Sunday, December 5, 2021 What Is the Duty of Fair Representation? Section 20 of the Manitoba Labour Relations Act imposes a duty upon a union to fairly represent all employees in a bargaining unit covered by the collective agreement in any matter arising out of the administration of that agreement Newsletters Manitoba Local 306 It is an unfair labour practice for a union to represent employees in a manner that is arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith when it is administering a collective agreement. In dismissal cases, the union will be committing an unfair labour practice if it acts negligently. CLAC has a responsibility to represent members. How we do that must be based on law, and this prevents us from acting in a way which is discriminatory, arbitrary, or in bad faith. CLAC’s representation applies both to individuals (e.g., in a disciplinary meeting or when filing a grievance for someone who was wrongfully terminated) and to the entire group (e.g., during collective bargaining). Deciding how to respond to any issue must be based on the law. We do research and consult lawyers to determine what issues we should pursue. We do not take up every challenge that members want us to, but we are held to a high standard in ensuring we do not refuse challenges that we should take on. You might be interested in Behind Every Smile 23 Jul 2026 #WomenWednesday - Shandora Threadgould 22 Jul 2026 The Power of Asking for Help 20 Jul 2026 How to Manage an Insecure Leader 16 Jul 2026