On May 29, 2020, Ontario passed O. Reg. 241/20 (the “Regulation”) under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which allows unionized Ontario employers to provide pandemic pay to eligible workers without the agreement of the union or bargaining representative of such workers (for more information on pandemic pay, please read our recent article).
In particular, the Regulation provides that an agreement between an employer and a trade union or bargaining agent is not required for the employer to make payments of temporary pandemic pay to eligible employees, notwithstanding any statute, regulation, order, policy, agreement, or collective agreement.
This Regulation is good news for unionized Ontario employers with employees that are eligible for pandemic pay, because they have been relieved of any obligation to obtain the agreement of their employees’ union before providing such payments.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.