Mediation Services

The clients of the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) have access to mediation services in three areas: as part of the collective bargaining process, following the submission of grievances or complaints for adjudication, and as a preventive measure to resolve workplace disputes at an early stage, thus avoiding a formal process.

Mediation as part of collective bargaining

• When the parties reach a point in their face-to-face negotiations where it is increasingly difficult to make progress, either party (or both) may choose to request the services of a mediator.
• The Chairperson of the PSLRB may at any time, upon request, or on his or her own accord, appoint a mediator to confer with the parties to a dispute and to endeavour to assist them to settle the dispute. See section 108 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act.

For more information, please see the fact sheet on collective bargaining.

Mediation following the submission of grievances or complaints for adjudication

• Whenever a grievance or a complaint is submitted to the PSLRB for adjudication, a letter is sent to the parties to assess their interest in participating in the mediation process.
• If the parties choose mediation, they forward information for their contact person (name, title, phone number and electronic address) to the PSLRB.
• A mediator is named by the Chairperson.
• The mediator will get in touch with the contact persons in preparation for the mediation session.
• The PSLRB takes care of logistics, such as identifying mediation rooms and coordinating the date and time of the mediation session.

Preventive Mediation

• Parties to a conflict may call upon the mediation services of the PSLRB even in the case of a file that has not officially been referred to adjudication. The file may or may not be the subject of a grievance or complaint.
• A joint request for service from both parties may be forwarded to the Chairperson of the PSLRB and should include the information indicated in the model letter.
• According to availability, the Chairperson will appoint a mediator.
• The mediator will get in touch with the contact persons in preparation for the mediation session.
• The PSLRB takes care of logistics, such as identifying mediation rooms and coordinating the date and time of the mediation session.

For more information, refer to the fact sheet on mediation.

The PSLRB's Dispute Resolutions Services team is dedicated to providing impartial third-party assistance to help parties resolve disputes between them to their mutual satisfaction.