Public Service Staff Relations Board (PSSRB) - Canada

The PSSRB is the impartial federal public service labour relations organization. It is committed to promoting and supporting harmonious employer-employee relations in the Federal Public and Parliamentary Service. It is a quasi-judicial statutory tribunal responsible for the administration of the Public Service Staff Relations Act (and also of the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act). Proceedings before the Board include:

1. grievance adjudication;
2. applications for bargaining agent certification;
3. revocation of such certification;
4. complaints on unfair labour practices;
5. the designation of positions as necessary to the safety or security of the public;
6. the identification of managerial or confidential positions; and
7. references of safety officers’ decisions and complaints by public servants under the safety and health provisions of Part II of the Canada Labour Code.

The Board initiated in September 1999 a one-year trial mediation pilot project. Under this project, all grievances and complaints referred to the Board for determination will automatically be referred to mediation. If this method is given a positive evaluation, it will become a permanent step in the resolution of disputes before the Board.