Public Service Labour Relations Act (S.C. 2003, c. 22, s. 2)

Marginal note:Death, incapacity or resignation of single member

• 143. (1) In the event of the death, incapacity or resignation of the member of an arbitration board that consists of a single member before the arbitration board makes an arbitral award, the Chairperson must appoint another person in accordance with section 139. That person must recommence the arbitration proceedings from the beginning.

• Marginal note:Vacancy — board with three members

  (2) If a vacancy occurs in the membership of an arbitration board that consists of three members before the arbitration board makes an arbitral award, the vacancy must be filled by the Chairperson by appointment in the manner provided in section 140 for the selection of the person in respect of whom the vacancy arose.

Marginal note:Referral to arbitration

• 144. (1) Subject to section 150, after establishing the arbitration board, the Chairperson must without delay refer the matters in dispute to the board.

• Marginal note:Subsequent agreement

  (2) If, before an arbitral award is made, the parties reach agreement on any matter in dispute that is referred to arbitration and enter into a collective agreement in respect of that matter, that matter is deemed not to have been referred to the arbitration board and no arbitral award may be made in respect of it.

Marginal note:Assistance to parties

145. As soon as possible after being established, the arbitration board must endeavour to assist the parties to the dispute in entering into or revising a collective agreement.

Marginal note:Procedure

• 146. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Part, the arbitration board may determine its own procedure, including the date, time and place of its proceedings, but both parties must be given a full opportunity to present evidence and make representations.

• Marginal note:Quorum and absence of members

  (2) The chairperson of the arbitration board and one other member constitute a quorum in the case of an arbitration board consisting of three members but, in the absence of a member at any proceedings of the board, the other members may not proceed unless the absent member has been given reasonable notice of the proceedings.

Marginal note:Powers

• 147. (1) The arbitration board has all the powers of the Board set out in paragraphs 40(1)(a), (d), (e) and (h) to (j).

• Marginal note:Delegation

  (2) The arbitration board may authorize any person to exercise any of its powers set out in paragraphs 40(1)(d), (e), (i) and (j) and require that person to report to it on the exercise of those powers.

Marginal note:Factors to be considered

148. In the conduct of its proceedings and in making an arbitral award, the arbitration board must take into account the following factors, in addition to any other factors that it considers relevant:

• (a) the necessity of attracting competent persons to, and retaining them in, the public service in order to meet the needs of Canadians;

• (b) the necessity of offering compensation and other terms and conditions of employment in the public service that are comparable to those of employees in similar occupations in the private and public sectors, including any geographic, industrial or other variations that the arbitration board considers relevant;

• (c) the need to maintain appropriate relationships with respect to compensation and other terms and conditions of employment as between different classification levels within an occupation and as between occupations in the public service;

• (d) the need to establish compensation and other terms and conditions of employment that are fair and reasonable in relation to the qualifications required, the work performed, the responsibility assumed and the nature of the services rendered; and

• (e) the state of the Canadian economy and the Government of Canada’s fiscal circumstances.