Profile
Mark advises and represents clients across western Canada on workplace issues. He frequently advises and represents employers on issues involving union certification/decertification, workplace disputes and grievances, wrongful dismissal actions, occupational health and safety, workers compensation matters, and responding to human rights issues and complaints.
Mark acts on behalf of clients during collective bargaining, represents them before both arbitrators, courts and administrative tribunals, and also regularly assists employers with a wide range of other matters, including the preparation of employment contracts and workplace policies.
In his spare time, Mark serves as a director on a variety of Boards, and is a frequent contributor to “Practical Law Canada” as well as other labour and employment related publications.
Representative experience
October 2019
Alberta Labour Board dismisses an intervenor application by a third party union seeking status to dispute a certification application filed by CLAC, accepting the Company’s argument that the applicant trade union had no basis to intervene in the proceedings. Counsel – Michael H. Vos and Mark Bout
April 2019
BC Labour Board dismisses an unfair labour practice complaint concerning the dismissal of an employee, on the basis the Employer established both a credible explanation for the layoff, and that the layoff was not based on any anti-union motivation. Counsel – Mark Bout
March 2019
Arbitrator 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
September 2017
Human Rights Tribunal dismisses complaint on the basis it was not filed in a timely manner, accepting the Company’s argument that it would not be in the public interest to accept the Complaint. Counsel – Paul McLean and Mark Bout
Articles and papers
October 31, 2019
Loretta Bouwmeester and Mark Bout co-authored the Accident Reporting & Investigation Guide for Nunavut, the Yukon and Federal jurisdictions for Practical Law Canada
March 1, 2019
Keith J. Murray and Mark Bout co-authored the Province Union Certification Q&A Guide for British Columbia, Alberta and Federal jurisdictions for Practical Law Canada