
Collective Bargaining Information Services
Last Update: July 22, 2025
ON, Canada
Collective bargaining resources in Ontario
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Expert Advice
Eligible Industries
- Construction
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open
Overview
Information for employers involved in collective bargaining processes with employee unions, including trends, recent settlements, wage developments, work stoppages and more.
Activities funded
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 60,000
Develop a mediation training program for union and management representatives to prevent work stoppages
$ 30,000
Creating a digital platform for cooperative decision-making for a non-financial cooperative
$ 80,000
Create an online platform for transparent communication about wage negotiations and work stoppages
$ 90,000
Implement advanced HR software to streamline collective bargaining processes in the organization
$ 68,000
Establish a data analytics team to monitor wage developments and support bargaining decisions
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for this grant include:
1. The parties must be regulated under the Labour Relations Act, 1995.
2. The employer and the union must have an expired collective agreement or be negotiating a first collective agreement.
3. The union and employer must be in a sector that has the ability to strike or lock-out.
4. A conciliation officer appointed by the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development must have been met.
5. The union must hold a strike vote and the majority of the votes must be in favor of going on strike.
6. The employer may request a last-offer vote from the Minister of Labour.
7. After reaching a tentative collective agreement, it must be ratified by the bargaining unit employees.
8. Collective agreements must be filed with the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
These criteria are essential for parties seeking to engage in the collective bargaining process and related activities in Ontario.
Who is eligible?
Unions and employers involved in the process of negotiating collective agreements in Ontario can apply for the appointment of a conciliation officer under the Labour Relations Act. This involves both parties being active in collective bargaining, which can include meetings and negotiations either for the first collective agreement or the renewal of an existing agreement.
Eligible expenses
The grant related to the collective bargaining process in Ontario involves activities surrounding the negotiation and establishment of collective agreements between unions and employers. The eligible projects focus on ensuring a smooth and legally compliant bargaining process, including assistance from conciliation officers and the handling of negotiation impasses.
- Initiating the negotiation process by providing notice to bargain for new or existing collective agreements.
- Requesting the appointment of a conciliation officer for assistance in reaching a collective agreement.
- Filing copies of newly reached collective agreements with the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
- Participating in conciliation meetings to resolve differences with the help of a conciliation officer.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant applies specifically to entities operating under the jurisdiction governed by Ontario's collective bargaining laws. Hence, eligible geographical areas are limited to Ontario, Canada.
- Organizations functioning within Ontario, Canada.
Selection criteria
Evaluation and Selection Criteria for the grant:
- Compliance with collective bargaining laws and regulations in Ontario
- Ability to demonstrate good faith bargaining between the union and employer
- Participation in conciliation process if required
- Ratification of collective agreement by bargaining unit employees
- Submission of the collective agreement to the Minister of Labour in the required format
- Adherence to strike and lock-out regulations as outlined in the Labour Relations Act
- Ability to engage in interest arbitration if necessary
- Process for requesting a last-offer vote if applicable
- Completion of all required steps in the collective bargaining process
These criteria are essential for ensuring a fair and lawful collective bargaining process in accordance with Ontario's regulations.
How to apply
1
Notice to Bargain
- Union or employer provides written notice to the other party to begin negotiations for a collective agreement.
- Ensure compliance with timing requirements as stipulated in any existing agreements or the LRA.
2
Request Appointment of a Conciliation Officer
- Prepare and submit a request to the Minister of Labour for the appointment of a conciliation officer.
- If bargaining the first collective agreement, include a copy of the OLRB certification or voluntary recognition agreement.
- If renewing an existing agreement, attach the most recent agreement and signed signature page.
- Send the request via email to the designated address with the necessary documentation attached.
3
File New Collective Agreement
- Once a new collective agreement is reached, file it with the Minister of Labour in the required format.
- Submit through the online submission page designated by the ministry.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for applicants involved in the collective bargaining process in Ontario:
- The requirement for a no-board notice or a conciliation board's report to legally strike or lock-out.
- A "Request for interest arbitration appointment" must be emailed, as mail or fax requests are not currently accepted.
- Collective agreements must be submitted in a digital format (Microsoft Word or PDF) to be filed with the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
- A "last-offer vote" can only be requested once per round of collective bargaining and cannot be done by email if attachments exceed 10 MB.
- Information and data related to collective agreements are accessible through the Collective Agreements e-Library website and Collective Bargaining Ontario.
- The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) plays a significant role in overseeing votes and certain disputes, highlighting their function in Ontario's labor relations system.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Collective Bargaining Information Services Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Collective Bargaining Information Services. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Collective Bargaining Information Services?
How much funding can be received?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the Collective Bargaining Information Services a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the Collective Bargaining Information Services?
Who is eligible for the Collective Bargaining Information Services program?
Who can I contact for more information about the Collective Bargaining Information Services?
Where is the Collective Bargaining Information Services available?

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