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In a statement, Morgan said, “As a representative of the SFL, Mr. Hubich would be inherently conflicted on the vast majority of applications before the SLRB. It would therefore be inappropriate and impractical for him to sit on the SLRB. Other union representatives are able to recuse themselves from matters that involve their own membership. Mr. Hubich, who represents all organized labour, would not be able to do this.”

Hubich says that ignores the fact that anyone who sits on the SLRB is required to swear an oath of impartiality and make decisions based on precedence and the law.

“I guess they don’t trust that I have enough experience to actually recuse myself if I had a conflict of interest,” said Hubich, who has been an active member of the labour movement for almost four decades.

Hubich added that anyone coming before the SLRB would be able to request he be removed from the panel making a particular ruling, and that if the concern of bias was valid he could be removed.

The SFL is characterizing the province’s decision as a “double standard” because board members with ties to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce — which advocates on behalf of businesses — have been allowed to sit on the SLRB.

“The Chamber of Commerce advocates on behalf of all of business, at least those organizations that are affiliated to the Chamber of Commerce, which is no different by the way than the Federation of Labour, who advocates on behalf of our members who are affiliated to the (SFL),” said Hubich.