Good/bad agreements mean the difference between success and failure in labour relations management and practice. Poorly negotiated deals are continually breaking down, bringing unnecessary dissatisfaction from both unions and employers associations. Good collective agreements in construction labour relations help one side reach and surpass its goals and objectives in the negotiation process and they leave the other side better off at the same time. Which of the following, as per Quebecs R-20, is not true about negotiation:

a. Upon application by a party to the negotiations, the Minister shall appoint a mediator to help the parties settle their disputes. Mediation may not begin prior to the sixtieth day preceding the expiry of the collective agreement.

b. As soon as an agreement in principle on what could become a collective agreement is reached between a sector-based employers association and at least two associations whose representativeness is 50% or more, the mediator shall record the agreement in principle in a report which he shall give to each of the parties and to the Minister.

c. During the negotiations, one of the parties may apply to the Minister for the appointment of a conciliation officer to assist them in reaching an agreement.

d. A union may take part in negotiations for a collective agreement applicable to the employees it represents