Best Theratronics ordered to compensate workers and Unifor for ‘flagrant’ bad faith bargaining

KANATA, ON, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Unifor has secured an exceptional ruling from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordering Best Theratronics Ltd. to compensate workers for lost wages and pension contributions and reimburse the union for supporting members during nearly eight months of strike action.

In its Oct. 15, 2026, decision, the CIRB awarded monetary damages to both bargaining unit employees and Unifor after the Board found the company’s breach of its duty to bargain in good faith was so flagrant that financial remedies were warranted.

“These workers stood together through months of financial hardship while Best Theratronics disregarded its legal obligation to bargain in good faith,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“This decision holds the company accountable and recognizes that workers and their union should not be left to bear the financial consequences of an employer’s unlawful conduct.”

The CIRB emphasized the exceptional nature of the award in its decision that stated, “only in cases of a flagrant disregard of the duty to bargain in good faith have the Board and its predecessor made use of damages as a remedy…the Board finds that BTL’s breach of its duty to bargain in good faith was so flagrant as to make awarding damages to Unifor and to bargaining unit employees proper in this case.”

Unifor Local 1541 members at Best Theratronics manufacture medical equipment used in cancer treatments. The historic strike lasted just under 10 months, from May 1, 2024, until an agreement was ratified on Feb. 23, 2025. The dispute was triggered primarily by a 0% wage increase offer and the company’s refusal to bargain for months.

This stonewalling prompted Unifor to file an Unfair Labour Practice complaint for bargaining in bad faith, which the federal labour board eventually upheld.

The CIRB decision covers May 1 to Dec. 27, 2024. After that time, the Board found the company began engaging in the bargaining process. It requires Best Theratronics to:

• Compensate eligible employees for wages they would have earned based on their regular weekly hours and negotiated 2024 wage rates, subject to applicable deductions and individual eligibility.
  
  
  
  
• Pay employees an amount equal to the employer retirement income or pension plan contributions that would have been made during that period.
  
  
  
  
• Reimburse Unifor for strike pay and other qualifying payments to bargaining unit employees, with proof of payment where required.
  
  
  
  
• Reimburse Unifor, upon proof of payment, for costs incurred to maintain employees’ health insurance and other benefit coverage.

The company must also post the Board’s April 10, 2025, merits decision in conspicuous places at its Ottawa worksite for 30 days from the remedial order.

Individual payments will be calculated according to the order, including required deductions for strike pay and other income.

“Our members should never have had to endure this fight simply to get their employer to bargain in good faith,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi.

“This award is an important recognition of what they went through. Our focus now is ensuring the company complies and workers receive the compensation they are owed.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor