Business Groups Raise Concerns about BC Labour Relations Board

July 2026

A coalition of British Columbia business associations has written to the provincial government expressing serious concerns about the BC Labour Relations Board and calling for meaningful reform.

Our Concerns

The Labour Relations Board plays a foundational role in British Columbia's economy. Its decisions affect union certification, collective bargaining, unfair labour practice complaints, and the resolution of workplace disputes across every sector of the provincial economy.

Our member organizations have reported growing concerns about the Board's operations, including increasing delays in case resolution, growing complexity and cost of proceedings, and questions about the balance and composition of Board appointments.

These concerns are not about the outcome of any individual decision. They reflect a broader erosion of confidence in the institution itself — confidence that is essential to a well-functioning labour relations system.

What We Are Calling For

We respectfully call on the provincial government to undertake a comprehensive review of the Labour Relations Board with a view to:

• Improving the timeliness and efficiency of Board proceedings
• Ensuring Board appointments reflect balanced expertise from labour, private-sector employers, and dispute resolution professionals
• Publishing enhanced performance measures and transparency reporting
• Reviewing certification procedures to ensure they reflect democratic principles and provide certainty for all parties
• Modernizing case management processes to reduce cost and complexity

Why This Matters

British Columbia competes every day for investment, jobs, and economic opportunity. A labour relations system that is balanced, transparent, and predictable is not simply good labour policy — it is good economic policy.

When investors and employers lack confidence in the institutions that govern workplace relations, investment decisions are affected. The undersigned associations represent tens of thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of workers across British Columbia. We are committed to a labour relations system that works fairly for everyone.

We look forward to engaging constructively with the government on these important issues.

Respectfully submitted,

The undersigned business associations

Signed by