Jeff advises Unions on an
ongoing basis and practises before the Ontario Labour
Relations Board, the courts, and at arbitration hearings. He also practises
in the fields of privacy, workers compensation and
wrongful dismissal. Jeff is the current Chair of the Labour and
Employment Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association.
Jeff has extensive experience dealing with the accommodation of the disabled in the
workplace. He has been counsel in a number of leading cases in the field of workplace drug
and alcohol testing. As pro bono counsel for the complainant and the intervenor,
Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Jeff won the Entrop v. Imperial Oil decision
which recognized alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse as a handicap under
Ontario's Human Rights Code and held that random workplace drug testing may be
discriminatory. Jeff was also counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers
in the Sarnia Cranes case where the Ontario Labour Relations Board struck down the
employers alcohol and drug testing policy.
Jeff has authored a number of articles on labour relations matters,
privacy and drug testing,
and assists George Adams on an ongoing basis with the publication of the leading
text Canadian Labour Law. As well, Jeffs interest in law reform and public
policy development led to his appointment as a counsel for George Adams in the public
consultation he conducted for the Ontario Government concerning Ontarios Special
Investigations Unit which investigates police action resulting in death or serious
injury.
Jeff brings to the firm his experience as a journalist and an active member of the
Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild. In that role he was involved in organizing,
negotiations, acting as a steward and executive officer as well as being a Trade Union
Delegate to the Maquiladora Trade Zone, Mexico and Nicaragua.