Hicks Morley advises and represents Ontario manufacturers on a wide range of human resources issues.

The manufacturing sector has strong union representation, so a great deal of our work is in the labour relations area, from collective bargaining, to arbitrations, to advice on key issues such as the elimination of mandatory retirement.

Competitiveness is always a challenge in this sector, with currency exchange movements constantly changing the cost structure of doing business and lower-wage jurisdictions in Asia and other markets taking an increasing share of Ontario’s traditional manufacturing base. We have conducted a number of special training courses for directors, managers and supervisors to help them adapt in this environment.

To improve competitiveness, we have helped companies streamline processes and procedures and guided them in developing more cooperative relationships with unions and employees. This has resulted in a number of key changes for clients, such as the removal of minimum staffing clauses, the laying off of redundant employees, and the cross-training of employees to increase skills and work more efficiently. We have also negotiated fundamental changes in the pension and benefit plan designs for many clients to better control these significant costs.

We also operate on a macro level and work with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Toronto Board of Trade and many industry groups to influence the political agenda to help create an environment that encourages growth in the manufacturing sector.