American and foreign grievance systems: Public policy and grievance arbitration in Canada

Comparison of American and Canadian grievance resolution systems. Major differences include less centralized authority in Canada (other than in interprovincial and international business); greater legal restrictions on strikes and lockouts during the contract term; greater responsibility for establishing dispute resolution mechanisms during the contract term; common requirement for final and binding settlement of “disputes arising,” often specifying arbitration as the means; appointment of arbitrator if the parties fail to do so; power to modify defective arbitration clauses; enforcement procedures; and statutory conciliation procedures. Two provinces are experimenting with changes in processes.