Labour Relations Specialist

About Us

St.Amant supports over 2,200 people in Manitoba with developmental disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury. We are a not-for-profit organization that offers a wide range of supports for adults, children and their families. Our over 2,000 staff follow a person centered approach and adapt to the needs of each person and each family. St.Amant is guided by its core values of Collaboration, Hospitality, Excellence and Respect.

Position Summary and Scope of Service

Reporting to the Senior Human Resources Manager, the Labor Relations (LR) Specialist is responsible and accountable for providing leadership in labor relations matters and providing strategic and operational labor relations advice. The LR Specialist is responsible and accountable for the consistent interpretation and application of collective agreements, as well as coordination and administration of labor relations practices, initiatives, and activities within St.Amant.

The LR Specialist is further responsible for the implementation and continuous improvement of labor relations practices and initiatives that enhance the efficient and effective delivery of services within St.Amant, while maintaining compliance with applicable legislation and regulations. The LR Specialist is responsible for providing labor relations advice, guidance, support, and direction where applicable or appropriate, through effective partner consultation and engagement.

Qualifications

Educational: 

• University degree in Industrial Relations OR University degree with commensurate experience in Labour/Industrial Relations. Alternatively, a completed post-secondary school education program (including courses related to Labour Relations) and commensurate experience (including equivalent knowledge and ability in Labour/Industrial Relations)
• 5 years of relevant Labour Relations experience in a unionized environment, preferably in healthcare
• Experience in the administration and interpretation of collective agreements (MNU, MGEU, etc.)
• Knowledge of Manitoba Legislation, such as the Labour Relations Act, Manitoba Employment Standards, and Manitoba Human Rights Code
• Related Human Resource operations work experience in a unionized work environment, including grievance preparation, coaching managers with unionized employees, and collective agreement administration

Professional: 

• Proven experience as a Labour Relations Specialist or similar role, with a thorough understanding on labour laws, collective bargaining, and union relations.
• Strong negotiation, meditation, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to effectively resolve disputes and reach mutually beneficial agreements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with employees, union representatives, and management at all levels.
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities, with the capacity to analyze complex issues and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and experience with HRIS software.
• Proficient judgement, reasoning and problem-solving skills, combined with strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Strong writing and communication skills with excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment, while balancing conflicting priorities.

Personal:

• Communication skills– proven ability to communicate effectively with external and internal stakeholders on complex and sensitive labour relations matters, including negotiating and bargaining.
• Problem-solving skills – proven ability to identify issues, analyze root causes, and develop practical solutions to complex challenges. Adaptable and flexible to address changing business needs and requirements.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive employee information. Compliance with confidentiality and data protection regulations/policies is paramount.
• Customer service orientation – customer focused mindset to provide responsive support and guidance to St.Amant leadership regarding labour relations inquiries and other related matters. A commitment to delivering high-quality service with professionalism and empathy.

 Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides subject matter expertise in labour relations matters.
• Provides consultation, advice, assistance and leadership in the interpretation and administration of various collective agreements, employer policies, and other relevant legislation.
• At Arbitrations/Third Party Representations, prepares and acts as St.Amant representative, under the leadership of the Senior Manager, HRS.
• Represents the organization on grievances under the leadership of the Senior Manager, HRS.
• Represents the organization during Human Rights and legal proceedings.
• Negotiates settlements and/or agreements with organization-wide implications.
• Handles and represents the organization on all policy grievances.
• Advises HRS on difficult, complex, and high-risk labour relations issues and, where appropriate, identifies the existence of such issues to minimize risk to the organization.
• Provides consultation and advice to HRS leadership to minimize risk to the organization of liability exposure based on collective agreement language, employment law, and common law jurisprudence.
• Provides interpretive guidance on collective agreement administration, employment law matters, and arbitration decisions.
• Fosters and maintains effective working relationships with regional and provincial union representatives and engages them in the advocacy, mediation, and negotiation of contract issues and grievances.
• Collaborates with key partners to research and identify issues in preparation for collective bargaining.

Working Conditions:

• Considerable multi-tasking, extreme attention to detail required, and pressure to meet deadlines.
• Working hours can be irregular and extended due to meeting schedules and special events.
• High paced and deadline driven.
• High level of responsibility for accuracy of work.
• Work efficiently with distractions and frequent interruptions.
• Working collaboratively and cross-departmentally.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature of this position and is not considered to be a complete statement of duties and responsibilities. Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned provided they are consistent with the qualifications identified and fall within the parameters of this role.

St.Amant is a bilingual organization. Proficiency in both official languages (French/English) would be considered an asset.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates will be required to provide a satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening, Adult Abuse Registry Check, Child Abuse Registry Check and Prior Contact Check.

As a Condition of Employment, new hires must complete a series of Occupational Health checks. This includes the requirement to confirm immunization or immunity of specific communicable diseases. Successful applicants will also be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to start date.

St.Amant supports equitable employment practices and promotes an inclusive workforce representative of the people we support including diverse abilities, backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Applicants can request reasonable accommodations in all aspects of the selection and hiring process.

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