A negotiator of the bargaining agent requested access to work sites during working hours to meet with employees in the bargaining unit to discuss collective bargaining issues – the employer denied access for that purpose – the Board found that the collective agreement is not a complete code of access to the employer’s premises – the employer’s discretion to refuse the bargaining agent the use of its facilities for purposes other than those set out in the collective agreement should not be absolute – the employer did not have compelling and justifiable business reasons for preventing a lawful activity of the bargaining agent in the workplace – the employer’s denial ran contrary to the Act, particularly when the legislative purposes expressly stated in its preamble are considered.

Complaint allowed.