Functional responsibility:
The Board of Industrial Relations was created to administer The Hours of Work Act, which legislated the maximum working hours of employees. Through the administration of various Acts, the Board was also responsible for regulating minimum wages, working conditions, wage security for workers in the coal and lumbering industries, and vacation pay. The Board was responsible for the publication of industrial standards schedules created through negotiation between employees and employers and was empowered to conduct investigations into complaints regarding infractions to labour legislation and regulations. The Board would, upon application by employers, provide exemptions to specific workplace legislation and regulations at specific work sites.
With the passage of The Alberta Labour Act in 1947, the Board became responsible for administering procedures for the settlement of industrial disputes through negotiation and conciliation, and making recommendations to the Minister for the appointment of Conciliation Boards. This responsibility was transferred to the Minister by the Alberta Labour Act, 1973. In 1980, the Board ceased to be responsible for setting labour standards; this activity was transferred to the Department of Labour.
Under the Alberta Labour Act, 1973 and the Labour Relations Act, the Board had the right to grant and terminate bargaining rights of trade unions and employer representatives, rule on jurisdictional disputes, issue declarations of unfair labour practices, issue cease and desist orders on unlawful strikes or lockouts, and decide the status of interested parties in collective bargaining. The Board retained information on all certified bargaining agents representing non-government workers and employers' organizations in the construction industry.
Until 1994, the Board's jurisdiction did not apply to the Government of Alberta or its subsidiary agencies or employees. In 1994, the responsibilities of the former Public Service Employee Relations Board were transferred to the Labour Relations Board.
The Board has been responsible for the administration of the following acts.

• The Hours of Work Act
• The Male Minimum Wage Act
• The Minimum Wage Act
• The Industrial Standards Act
• The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act
• The Industrial Wages Security Act
• The Labour Welfare Act
• The Employment Standards Act
• The Alberta Labour Act
• The Employment Agencies Act
• The Public Service Employee Relations Act (since 1993)
• The Labour Relations Code
• The Police Officers' Collective Bargaining Act

Predecessor and successor bodies:
In regard to the setting of minimum wages only, the predecessor to the Board was the Minimum Wage Board.

Administrative relationships:
The Board has been under the oversight of the Minister of Trade and Industry (1936-48), the Minister of Industries and Labour (1948-59), the Minister of Labour (1959-72 and 1975-99), and the Minister of Manpower and Labour (1972-75). Since 1999, the Labour Relations Board has reported to the Minister of Human Resources and Employment.

Administrative Structure:
When first created, the Board was made up of five members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, who designated one member as Chairman. As of 1973, the number of members of the Board has not been specified by statute. As the business of the Board grew, the number of Board members increased. By 1986, the Board had 20 part-time members as well as a full-time Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
The Labour Relations Board currently consists of a Chair, two full-time Vice-Chairs, three part-time Vice-Chairs, and approximately 35 part-time members representing labour and employers. The Chair, Vice-Chairs and members are all appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Names of the corporate bodies:
Board of Industrial Relations 1936-1980
Labour Relations Board 1980-present

Names of chief officers:
Chairmen of the Board of Industrial Relations:
Clayton Adams 1936-1948
Kenneth A. Pugh 1948-1969
Robert B. d'Esterre 1969-1977
Alexander Dubensky, Q.C. 1977-1981

Chairmen of the Labour Relations Board
Ross R.T. Bain, Q.C. 1981-1984
Alexander Dubensky, Q.C. 1984-1985
Andrew C.L. Sims 1985-1994
Robert Blair 1994-1999
Deborah M. Howes (Acting) 1999
Mark L. Asbell 1999-present

The sous-fonds consists of a variety of case files, correspondence, forms, applications, submissions to hearings, board minutes and agendas, inspection reports, trade union bylaws and constitutions, and certificates.

The records have been arranged into the following series:

1. Operational records
2. Chairman's records
3. Issues case files
4. Chief Labour Relations Officer records