and in litigation before the Courts as well as the Canada Industrial Relations Board and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal or their provincial counterparts.
• Draft and review correspondence and hearing documents (briefs, witness statements, written arguments, motion records, settlement documents, etc.).
• Gather and review the information necessary to respond to inquiries, complaints, and grievances.
• Advise on collective bargaining matters and support bargaining teams in reaching advantageous agreements.
• Provide advice on a variety of employment law-related matters to the Human Resources Department.

Collective Bargaining:

• Lead or support collective bargaining negotiations with unions, including preparation, strategy development, and drafting of agreements in consultation with Flight Operations Management.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment during negotiations.

Union Management:

• Foster effective working relationships with union representatives.
• Manage grievance and dispute resolution processes, providing recommendations to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Represent the Company at all steps of the grievances and arbitration hearings.
• Represent the Company at various external agencies and arbitration/mediations.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with the Canada Labour Code, human rights legislation, and other applicable regulations in the aviation industry.
• Maintain accurate records of labour relations activities and prepare reports for senior management.

Employee Relations:

• Advise Management on employee relations issues, including disciplinary actions and terminations, to ensure fair and consistent treatment of employees.
• Support workplace investigations and provide guidance to resolve employee concerns effectively.

Industry Insights:

• Stay updated on trends, legislative changes, and emerging best practices in labour relations within the aviation sector.
• Provide insights on the impact of industry-specific regulations on labour relations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Member of the Bar for at least 7-10 years in one of the Canadian provinces or territories.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of labour and employment practice in a law firm or in a large corporate environment with a track record of success providing legal advice and counsel on a broad range of issues. Preferably experience in the aviation industry.
• Strong negotiation and advocacy skills in grievance arbitration, labour board proceedings, and employment-related litigation. Proven experience in collective bargaining and managing unionized work environments.
• Experience in arbitration, human rights tribunal proceedings, and judicial proceedings preferred.

Knowledge:

• In-depth understanding of the Canada Labour Code and other relevant employment laws.
• Familiarity with the unique labour challenges and operational needs of the aviation sector.
• Strong business sense.

Skills:

• Exceptional negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Important to Know:

• Cargojet is an equal opportunity employer. We thank you for your interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
• We are committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you require accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.
• At Cargojet, we make safety the highest priority. Because of this priority and as we operate in a safety-sensitive environment, we require all employees to abstain from consuming cannabis, in and outside of the workplace. This is a critical element of our drug and alcohol policy that all employees must comply with at all times.