Hicks Morley advises and represents a number of major Canadian mining and resource companies on a full range of human resources issues.

Union representation is widespread in this sector, and we help clients with all aspects of labour and employment, including strategic advice and planning, collective bargaining, arbitrations, tribunal hearings, court injunctions, human rights matters and conflict resolution processes.

Health and safety and workers’ compensation issues are also a key concern in this sector. We help clients fulfil their health and safety obligations through the development and monitoring of health and safety policies and systems and provide full representation and advocacy services if investigations or prosecutions arise.

The mining and resources industries are faced with high pension and benefits costs. We are actively involved in the re-design of pension plans to deal with existing solvency deficiency problems and to reduce future liability exposures. We help clients develop and introduce changes to their benefit programs in order to reduce the ever-escalating costs associated with retirees. We effectively manage the costs of benefits for active employees through the use of preferred provider networks, drug formulary control and other processes.

During the recent boom in metal prices, we also helped mining and resource companies manage union and employee compensation expectations, with the implementation of innovative bonus plans and alternate compensation arrangements that minimized escalation in base pay rates in recognition of the need to control future employment costs in down-market times.

We are actively involved in the design and implementation of both employee and union engagement programs designed to more effectively connect workers to the business plan and business results with strong emphasis on productivity improvement in both union and non-union workplaces.

In addition to our ongoing work with our mining and resource clients, major acquisitions in the sector have created a number of challenges relating to the cultural integration of different organizations, and this acquisition trend is likely to continue in the future. We work with clients throughout the acquisition and integration process to help them manage the many human resources issues that inevitably arise.