Labour Relations Officer - Litigator

at  ONTARIO NURSES ASSOCIATION

DATE: APRIL 15, 2024

Founded in 1973, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is a leading health-care union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals and 18,000 nursing student affiliates working in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, community, clinics and industry. ONA is committed to the advancement of the social, economic and general welfare of its members providing labour relations services that include representation of members to ensure their rights under the collective agreement are protected and negotiating the best possible terms and conditions of employment. ONA advocates for the highest standards of health care for all Ontarians. Looking to the future, ONA will continue to provide proactive strategies to raise the awareness of the value (including economic and patient benefits) of RNs with all stakeholders.
ONA is seeking to hire a Litigator to join our Litigation Team - Toronto office. As a member of the Litigation Team, and working within the boundaries of ONA’s governing and administrative policies, the vision and strategic outcomes, the successful candidate will provide litigation services to meet the service delivery needs of ONA and its membership.
Please note, this position will require regular travel throughout the province (particularly within the South and North regions).

• The Litigator is accountable for the functions of the Litigation Team mandate, which involves contract administration, achieving ONA’s position, maintaining the collective and individual rights of members, and providing strategic advice in relation to contract interpretation and related areas of practice.
• The Litigator primarily represents ONA and members at rights arbitrations.Accountable for providing advice in relation to other related areas of practice including human rights/return to work/accommodation, occupational health & safety, and proceedings before the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) under the Labour Relations Act, Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act, and/or the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act.
• Accountable for providing service to ONA including staff, bargaining units, and members in a manner that is consistent with ONA strategic outcomes and member values, keeping the interests of membership as the primary focus of work.
• Accountable for identifying risks and opportunities related to ONA achieving its goals/mandate including litigation strategies
• Accountable for actively participating as a team member to ensure that organizational accountabilities of the litigation team are met.
• Accountable for making observable contributions to the success of other team members and to the overall performance of the team including meeting team targets.
• Accountable for completing timely, quality work and for ensuring cases are properly prepared within an appropriate time frame in advance of the hearing.
• Accountable for consulting with the Manager, Litigation, and/or our Senior Legal Counsel, to ensure ONA and members’ rights are protected as needed, but is also able to act independently in working out and solving issues that arise in her/his work.
• Accountable for providing written reports to Management on areas of activity, as required including daily report and notification of significant cases including those with provincial implications.
• Accountable to demonstrate solid client relations and communication skills, and sound professional judgment.
• Accountable to act as a leader and mentor, and makes contributions toward the overall improvement of the litigation team and the litigation of cases, including work processes.
• Accountable to participate on education to staff and membership where requested.