Our Mediation Services

Mediation services will be offered by the Public Service Staffing Tribunal at any stage of a proceeding in order to resolve a complaint.

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that promotes open and respectful communication with the assistance of a mediator, a neutral and impartial third party. Mediation allows the parties in a dispute to examine their interests and concerns, explore a variety of creative options and develop their own solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner.

How does mediation work?

The parties to a complaint – generally, the complainant and a representative of the deputy head or the Public Service Commission – have 25 days to exchange all the relevant information concerning the complaint.

During this same 25-day period, the parties must also decide whether or not they wish to participate in mediation. All complaints to the Tribunal will be referred automatically to mediation unless one of parties indicates before the end of the 25 days they do not wish to participate in mediation.

If the complainant or deputy head decides not to participate in mediation initially, they may at a later stage in the complaint process ask the Tribunal to mediate the complaint, provided that the other party agrees.

Participation in mediation does not suspend the time frames stipulated by the PSST Regulations. However, upon request, the Tribunal may decide to hold the complaint in abeyance during mediation.

Basic Steps in the Mediation Process

Participants:

• meet with the mediator who proposes ground rules for the mediation process
• identify the issues and questions to be resolved
• explore their respective interests and concerns
• develop options
• make informed decisions with respect to the conclusion of an agreement

If mediation does not succeed in resolving the complaint, the complaint will proceed to a hearing by a member of the Tribunal.