John Mastoras acts exclusively for employers in the area of labour relations and employment law. He regularly provides representation and advice in connection with grievance and interest arbitrations, labour relations board disputes, collective bargaining, human rights proceedings, occupational health and safety trials, workers' compensation, labour injunctions, coroners' inquests, executive employment contracts and common law employment actions. His practice spans unionized and non-unionized workplaces for both federally and provincially regulated employers.
Mr. Mastoras has negotiated collective agreements in a variety of industries, including retail, steel, automotive and manufacturing more generally. He has litigated on behalf of and provided counselling and strategic advice to a broad group of employers and employer associations in the pulp and paper, transportation, steel, automotive, health care, food processing, insurance, retail, longshoring and construction sectors.
Mr. Mastoras is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto's Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. He has authored or co-authored and presented numerous papers relating to arbitration trends, workplace medical issues, criminalization of health and safety laws, collective bargaining negotiations, accommodation of religious observances, privacy rights and other high-profile workplace issues. Mr. Mastoras is an International Advisor to the Washington D.C. law firm of McGuiness & Yager LLP.
Speaking engagements
ˇ "The Road to Understanding Recent Labour and Employment Law Developments," Ontario Trucking Association, February 15, 2007.
ˇ "The Disabled Employee: Accommodation and Frustration of Contract," Ogilvy Renault, June 7, 2006.
ˇ "Managing Absenteeism and Disabilities in the Unionized Workplace," ORC Worldwide, May 31, 2006.
ˇ "Labour/Employment Law Hot Button Issues - Overview of the Shifting Landscape," Ontario Trucking Association, February 16, 2006.
ˇ "Employer Alert: Bill 144 Automatic Certification, Bill C-45 Criminalization of Health and Safety Laws, and More," International Warehouse Logistics Association, May 25, 2005.
ˇ "Recent Developments in Labour Arbitration," Innovative Responses to the Emerging Issues in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, Centre for Industrial Relations, October 4, 2002.
ˇ "Ten Paths to Enlightenment - Topical Legal Issues for Employer Executives," Zen and the Art of Employee Maintenance: Young Presidents' Organization, November, 2001.
ˇ "Accommodating Religious Needs in the Workplace," The Duty to Accommodate in the Unionized Workplace, Workchannel, Centre for Labour-Management Development, April 5, 2001.
ˇ "Monitoring and Surveillance," Infonex on Human Rights and Privacy in the Workplace, January 1997.
ˇ "Recent Trends in Workers' Compensation Adjudication: Stress and Environmental Illness," Major Benefits Developments, Federated Press on Human Resource Executives Conference, September 1995.
Rankings and recognitions
ˇ Recipient of the 2009 Morley Gunderson Prize conferred by the University of Toronto's Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. The prize is awarded annually to a graduate of the Centre for Industrial Relations who combines outstanding professional achievement with significant service to the Centre.
ˇ PLC Which lawyer?, 2011 - Labour and employment
Memberships and activities
ˇ Law Society of Upper Canada
ˇ The Advocates' Society
ˇ HR Policy Association (US)
ˇ Canadian Bar Association
ˇ American Bar Association
Related Publications
Employment contracts need to be given due consideration
Any valid contract, including an employment contract, requires the parties to give each other something in exchange for entering into the agreement. In legal terms, the parties must give each other
03/05/2005