Registration for the 23rd Mel Myers Labour Conference is Now Open.
March 19 – 20/2026 | VICTORIA INN HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTRE | 1808 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg, MB
The Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre will be offering a special rate for delegates attending the conference. To book your hotel, please contact the hotel directly at: 204-786-4801 and reference #370189 to receive the conference rate of $155 plus applicable taxes.
For questions or more information, please contact Elena Gagliardi at 204-995-8997 or by email at egagliardievents@outlook.com.
the Mel Myers Labour Conference
The Annual Mel Myers Labour Conference is Manitoba’s premier forum for bringing union leaders and union-side lawyers together to discuss concerns and explore solutions to issues within the unionized workplace.
In a “management-free” environment, knowledgeable individuals within their respective fields will lead informative, hands-on sessions providing attendees with the necessary ‘know-how’ and skills to help them deal with the diverse challenges facing the workplace today.
The conference is held annually as a non-profit event with proceeds donated to a charitable organization that espouses economic and social justice goals.
Since 2002, the Mel Myers Labour Conference has generated over $185,000 in proceeds donated to various Manitoba organizations.
MEL MYERS LABOUR CONFERENCE
Plenary Presentations & Conference Agenda
20.03.25 - SESSIONS A-C
A1/
Myers LLP
More Information coming Soon.
21.03.25 - SESSION D
D1/
Myers LLP
More Information coming Soon.
MEL MYERS LABOUR CONFERENCE
Plenary Presentations & Conference Agenda
THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2026 - 9:00am - 10:15amSkills for Difficult Conversations: Effective Strategies and Practical Tips
19.03.26 - SESSIONS A-C
A1/ WCB Claims and Appeals
Shannon Carson, Myers LLP, Jodi Plenert, Myers LLP, David Popke, MGEU, WCB Specialist
This session is designed to provide attendees with an overview of the WCB claim process. Topics covered will include general principles of workers’ compensation, available benefits, return to work and accommodation, and the appeal process.
A2/ Organizing Do’s and Don’ts
Susan Dawes, Myers LLP, Victoria Hodge, Myers LLP
This interactive panel will discuss the practical and legal realities of an organizing campaign, including: access to employees and employer property during the campaign; the certification process from start to finish; the proposed bargaining unit; employer rights to communicate during a campaign; unfair labour practices during organizing; and discretionary certifications. Bring your questions!
A3/ Dealing with Difficult Grievors
Greg Bartel, Myers LLP, Mike Segstro, Myers LLP
Unreasonable demands, unrealistic expectations, “doing their own research”. Every union has difficult members who know more than you do – just ask them! This panel offers practical thoughts on managing those members (and their expectations) throughout the course of both their employment and yours! The panel also discusses strategies to have
A4/ Ask a Labour Lawyer
Paul McKenna, Myers LLP, Trevor Ray, Myers LLP, Paul McDonald, MGEU
This session puts the panel on the hot seat by giving attendees the opportunity to ask the labour law questions on their minds. The panelists will answer questions about organizing, bargaining, collective agreements, discipline, management rights, workers’ rights, employment – related statutes, and “almost” anything else you are wondering about. Please note this session is not intended to address specific fact situations and is intended for general information only.
B1/ Workplace Safety and Health Update
Shannon Carson, Myers LLP, Amanda Cheys, Myers LLP
This session will provide an update on legislative changes and recent caselaw pertaining to workplace safety and health. We will also discuss strategies to consider in advancing workplace safety and health issues.
B2/ Off-Duty Conduct
Greg Bartel, Myers LLP, Victoria Hodge, Myers LLP
Where does an employer’s authority end and an employee’s personal life begin? The starting point is that what employees do on their own time is none of the employer’s business, and off-duty conduct cannot justify discipline unless there is a clear, demonstrable connection to the workplace. This session will examine the legal limits on employer authority, challenge overreach in disciplining workers for off-duty activities, and define the line between legitimate workplace concerns and an employee’s right to privacy.
B3/ Medical Privacy
Paul McKenna, Myers LLP, Michael Merner, Myers LLP
The protection of an employee’s personal medical information continues to be a controversial subject in the workplace. This session will explore issues of medical privacy including: Can employers require medical notes for absences and proof of fitness to return to work, and if so, how much personal medical information are they allowed to request? Can an employer require employees to submit to independent medical exams? What are employees required to provide if seeking accommodation for a medical condition? How do we protect the privacy of medical information?
B4/ Unions 101
Joel Deeley, Myers LLP, Jodi Plenert, Myers LLP
Unions 101 is an introductory session designed for persons new to the workings of Unions. The topics discussed will be of general application to all Unions, including the roles and responsibilities of Union Representatives and Shop Stewards. The speakers will also discuss some of the more contentious issues that seem to occur in most workplaces. Participants are welcome at all times to ask questions about areas of concern they may have experienced in dealing with management on a daily basis.
C1/ Discipline Fundamentals
Jeff Smorang, Myers LLP, Amanda Cheys, Myers LLP
This panel will discuss the disciplinary process from start to finish, beginning with the initial investigation meeting and proceeding through to arbitration. The panel will address issues including: the investigation process, right to union representation, grounds for imposing discipline, principles of progressive discipline, steps to take at the early stages to mitigate the penalty and factors arbitrators consider when being asked to reduce a penalty.
C2/ Family Status Accommodation
Joel Deeley, Myers LLP, Clair Cerilli, Myers LLP
Family status is a protected ground in Canada. It has been interpreted to include both childcare and eldercare responsibilities. Much of the case law centres on scheduling and shift work, where parents seek accommodation to meet their caregiving obligations. Yet, the legal test for establishing discrimination on this basis remains unsettled in Manitoba and, in fact, varies across jurisdictions. This session will guide you through the legal tests currently applied across Canada, highlighting their differences and practical implications and how you can support members who are seeking accommodation based on this protected ground. It will also walk you through recent caselaw where discrimination was established, and, where it was not.
C3/ Unions 101 (Repeat of B4)
Greg Bartel, Myers LLP, Jodi Plenert, Myers LLP
Unions 101 is an introductory session designed for persons new to the workings of Unions. The topics discussed will be of general application to all Unions, including the roles and responsibilities of Union Representatives and Shop Stewards. The speakers will also discuss some of the more contentious issues that seem to occur in most workplaces. Participants are welcome at all times to ask questions about areas of concern they may have experienced in dealing with management on a daily basis.
C4/ Ask a Labour Lawyer (Repeat of A4)
Paul McKenna, Myers LLP, Trevor Ray, Myers LLP, Paul McDonald, MGEU
This session puts the panel on the hot seat by giving attendees the opportunity to ask the labour law questions on their minds. The panelists will answer questions about organizing, bargaining, collective agreements, discipline, management rights, workers’ rights, employment – related statutes, and “almost” anything else you are wondering about. Please note this session is not intended to address specific fact situations and is intended for general information only.
FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2026 - 9:00am - 10:15amEssential Services Fundamentals: How Does It Look A Year In?
20.03.26 - SESSION D
D1/ Union Communication Beyond the Hearing Room
Shannon Carson, Myers LLP, Jeff Smorang, Myers LLP, Mike Sutherland, Manitoba Nurses Union, Brandi Johnson, Manitoba Nurses Union
This session will focus on legal issues and strategy pertaining to union advocacy and representation outside of arbitrations and the labour board, and in the public sphere.
D2/ Social Media and the Workplace
Kristen Worbanski, Myers LLP, Clair Cerilli, Myers LLP
The use of social media and related online forums for communicating and expressing views has exploded, and given rise to many contentious issues within the workplace for employees and Unions. We will consider and provide a case law update on the implications for employees of the blurred line between public and private communications on social media, including whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of social media posts, the extent to which an employer can impose discipline for what employees say on social media platforms, and examples of social media conduct giving rise to discipline in both employment and professional regulatory contexts.
D3/ Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace
Trevor Ray, Myers LLP, Mike Segstro, Myers LLP
Drug and alcohol testing policies have become more common in all workplaces. In this session, the panel discusses how to evaluate whether an employer’s drug and alcohol policy is reasonable: Are all drug and alcohol testing policies permitted? How wide-reaching can they be? What effect does the actual workplace have in determining the reasonableness of a policy? Particular forms of testing discussed will include pre-employment or site access
testing, reasonable cause testing, and post-incident testing.
D4/ Interest Arbitration
Joel Deeley, Myers LLP, Michael Merner, Myers LLP
The panel will explain interest arbitration, its principles, advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss the role of interest arbitration as an alternative to strikes. Finally, we will examine how the basic principles of interest arbitration can be used effectively during a first contract hearing pursuant to The Labour Relations Act of Manitoba.
Conference Gallery
