Senior Specialist Labour Relations Arbitration-CA

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for collaborating with leaders to identify and prepare arguments to defend the company's position on Labour Relations (LR) issues. The role establishes, maintains, and develops a solid working relationship with union representatives, colleagues, and clients to promote a co-operative and effective LR climate.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the maintenance of good working relationships with union representatives to promote a co-operative and effective labour relations climate
• Attend union and management meetings, record decisions and conduct follow ups to ensure appropriate actions are taken
• Input and update grievance records in a grievance management system
• Utilize the grievance management system to pull trend reports and analyze data
• Identify grievance trends and work with leaders on action plans to reduce grievances
• Coach Front Line Supervisors (FLS) and middle Managers on key collective agreement issues, responding to grievances, and other LR concerns
• Support FLS on employee issues, including collective agreement interpretation, discipline, attendance management, application of the Canada Labour Code and other employer obligations, such as the duty to accommodate
• Assist the LR Manager with preparing for joint conference or labour-management meetings
• Hold meetings with union representatives to resolve grievances before proceeding to arbitration
• Prepare and present grievances at arbitration

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management. The role requires minimal travel (10%) within Canada and the United States (U.S.).

Experience

Labour Relations

• Minimum 2 years of labour relations experience in a unionized environment, or equivalent
• Experience interpreting and applying collective agreements and relevant federal employment legislation
• Experience building strong and positive relationships with stakeholders
• Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor's or Associates Degree in Labour, Industrial Relations, or equivalent, or minimum 5 years of experience working in a rail or industrial environment
• Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered

Competencies

• We Care About Each Other
• We Strive for Excellence
• We Succeed Together
• We Lead Responsibly
• Influence
• Stakeholder management
• Build trust
• Listening
• Interpersonal flexibility

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Ability to prepare consolidated material to be presented to a third party
• Ability to assess and analyze business issues and make recommendations
• Ability to understand and apply key concepts and best practices in LR
• Strong computer skills
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills
• Fluently bilingual, both written and verbal (English, French)