Featured Panelists
Melissa VanderHouwen
Melissa (she/her/hers) practices in all areas of labour, employment, human rights, and administrative law.
She provides practical advice and effective advocacy to unions regarding a wide variety of labour matters including discipline and discharge, collective agreement interpretation, policy grievances, organizing efforts, and unfair labour practice disputes.
Melissa has a particular interest in advising and advocating for unions and individuals on a variety of Human Rights issues. She also provides advice and representation to non-unionized employees on many workplace issues, including wrongful dismissal, contract interpretation, and accommodation disputes.
Melissa has appeared before the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the BC Labour Relations Board, and in federal and provincial grievance arbitrations. She takes a pragmatic approach to legal service, and values building relationships with her clients and understanding their short and long term goals, so that she can obtain the best results possible.
Melissa VanderHouwen
Melissa VanderHouwen
Melissa (she/her/hers) practices in all areas of labour, employment, human rights, and administrative law.
She provides practical advice and effective advocacy to unions regarding a wide variety of labour matters including discipline and discharge, collective agreement interpretation, policy grievances, organizing efforts, and unfair labour practice disputes.
Melissa has a particular interest in advising and advocating for unions and individuals on a variety of Human Rights issues. She also provides advice and representation to non-unionized employees on many workplace issues, including wrongful dismissal, contract interpretation, and accommodation disputes.
Melissa has appeared before the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the BC Labour Relations Board, and in federal and provincial grievance arbitrations. She takes a pragmatic approach to legal service, and values building relationships with her clients and understanding their short and long term goals, so that she can obtain the best results possible.
Martina Boyd
Martina Boyd is in-house legal counsel for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), practicing in British Columbia. Martina advises union representatives on issues related to labor law, human rights and privacy. Martina holds a J.D. and an M.A. (Criminology) from the University of Toronto, and was called to the British Columbia bar in 2007.
James Richardson
CUPE National Legal Representative
James Richardson
CUPE National Legal Representative