Minister announces launch of Web-based information services

Percy Barrett, Minister of Labour, today announced the launch of new Web-based information services for clients of the Department of Labour, the Labour Relations Board and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division.

"Today we are launching three new searchable databases that will allow clients electronic access to decisions of the Labour Relations Board, labour arbitrators, and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division," said Minister Barrett. "In addition, the Department of Labour is making its Registry of Collective Agreements available through its Web site." Newfoundland and Labrador is only the third province in the country to place its registry of collective agreements online.

Prior to the launch of these E-government services, clients had to rely on government officials to prepare and provide photocopies of these documents, and could not directly search the information databases themselves. These services will provide clients and the public-at-large with direct access to the information they need, when it�s needed and there will be no charge for access to these Web-based services.

The four new information search systems are today available through the Department of Labour home page at or through government�s home page at www.gov.nl.ca/labour, or through government�s home page at www.gov.nl.ca/whatsnew, and will soon be accessible through the home pages of each organization.

"Over the past year the Department of Labour, in collaboration with the Labour Relations Board and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division, has been working on the development of new Web-based information products," said Minister Barrett. "A great deal of work has gone into making this launch possible and I commend everyone involved for their dedication to the process.

"We are always looking for new and innovative ways to help make information open and accessible. Today we are moving in that direction in a major way. Clients can access the information they need on their own time and at their own pace. As well, the information available through these sites will be updated on a regular basis, ensuring the most up-to-date and accurate information for our clients. "

"Our objective with these products is to provide industrial relations and human resource professionals, researchers, and the public-at-large with improved services and accessibility to information which is currently provided through manual file search and photocopy services," said the minister. "The introduction of these Web site services is a reflection of our commitment to serving clients better. The launch of these sites today is something I personally find exciting and necessary as we move to fulfil our commitment to provide effective and efficient client services to the people of the province."

The minister also announced the development of a new online Trade Union Registry form. This service will provide unions, who normally receive registration forms by mail, with the option of submitting information through an online form on the Department of Labour Web site.

Client groups interested in a demonstration of the new Web-based services are asked to contact the Department of Labour to arrange a time and date.

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Communications, (709) 729-1741

BACKGROUNDER

1. Labour Relations Board Decision System (LRBDS)

LRBDS is a new online search engine of the reasons for decision of the Labour Relations Board. The system enables clients to search decisions of the board using keywords and phrases.

• Decisions of the Labour Relations Board which have been issued since 1975 are reported in full text and can be accessed using the search engine.
  
• Board staff would be pleased to answer questions relating to the board's processes or any of the information contained at this site. If you have questions or require true copies of the documents, contact the board staff.

LADIS is a new online search engine for labour arbitration decisions filed with the Department of Labour. The system enables clients to search arbitration decisions, using keywords, phrases and a Table of Contents.

• LADIS provides clients with electronic full-text search capabilities of arbitration decisions filed with the Department of Labour since 2000.
  
• LADIS' clients may review arbitration decisions online and print excerpts or entire decisions.
  
• LADIS is user-friendly and provides the client with easy access to recent arbitration decisions on file with the Department of Labour.
  
• LADIS is provided as a free service through the Department of Labour Web site. No subscription is required and no password is needed.

DSS is a new online search engine of the decisions of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division. The system enables clients to search decisions of the review division using keywords and phrases.

• DSS contains over 2,000 decisions of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Review Division. It is intended for use by the general public to assist with issues surrounding workers' compensation appeals.
  
• DSS allows clients instant access to current decisions that they can use for the purposes of preparing for an appeal hearing before the review commissioners.
  
• The information on this site is for general reference purposes only. For official records, please refer to the official version of the decision which may be obtained from the WHSCRD.

4. Collective Agreement Information Retrieval System (CAIRS)

CAIRS is a new online search engine for collective agreements filed with the Department of Labour. The system enables clients to search collective agreements using keywords, phrases and a Table of Contents.

• CAIRS provides clients with electronic full text search capabilities of collective agreements filed with the Department of Labour.
  
• CAIRS' clients may review collective agreements online, and print excerpts or entire collective agreements.
  
• CAIRS is user-friendly and provides the client with the most current information on file with the Department of Labour.
  
• CAIRS is provided as a free service through the Department of Labour Web site. No subscription is required.

2003 09 12                                        10:05 a.m.