Bob Atkinson’s practice involves the full range of labour and employment law matters with an emphasis on grievance arbitration, Labour Relations Board matters, WSIB, human rights and civil litigation. Since 1993, Bob has practised from Hicks Morley’s London of­fice. Bob provides advice and representation to employers in the private sector, as well as clients in the municipal, hospital, community college and university sectors.

Recent Decisions

• Gurofsky v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (2004) 70 O.R. (3d) 25 (Ont. Div.Crt.) - Commission discretion under section 34 of the ­Ontario Human Rights Code when complainant has grieved under collective agreement
• Kimberly-Clark Forest Prod­ucts v. PACE Local 7-0665 (2003) 115 L.A.C. (4th) 344 - drug testing, accommodation and last chance agreements
• CAW vs. Johnson Controls Inc. (2005) 196 O.A.C. 390 (Ont. Div. Crt.) - interpretation of "greater benefit" section of the Employment Standards Act, 2000
• Fanshawe College v. OPSEU (2002) 113 L.A.C. (31) 328 - impermissible expansion of grievance

Publications

• "Accommodation of Employees with Disabilities under the Human Rights Code" (with Aida Gatfield) - Insight Construction Labour Relations Conference, November 24, 2005
• "Competing Legal Approaches to Workplace Search and Surveillance: The Controversy Continues" - Southwestern Ontario Labour and Employment Law Conference, May 28, 2003
• "Recent Legal Developments Relating to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction in the Workplace" (with Adriana Ripepi) - Southwestern Ontario Labour and Employment Law Conference, May 29, 2002

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Western Ontario where he teaches the Labour Arbitration Law and Procedure Course
• Member of the Middlesex Law Association
• Member of the London Chamber of Commerce
• Member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of London and District

Year of Call

• 1982

Education

• University of Western Ontario, LL.B.
• Queen's University, B.A. (Honours)
• Monash University (Australia), LL.M.