The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2024 recognizes 26 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-cost, as leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Keith J. Murray*
Partner Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, T: 604.638.2041 C: 604.417.4405 F: 604.638.2049 kmurray@mathewsdinsdale.com
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Kaitlyn Lee Assistant 778.902.2557 klee@mathewsdinsdale.com
Biography
Bar admission
Law Society of British Columbia
Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Ontario
Education
University of Ottawa, B.A.
University of Toronto, LL.B.
Membership and affiliations
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch
Ontario Bar Association
Profile
Keith has been assisting employers for over 25 years providing strategic and timely advice on various workplace law issues. Keith is frequently retained to help his clients respond to challenging labour relations matters, union organizing campaigns, and human rights complaints.
Keith is one of the most experienced labour litigators in Western Canada, having represented employers in hundreds of arbitrations and labour board hearings. He routinely acts as chief spokesperson for employers in collective bargaining. He is recognized for his sound counsel, responsiveness and creativity in resolving disputes.
Keith, who works out of our Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary offices, services clients throughout Western Canada. He is counsel to both provincially and federally regulated employers throughout Western Canada, in a full range of industries. In particular, Keith has extensive experience in the warehousing, retail, manufacturing, construction, energy, private health care and brewing sectors. He is a member of the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Law Societies. Keith is recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada as a leading labour and employment lawyer, and as recommended counsel by the Legal 500, Canada. He is also listed by Who’s Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada and Canadian Legal Lexpert as a leader in Labour and Employment Law in Canada.
* Denotes practicing through a law corporation.
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Representative experience
October 2019Arbitrator dismisses grievance relating to termination of employee for violating privacy of another employee and dishonesty – Counsel Keith Murray
October 2019Arbitrator dismisses grievance alleging improper calculation of statutory holiday pay and overtime – Counsel Keith Murray
September 2019Labour Relations Board dismisses entirety of omnibus unfair labour practice complaint against employer, which alleged wide ranging violations of the Labour Relations Code, including allegations that a number of employer actions were aimed at fostering decertification – Counsel Keith Murray
June 2019Arbitrator dismisses grievance claiming statutory holiday pay for employees on unpaid sick leave, overturning a prior trouble shooter award between the parties, on the same issue – Counsel Keith Murray
March 2019Arbitrator dismisses grievances challenging the contracting out of a significant portion of the Company’s delivery work, accepting the Employer’s argument the contracting out restrictions in the Collective Agreement were not violated on the basis it was no longer “practical”, from a cost perspective, for the Company to continue performing the work – Counsel – Keith Murray and Mark Bout
January 2019Arbitrator dismisses grievance challenging a three month suspension for failure to lock out – Counsel Keith Murray
December 2018Arbitrator dismisses grievance alleging employer violated the Collective Agreement by discontinuing the practice of providing a monthly beer allotment to retirees – Counsel Keith Murray
October 2018Arbitrator dismisses Union objection to the admissibility of covert video evidence that captured two employees engaging in sexual relations in the workplace – Counsel Keith Murray
April 2018Arbitrator dismisses grievances relating to the operation of new hi-tech equipment within a distribution warehouse, finding the operation of the equipment was not bargaining unit work – Counsel Keith Murray and Natasha Jategaonkar
October 2017Arbitrator dismisses grievances relating to a 10 day suspension, 20 day suspension and termination. Arbitrator concludes employee was appropriately suspended and then terminated for abusive behaviour, and that the discipline was unrelated to any marijuana addiction the employee may have had – Counsel Keith Murray
June 2017Arbitrator rejects Union argument that employer’s video surveillance of the grievor violated her privacy, and dismisses grievances alleging the employer failed to accommodate the grievor’s disability – Counsel Keith Murray
February 2017Arbitrator dismisses grievance alleging employer had been improperly calculating sick time under the Collective Agreement – Counsel Keith Murray
December 2015Labour Relations Board dismisses application for certification on basis the introduction of a second and different union into the Employer’s operation could create industrial instability for the Employer – Counsel Keith Murray & Gradin Tyler
July 2015Arbitrator dismisses termination grievance and upholds terms of a Last Chance Agreement. Aggressive conduct toward manager violated Last Chance and warranted termination – Counsel Keith Murray
June 2015Arbitrator dismisses termination grievance relating to an employee who failed to follow the Company call in policy on several occasions. Arbitrator accepts Employer argument that suspension prior to termination not always required as part of progressive discipline procedure – Counsel Keith Murray
April 2015Labour Relations Board dismisses Union application for certification based on Employer argument that the group applied for was not appropriate – Counsel Keith Murray
January 2015Labour Relations Board dismisses all allegations of unfair labour practices against the Employer relating to the lay-off of four employees who supported the union, during a failed union organizing drive – Counsel Keith Murray
November 2014Successfully negotiated four low cost renewal collective agreements for franchises of a national retailer. — Chief Spokesperson in bargaining – Keith Murray
October 2014Successfully negotiated first collective agreements for two large construction industry employers. — Chief Spokesperson in bargaining – Keith Murray
September 2014Labour Relations Board dismisses all allegations of unfair labour practices filed against the Employer during an unsuccessful union organizing drive. Board holds all Employer communications and actions in defending against the organizing drive were lawful. — Counsel – Keith Murray
September 2014Arbitrator dismisses grievance relating to the termination of a long service employee who, while working under a “Last Chance Agreement”, was terminated for doing a crossword puzzle on work time. — Counsel – Keith Murray
August 2014Labour Relations Board concludes that Employer bargaining proposal during a strike/lockout to modify the Union Security Clause to ensure it could not be utilized by the Union post-strike to punish Union members who crossed the picket line, was lawful. Bargaining in bad faith application dismissed. — Counsel: Keith Murray and Paul McLean
August 2014Arbitrator dismisses grievances alleging unjust termination, harassment and failure to properly award job posting. Arbitrator concludes termination was for cause, and Employer acted properly at all times. Counsel: — Keith Murray
June 2014Renegotiated several low cost renewal Collective Agreements and a first agreement for employees working at long term care homes. Chief Spokesperson: — Keith Murray
April 2014Arbitrator dismisses Union grievance alleging Employer improperly limited the scope of employees who qualified to gain entrance to Group RRSP. Counsel: — Keith Murray
January 2014Arbitrator dismisses union grievance seeking substantial severance payments for two union representatives who were on long term union leave at time of plant closure. Arbitrator determines they were not entitled to severance under the terms of the Collective Agreement. Counsel: — Keith Murray
January 2014Renegotiated low cost renewal Collective Agreements for a grocery retailer, and a new lower cost Collective Agreement for any newly opened locations. Counsel: — Keith Murray
Industry recognition
Canadian Legal Lexpert®Labour Law – Management
Best Lawyers® in CanadaLabour and Employment Law
Chambers and Partners CanadaEmployment and Labour Law – British Columbia and Nationwide-Canada
Who’s Who LegalLabour and Employment Law
The Legal 500 CanadaLabour and Employment Law
Presentations
November 2019
Impact of Labour Code Changes on Building Cleaning & Security Services
Keith Murray presented at the Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia.
October 2018
An Update on Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace
Keith Murray presented at the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia Labour Relations Conference.
June 2018
Western Canada Update
Keith Murray presented at the CUE Canada Regional Meeting in Markham, Ontario.
November 2018
Privacy
Keith Murray presented at the Vancouver Lancaster House Labour and Arbitration Policy Conference.
December 2016
Collective Bargaining Panel
Keith Murray was a presenting member at the Ius Laboris Americas Conference in Miami Beach, Florida
September 2016
Workplace Update
Keith J. Murray presented at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
January 2016
Collective Bargaining: Restrictions Imposed and Best Practices to Avoid Legal Pitfalls
Keith Murray presented at the 12th Western Labour and Employee Relations Forum in Vancouver.
November 2015
Tough Issues Facing Labour Boards: Statutory Freeze Questions, Health and Safety Claims, Rogue Employer Remedies, and More
Keith Murray presented at the Lancaster House Audio Series.
April 2015
Collective Bargaining
Keith Murray and Ryan Anderson presented at the HRMA Conference and Tradeshow 2015
April 2014
Construction Industry Labour Relations in Western Canada
Keith Murray, Paul McLean, Ryan Anderson and Grady Tyler conducted a multi-client seminar
November 2013
Labour Relations 101
Keith Murray,Ryan Anderson and Grady Tyler presented to members of the BC Human Resources Management Association in Vancouver.
News
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale recognized by The Legal500 Canada 2023 as a leading firm in Labour and Employment, highlighting our national reach. Testimonial - "It is the only workplace law firm with offices from coast-to-coast, so being a national organization ourselves this is extremely important to us. It was Canada’s first law firm to devote its practice to employment law."
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2023 Guide for Employment & Labour - Nationwide, Ontario and British Columbia. Congratulations to our lawyers in BC, AB, ON and Atlantic Canada, who have been ranked and recognized this year.
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2023 recognizes 24 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-cost, as leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Who’s Who Legal Canada 2022 recognizes seven Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from BC, ON and NS as Thought Leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale is pleased to announce the opening of our Victoria office to support employers on Vancouver Island and to further support employers in Western Canada. The Victoria office is located in the historic Old Victoria Customs House at 1002 Wharf Street, Victoria, BC. Read more.
Mathews Dinsdale recognized as a leading firm by The Legal500 Canada 2022, highlighting our national reach. Testimonial - "Our business is national and so is the employment law firm we have partnered with. No matter what area of Canada where we may be experiencing a concern our partners at Mathews Dinsdale have an office close by with well-versed lawyers to provide advice and guidance."
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2022 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
22 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2022 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2021 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
21 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2021 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in Who's Who Legal 2020 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2020 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized by Chambers and Partners 2019 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law.
Insights
In A Flash
B.C. NDP Delivers Again on Union Wish List
Bill 10, which largely eliminates secret ballot votes as a precondition of unionization and opens the door for yearly union raids in the construction industry, has now passed third reading and is expected to become “law” by June 2, 2022 when it receives Royal Assent.
Read more
In A Flash
Significant Labour Friendly Changes Announced in British Columbia
The Provincial NDP government introduced Bill 10-2022, which stands to make significant labour friendly changes to British Columbia’s Labour Relations Code.
Read moreArticles and papers
November 21, 2019Keith Murray and Mark Bout co-authored a paper entitled Changes to the British Columbia Labour Relations Code, Not Balanced, Not Reasonable – Employers Beware for the Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP Annual Client Conference
September 23, 2016Keith Murray and Natasha Jategaonkar co-authored a paper entitled “Recent Developments in British Columbia Labour & Employment Law” for the 13th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
August 31, 2016Keith Murray and Mark Bout co-authored the Province Union Certification Q&A Guide for British Columbia, Alberta and Federal for Practical Law Canada.
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