Government looking at changes to code governing union-employer dynamics
The B.C. government has opened public consultations on a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at modernizing the province’s labour relations framework.
The long-anticipated report from the 2024 Labour Relations Code Review Panel is now live on the govTogetherBC website, inviting stakeholders to share their views on potential changes to the code that governs union-employer dynamics across the province.
“The report and recommendations of the 2024 Labour Relations Code Review Panel are now posted publicly for review and feedback,” the government stated in its announcement, marking the next phase of a statutory review process that occurs every five years.
Regulations meant to provide fairness, minimum-wage measures and basic protections for app-based ride-hailing and delivery workers took effect last fall in B.C.
Appointed on Feb. 1, 2024, the independent panel—composed of labour relations experts Michael Fleming, Sandra Banister, and Lindsie Thomson—was tasked with ensuring the code remains relevant amid evolving workplace norms.
Their report, submitted to the then-Minister of Labour on Aug. 31, 2024, is the first comprehensive examination since the 2018 review that led to significant reforms in 2019 and 2022.
From February to May, the panel engaged with diverse groups, including Indigenous communities, labour organizations, employers, legal experts, and citizens across B.C., through public hearings and written submissions.
The panel’s remit included assessing how workers organize, how disputes are resolved, and how the rights of both unions and employers are balanced in a rapidly changing labour market.
“The Ministry of Labour will consider this feedback to determine next steps on the panel’s recommendations,” the province noted, underscoring that no immediate legislative changes will be made until public input is weighed.
The Labour Relations Code governs critical aspects of collective bargaining within B.C.’s provincially regulated sectors, including union certification, labour dispute resolution, and the conduct of both unions and employers. The current review aims to align provincial laws with the broader rights and protections available to Canadian workers.
Submissions and the full panel report are available through govTogetherBC, with public commentary open for an as-yet unspecified period.
British Columbia expects a massive labour shortage in the province over the next decade. From 2024 to 2034, there will be 1.12 million job openings in the province, according to a report from WorkBC.
