Media Contacts

Media Relations

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Labour
250 888-8074

Backgrounders

Labour Relations Code review panel

Labour Relations Code review panel – member biographies

Chair: Michael Fleming

Fleming was called to the bar in 1989. He has over 20 years of experience as an impartial third party, adjudicating and resolving disputes in a wide range of sectors in B.C. and the Yukon, including the public service, Crown corporations, education, transportation, construction, television and film, forestry, pulp and paper, and manufacturing. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing dispute resolution processes involving multiple parties. Fleming has held a number of positions with the Labour Relations Board, including vice-chair from 1997 to 2002 and associate chair of both adjudication and mediation between 2002 and 2012.

Panel member and representative of union interests: Sandra Banister, QC

Banister has practised labour law and civil litigation for over 35 years. She has represented clients from both the public and private sectors and has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia, labour arbitrations, the British Columbia Labour Board and the Human Rights Tribunal. In 2011, her ability and achievements in the legal profession were acknowledged when she was designated Queen’s counsel, and she is recognized in the Best Lawyers peer review. Banister regularly volunteers with organizations providing ongoing legal education. She is a speaker at many seminars and conferences and designed the British Columbia labour law course at the Canadian Labour Congress winter school, where she has taught it since 1985.

Panel member and representative of employer interests: Barry Dong

Dong practises exclusively in the areas of labour, employment, human rights and administrative law, representing clients before federal and provincial labour and administrative tribunals, arbitration boards and panels, in court and in collective bargaining and negotiations. Dong also represents clients in a number of sectors, including the transportation, technology, construction, film and TV, and service industries. In addition to his advocacy practice, Dong's representation of clients includes providing practical labour and employment business advice, and presenting seminars and training workshops.