Called to the Bar of BC in 2014.
Called to the Bar of Ontario in 2012.

Education: J.D. (Osgoode Hall Law School) 2011, B.A. (Ryerson University) 2008

Michael has practiced union-side labour law his entire legal career. He regularly represents trade unions and their members before the BC Labour Relations Board, in grievance arbitrations, in various other administrative tribunal proceedings, and before the courts. Michael also regularly makes presentations on various legal topics.

While working as a student, Michael was actively involved in his union before embarking on a career in labour law. He practiced in Ontario before relocating to British Columbia to join Dickie & Company.

Michael has been a partner in our firm since 2021.

Decisions

College of New Caledonia v. Faculty Association of the College of New Caledonia (Layoff Committee Seniority Interpretation unreported, July 21, 2025 (Brown) | In this labour arbitration the unions successfully argued that the calculation of seniority must include breaks in service of six months or less.

British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association v. British Columbia Teachers’ Federation and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 5523 (Personal Illness or Injury Leave), unreported, August 19, 2024 (Hall) | In this labour arbitration the unions successfully argued that on-call employees are entitled to paid sick leave under the Employment Standards Act where they would have accepted a work assignment but for an illness or injury.

British Columbia Emergency Health Services v. Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia – Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 873 (Long Term Disability Benefits Retroactive Pay Grievance), unreported, January 5, 2024 (Kandola) | In this labour arbitration the union successfully argued that long-term disability benefits must be based on current and not on pre-injury wage rates. As a result of this award, the affected employees received over $800,000 in retroactive benefit payments.

The Board of School Trustees of School District No. 44 v. British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, 2024 BCLRB 16 | In this BC Labour Relations Board proceeding the union successfully argued that the employer committed an unfair labour practice when it attempted to investigate a union official regarding statements made during a union meeting.

Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia, CUPE 873 v. Emergency and Health Services Commission (c.o.b. BC Emergency Health Services) (Temporary Positions Grievance), unreported, October 21, 2022 (McConchie) | – In this labour arbitration the union successfully obtained monetary damages for the employer’s breach of the union’s exclusive bargaining agency.

Thompson Nicola (Regional District) v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 900 (Meal Expense Grievance), unreported, May 3, 2021 (Brown) | – In this labour arbitration regarding the discontinuation of meal expense payments the union successfully argued that meal expense payments are a collective agreement right and not a gratuitous benefit as the employer claimed.

Construction Labour Relations Association of British Columbia -and- Bargaining Council of British Columbia Building Trade Unions -and- Boilermakers Lodge 359 (By and Between Dispute), unreported, November 3, 2020 (de Aguayo) | In this case the Bargaining Council of BC Building Trade Unions successfully opposed an application by the Construction Labour Relations Association of BC seeking to effectively nullify a constituent member union’s collective agreement.

Gardezi v. Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3495, 2018 BCCA 84 | In this case the BC Court of Appeal granted the union’s application for an order for security for costs of an appeal. The order was then upheld by a three judge panel and the appellant’s application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was dismissed with costs to the union.