Council of Labour Relations Executives (CLRE)

Labour Relations is a niche and contentious area.

You work to strengthen your union-management climate, manage negotiations, and navigate emerging labour relations trends.

Are you looking for peers to discuss your strategies?

Managing labour relations presents unique challenges. But whether your interest is in collective bargaining, union–employer relations, or tracking movements in Canada’s labour landscape, the Council of Labour Relations Executives (LRC) is your gateway to leading-edge research, networking, and insights.

Transform your union–management approach. Forge lasting relations with peers in the labour relations space. Join the LRC today.

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Who should join?

Senior executives who are responsible for their organization’s labour relations strategy and programs.

All LRC members operate on the employer side, which allows them to share successes and challenges in an open and candid environment. Members represent a wide variety of industries and sectors, both private and public.

Key objectives

Discuss major themes influencing collective bargaining in Canada—today and in the future
Establish a network of labour relations professionals from across the country to discuss concerns impacting bargaining and labour trends
Deliver member-driven sessions with Canada’s leading labour relations employers, unions, legal professionals, thought leaders, and academics

Benefits of membership

Networking

Connect with your peers in a confidential environment to exchange ideas, challenges, and labour relations strategies from an employer perspective.

Research

Stay current. Access our annual Labour Relations Outlook and stay up to date on top negotiating issues, insights on top priorities, and the collective bargaining environment in the coming year.

Sharing

Add your voice to our roundtable discussions—a fixture at every meeting—to share your most important labour issues with peers from across the country.

Current members

Alberta Health Services

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

Andrew Peller Limited

BC Hydro

BC Transit Corporation

Bell Canada

Boeing Canada Operations Ltd.

Bower Consulting Services Inc.

British Columbia Public School Employers' Association

Canada Post Corporation

Canadian Blood Services

Canadian National Railway Company

Cargill Limited

Enbridge Gas Inc.

FETCO Inc.

GE Canada

Greater Toronto Airports Authority

Husky Energy Inc.

Hydro-Québec

Imperial Oil Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited

McGill University

NAV CANADA

NB Power

NOVA Chemicals Corporation

Pratt & Whitney Canada

Purolator Inc.

Saputo Inc.

Seaspan ULC

SMS Equipment Inc.

TELUS Communications Inc.

The Ledcor Group of Companies

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

The University of British Columbia

University of Calgary

University of Ottawa

University of Toronto

University of Waterloo

Vale Canada Limited

VIA Rail Canada Inc.

WorkSafeBC

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

“The Conference Board of Canada do an amazing job through the Council of Labour Relations of both building a network of peers from across various industries, and providing them with forums and agendas on relevant, timely and critical matters that all labour relations executives face. The Conference Board of Canada nurture an environment which is collaborative, with open-sharing of information, and high caliber guest speakers in a setting which is both professional and enjoyable. ”

Client

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Member activity

Next session

October 6, 2021

Theme: Outlook for 2022
(Will be held jointly with the Council of HR Executives (East and West) and the Compensation Research Centre

(Agenda coming soon)

Speakers

Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist
Kelsey Coburn, Research Associate, The Conference Board of Canada
Natalie Arruda, Research Associate, The Conference Board of Canada

October 27–28, 2021

Theme: Outlook for 2022 (continued)

(Agenda coming soon)

Speakers

February 2022

Theme: TBC
(Agenda and speakers TBC)

Previous sessions

June 16–17, 2021

Theme: Vaccine’s in the Workplace

Speakers

Anita Remartinez, Manager, Human Resources ExxonMobil Canada
Mariam Abou-Dib, Director of Government Affairs at Teamsters Canada
Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the National President of UNIFOR
Darrell Hayashi, Director of Labour Relations at Purolator
Dale Hildebrandt, Senior Director, Industrial Relations, The Ledcor Group of Companies.

February 24–25, 2021

Theme: Leading through disruption: The power of authenticity

Speakers

David Irvine, Speaker and Author
Rachelle Stenhouse, Director, Disability Management and Employee Wellness, Canada Post
Monica Haberl, Senior Research Associate
Natalie Arruda, Research Associate, The Conference Board of Canada

Recent themes

COVID-19 vaccinations
The impact of COVID on disability management and related leave programs at Canada post
Leading through disruption: The power of authenticity

Advisory board

Alan K. Bower (Chair)

President and Chief Executive Officer
Bower Consulting Services Inc.

Greg Conner

Vice-President of People and Culture
BC Transit Corporation

Mitch Medina

Manager, Employee Relations
North Atlantic Operations, Vale Canada

Anita ReMartinez

Manager, Human Resources
ExxonMobil Canada, Imperial

Recent releases and events

Labour market gets boost from vaccine rollout: Compensation Planning Outlook 2022

The data briefing for the Compensation Planning Outlook summarizes the results of the Conference Board’s annual survey and forecast. This data briefing will cover the effect of the vaccine rollout and employment.

Online experience | 8-min read
September 7, 2021

Free for members

Labour Relations Outlook 2021

How do you bargain during a pandemic? And what are others doing? This outlook informs labour leaders, management, and policy-makers about 2021’s unique negotiating environment and the issues that will shape it. Our Labour Relations Outlook will be released in two parts this year—a Conference Board first.

Online experience | 8-min read
March 25, 2021

Vaccination Policies Survey

As provinces and territories move to vaccinate Canadians against COVID-19, employers are faced with an unprecedented challenge: how to fulfill their duty to ensure a safe work environment without the power to mandate vaccinations. The Conference Board of Canada asked employers across the country about their vaccination policy plans, and whether accommodations will be made for employees who won’t—or can’t—roll up their sleeves.

Online experience | 8-min read
March 4, 2021

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