Frank Molnar
Frank Molnar
KC, MIR
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Frank Molnar, KC has over 30 years experience helping employers with complex labour and employment and education law issues. He provides representation and strategic advice in all labour and employment matters, including labour arbitration, Labour Relations Board proceedings, human rights, collective bargaining, executive employment issues, wrongful dismissal, employment standards, workers' compensation and occupational health and safety proceedings.

Frank’s clients span numerous industries in both the public and private sector, including educational institutions, health care providers, manufacturers, broadcasters, oil and gas companies, transportation companies, public agencies, municipalities, professional associations and construction companies.
 
Frank advises federally and provincially regulated employers regarding the discipline and termination of unionized and non-unionized employees, collective agreement interpretation, collective bargaining, labour arbitrations, and complaints and applications before the Alberta Labour Relations Board and the Canada Industrial Relations Board. He also helps clients with human rights complaints, harassment, violence and other workplace investigations, drug and alcohol testing, employment standards complaints, executive compensation and the preparation and revision of employment agreements and human resources policies. 
 
Frank advises educational institutions on a broad range of issues, including institutional policies and procedures and labour relations with academic and non-academic staff, such as discipline, grievances, human rights, disability management, collective bargaining, academic tenure and promotion, labour relations board hearings and rights and interest arbitration.
 
Frank has appeared as counsel before all Alberta and Federal Courts and has represented clients in numerous labour arbitrations (under provincial legislation and Canada Labour Code) and before the Alberta Labour Relations Board, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunals (provincial and federal), Canada Labour Code Adjudicators (unjust dismissals), Employment Standards Umpires, Employment Insurance Umpires, Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers' Compensation and the Occupational Health and Safety Council Appeal Division. 
 
Frank is a frequent speaker to professional, business and community groups on labour, employment and human rights issues, and also serves as chair of numerous conferences. He has presented at national Canadian Bar Association conferences and Legal Education Society of Alberta conferences and has been a frequent presenter at the Calgary Labour Arbitration Conference. Frank is also a contributing author to Remedies in Labour, Employment and Human Rights Law (Carswell).

Value to Clients

“I take a proactive approach to litigation and strategic counseling and focus on finding the most practical, cost-effective path to solving my clients’ problems. After three decades of handling labour, employment and education law matters, I’ve seen nearly every scenario and dispute imaginable. What continues to make it all so interesting is how the law constantly evolves. I have the opportunity to collaborate with clients to help them adapt effectively and overcome the new challenges they face today and in the future.”

Outside the Office

Frank is active in the community. He has served on the Board of Directors of Alberta Ballet since 1993 and has been Corporate Secretary since 1994. 

Canadian Association of University Solicitors
Member
2003 - Present
Calgary Bar Association
Member
1994-Present
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Labour and Employment Law Section (South)
Member
1992-Present
Law Society of Alberta
Member
1986-Present
Law Society of Upper Canada
Member
1988-Present
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Member
2013 - 2018
Labour and Employment Law
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada
2015 - 2025
Employment + Labour: Alberta
Chambers and Partners
2018 - 2025
"Repeatedly Recommended" Workplace Human Rights (Employer)
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
2019, 2021
"Distinguished"
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
2013 - 2021
Alberta Ballet Company
Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary
1994 - Present
Alberta Ballet Company
Board of Directors
1993 - Present
Knights of Columbus
Member
2009 - Present
Calgary Chamber of  Commerce
Labour Relations Sub-Committee, Chair
2012 - 2019
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Human Resources Committee
2002 - 2019
Alberta Ballet Company
Vice-President
1994 - 1995
Sunshine Village Corporation v Boehnisch, 2021 ABQB 63
Sunshine Village Corporation v Boehnisch, 2020 ABQB 692
Alberta Health Services and Health Sciences Association of Alberta (Medical Radiation Technologists), 2019 Can LII57777 (Jones), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Canada Post Corporation and Canadian Union of Postal Workers (Workplace Violence)
Boehnisch v Sunshine Village Corporation, 2019 AHRC 55
Muldoon and Corus Media Holdings Inc., 2017 CIRB 855
Sunshine Village Corporation v Chevalier, 2018 ABQB 484
Alberta Teachers' Association and Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1, 2015 ABQB 302
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union, Local No. 401 v Aviscar Inc., 2015 CanLII 43416 (AB GAA)
Bethany Care Society v Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, 2014 CanLII 50659
Bethany Care Society and Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (Solodky), [2013] AGAA No.34 (Wallace), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Winfield v. Pattison Sign Group, 2013 ABQB 595
Alberta Teachers Association and Calgary Roman Catholic School District No. 1 (Saunders), [2012] A.G.A.A. No.67 (Beattie), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Alberta Teachers' Association v. Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1, 2012 ABCA 45
University of Lethbridge and Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, 2011 CanLII 81613 (Wallace), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Bruse v. Calgary Board of Education, 2011 ABCA 196
Alberta Teachers' Association v Calgary Roman Catholic School District No 1, 2011 CanLII 95009
Chevalier v. Sunshine Village Corporation, 2011 ABQB 295
Chevalier v. Sunshine Village Corporation, 2011 ABQB 544
Chevalier v. Sunshine Village Corporation, 2011 ABQB 557
Cott Beverages Canada v United Food & Commercial Workers Canada, Local 401, 2010 CanLII 96477
The Alberta Teachers' Association v. Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1, 2010 ABQB 828
Associated Cab (Alta.) Ltd and United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local No. 1118, [2010] Alta. L.R.B.R. 137, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 and The Alberta Teachers' Association (Hours of Work Grievance), (2009) 100 C.L.A.S. 145, CLB 20953 (Jones), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Davidson v. HSE Integrated Limited, 2009 AHRC 2
Bruse v. Calgary Board of Education, (2009) 99 C.L.A.S. 205, CLB 14410 (Elliott), Alberta Board of Reference Award
Tyco Thermal Controls Canada Ltd. and Communication, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 118 (Derksen Grievance), (2009) 98 C.L.A.S. 86, CLB 8907 (Lucas), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Summit Care Corporation (Calgary) Ltd. And Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, Health Care and Service Employees Union (CLAC), [2009] Alta L.R.B.R. LD-14, Alberta Labour Relations Board
All Seniors Care Living Centres and Pevancie Group Staffing Ltd., Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, [2008] Alta L.R.B.R. LD 53, Alberta Labour Relations Award
Bethany Care Society and Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (Clarke Grievance), (2008) 97 C.L.A.S. 20 (Francis), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Calgary Islamic School and The Alberta Teachers' Association, [2008] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-8, Alberta Labour Relations Board
School Boards Employer Bargaining Authority v. The Alberta Teachers' Association, [2007] Alta. L.R.B.R. 240, Alberta Labour Relations Board
David Thompson Health Region (Alberta Hospital Ponoka) and Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (Makus Grievance), [2007] A.G.A.A. No. 59 (Tettensor), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Weston Bakeries Limited and Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local 252, [2006] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-30, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Weston Bakeries Limited and Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local 2 (Interpretation of COLA Clause), [2004] A.G.A.A. No. 20 (Elliott), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Woods Homes and Canadian Union of Public Employees (McQueen Grievance), [2003] A.G.A.A. No. 28 (Smith), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Burnco Rock Products Ltd. and General Teamsters, Local 362 (Beaton Grievance), [2002] A.G.A.A. No. 99 (Moreau), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Graham Construction and Engineering (1985) Ltd. And United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local No. 1325, [2001] Alta. L.R.B.R. 10, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Relizon Canada Inc. and Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada, Local 746, [2001] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-49, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Alberta Ballet Company and Canadian Actors' Equity Association, [2000] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-23, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Avis Car Inc. and United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 401 (Villaverde Grievance), [1999] A.G.A.A. No. 59 (Jones), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Dynamex Canada Inc. and Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987, [1998] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-5, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Dynamex Canada Inc. and Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987, [1999] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-14, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 and the Alberta Teachers' Association, [1999] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-82, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Alberta Teachers' Assn. v. Moreau, [1999] A.J. No. 435, ABCA 128, Alberta Court of Appeal
Dynamex Canada Inc. and Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987, [1998] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-6, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Sturgeon School Division No. 24 v. Rear, 1998 ABCA 293, Alberta Court of Appeal
Dynamex Canada Inc. and Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987, [1998] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-14, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Dynamex Canada Inc. and Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987, [1998] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-10, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Landry v. Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division No. 4, [1997] A.J. No. 1091, Alberta Court of Appeal
Alberta Teachers' Assn. v. Moreau, [1997] A.J. No. 540, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
R. v. Collins, [1996] A.J. No. 1045, Alberta Provincial Court
Alberta Teachers' Assn. v. Calgary School District No. 19, [1996] A.J. No. 867, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
Hempel v. Canada (Attorney General), [1996] F.C.J. No. 652, Federal Court of Appeal
Re Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 (MacDonald Grievance), (1996) 68 L.A.C. (4th) 1 (Sims), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Master Mechanical Plumbing & Heating (1986) Ltd. And United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbers and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Local Union No. 496, [1997] Alta. L.R.B.R. LD-31, Alberta Labour Relations Board
Re Board of Trustees of Calgary Board of Education (Insurance Policy Grievance), [1995] Alta. G.A.A. 95-091 (Hawco), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Moore and Saddle Lake Education Authority, [1995] C.L.A.D. No. 547 (Anderson), Canada Labour Code Adjudicator
Re Board of Trustees of Calgary Board of Education (Aizenman Grievance), (1994) 46 L.A.C. (4th) 353. (Moreau), Alberta Grievance Arbitration Award
Yagos v. Crowsnest Pass School Division No. 63, [1994] A.J. No. 379, 19 Alta. L.R. (3d) 287(Q.B. Bd of Ref), Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
Bundy of Canada and C.A.W., Local 1285 (Policy Grievance Wage Payment During Plant Evacuation), (1989) C.L.A.S 77 (Joyce), Ontario Grievance Arbitration Award
Dant Industries Limited, [1988] OLRB Rep. November 1149, Ontario Labour Relations Board
October 30, 2024
2024 Post-Secondary Summit
Conference
Join us for our annual summit which focuses on key strategic and legal issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.Date: Wednesday, October 30 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Location: Holiday Inn Edmonton South, Evari...
July 2024 - 6 min read
First Court Decision Interpreting New Streamlined Trial Rules in Alberta
In January of 2024, the Alberta Rules of Court were amended to repeal the summary trial process and replace it with “streamlined trial” rules. Field Law's Frank Molnar, KC successfully represented an employer ...
February 2024
2023 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Seminars + Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series covered Labour and Occupational Health + Safety. To view Part 2, which c...
January + February 2023
2022 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Seminar + Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series will cover Labour, Occupational Health + Safety and Immigration. To view the ...
April 7, 2022
Coffee + Counsel: Employer Considerations for the Removal of Vaccination Policies
Q+A Session
Join us for another edition of Coffee + Counsel, a complimentary series that brings you together with a few of our lawyers for an unscripted chat about legal issues pertinent to organizations in Alberta. Your questions guide the discussion, and we prov...
February 2022 - 2 min read
Mandating the 'Right to Disconnect' in Ontario
Canadian Lawyer
The COVID-19 world we now live in has shown employers and employees the advantages and challenges of working remotely. Employees have embraced the increased flexibility of working from home, and the benefits of not spending time going back and forth to...
January 25, 2022
2021 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series covered Labour and Occupational Health + Safety. To view the recording for Part 2,...
December 7, 2021
Mandatory Vaccination Policies: What Case Law is Telling Us So Far
As we all learn to live with COVID-19 and as workers move back into the workplace, many employers have implemented various types of policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination. A few months have passed, some specific legal cases have started to slowly...
February 24 + March 10
2020 - A Year in Review Webinar Series
Did you miss the Field Law Labour + Employment Group's annual Year in Review? The recordings are now available! Is employer-friendly OHS legislation coming to a worksite near you? What are the impacts of COVID-19 on employment legislation a...
Winter 2020
2019 - A Year in Review Seminar Series
Seminars
Join the Field Law Labour + Employment Group for our annual seminars featuring legal updates and practical challenges for management and employee groups.Part 1 has been approved for 1.75 CPD hours and Part 2 has been approved for 2.25 CPD hou...
December 2019
2019 Field Law Post-Secondary Summit Recap
The fourth annual Field Law Post-Secondary Summit was held on November 28 in Calgary and was co-chaired by Frank Molnar, KC and Greg Harding, KC. Brief summaries of the presentations given at the Summit are provided below. Innovative Governance During...
November 28, 2019
2019 Field Law Post-Secondary Summit
Conferences
Join us for our fourth annual Summit to focus and collaborate on legal issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.Topics to be covered include: Innovative Governance During Challenging Times Update on Recent Labour Relations Board ...
Winter 2019
2018 A Year in Review Seminar Series
Seminars
The Field Law Labour and Employment Group presents the annual Year in Review seminars in Calgary and Edmonton. Join us for legal updates and practical challenges for management and employee groups in the areas of:  Part 1: Human Rights ...
  • Shaw TV - Challenges for employers and employees caused by Alberta's economic downturn, May 18-20, 2016
  • CBC Calgary Television News - Employment litigation options and implications arising from the resolution of the remaining criminal charge against Jian Ghomeshi, May 11, 2016
  • CBC - Edmonton shoe store 'no-veil' policy unlikely to withstand human rights challenge, February 1 and 2, 2016
  • 660 News (Calgary) - Interview by Audrey Whelan, Morning News Anchor at 660 News - Strategies for companies and employees to manage during Alberta's current economic downturn, November 11, 2015
  • 660 News (Calgary) - Interview by Kevin Usselman, News Director at 660 News - How companies can effectively manage employee relations during an economic downturn and strategies for responding to pressure to reduce payroll costs, April 25, 2015
  • QR77 (Calgary) - Sportstalk with Mark Stephen and Jock Wilson - NHLPA disclaimer of interest and NHL response of commencing a civil action in New York Federal Court for declaratory relief and filing an unfair labour practice complaint with the National Labour Relations Board, December 14, 2012
  • Sportsnet 960 The Fan (Calgary) - The Big Show with Pat Steinberg and Peter Maher - NHL lockout and request by owners to meet with and bargain directly with a group of player representatives, November 30, 2012
  • QR77 (Calgary) - Calgary Today with Angela Kokott - Intervention by the Federal Minister of Labour in Air Canada's Dispute with Its Flight Attendants, October 12, 2011
  • QR77 (Calgary) - Doug Rutherford Show - CIBC Overtime Class Action, December 16, 2008
  • 630CHED (Edmonton) - Doug Rutherford Show - CIBC Overtime Class Action, December 16, 2008

Our client:  A large, federally-regulated employer, with a major, national operation and a non-union workforce.

  • Where we began:  The company purchased a unionized operation and needed help integrating the two operations.  As Frank put it, "Our client wanted to realize the efficiencies of merging into one, non-union location while recognizing the rights of the union employees.  First, however, we needed to assess the legal issues and the scope of the unionized workers' rights."
  • Our approach:  In collaboration with the client, we decided to keep the unionized group initially separate. "This allowed the client time to sort out the complicated issues and scenarios involved ­ including the impact on the client's national operations ­and to negotiate with the union concerning the integration of the union and non-union operations.”
  • The result:  The unionized location was closed. The unionized employees were moved and integrated into a non-union site and the two groups of employees were intermingled. The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered that a vote be held of the combined group of union and non-union employees to determine whether the intermingled site would be union or non-union. Ultimately, the employees decided to go non-union. As a result, the client was successful in acquiring a unionized operation and shedding the union.

Frank is a frequent speaker to professional, business and community groups on labour, employment, human rights and educational law issues and has chaired numerous conferences.  He has presented at national Canadian Bar Association conferences and at Legal Education Society of Alberta conferences and has been a frequent presenter at the Calgary Labour Arbitration Conference. 

Education
University of Toronto, 1985, Bachelor of Laws
University of Toronto, 1982, Master of Industrial Relations
University of Alberta, 1981, Bachelor of Commerce
Admissions
Ontario,1988
Alberta,1986