Program Overview
Laying the groundwork for excellence in union-management relations
As our flagship program for over 80 years, Labour Relations (LR) Foundations has been widely acknowledged as Canada’s number one learning experience of its kind. There is no better place to develop foundational skills in collective bargaining, grievance mediation, and arbitration in just five days.
This program walks participants through all labour relations elements and processes so that those with little experience gain the confidence to be more comfortable and decisive in their day-to-day work activities. It also enables those with greater experience levels to fine-tune their skills through real-life exercises that make up this hands-on program.
Make the most of this rare opportunity to see how the other side lives; managers will understand the union perspective, while union representatives will view issues through management’s eyes.
Module 1: Labour Relations Foundations
- Dive into the nuts and bolts of the foundation of labour relations
- Define LR and the differences between HR and LR
- Asses the understanding of various LR concepts and processes
- Identify factors that influence the labour management relationship and analyze power dynamics
Module 2: Mapping the Matrix
- Explore the legislative pillars of Labour Relations, including the Labour Relations Act (or other provincial equivalent), Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, Workers’ Compensation, and Occupational Health and Safety
- Learn how these laws interact and intersect with each other with reference to labour relations
- Understand how seminal cases have affected and continue to impact the multifaceted world in which labour relations practitioners work
Module 3: Grievance Arbitration Process
- Gain an understanding of and learn the preparation required for the grievance process
- Examine the legal framework of arbitration and its expanding scope
- Strengthen arbitration advocacy through participation in a mock arbitration argument
Module 4: Grievance Mediation Process
- Learn about the grievance mediation process – what it is and how it works
- Understand mediation roles and responsibilities as well as how to utilize those roles and responsibilities to get the most out of the process
- Differentiate between grievance arbitration and mediation
Module 5: Introduction to Investigations
- Differentiate between a workplace assessment and a workplace investigation
- Understand the essential components of an investigation process
- Examine the basics of planning an investigation
- Conduct an investigation interview and draft a fact-finding based on witness evidence
- Discover the standard of proof
- Identify the different sections of an investigation report
Module 6: The Collective Bargaining Process
- Delve into the negotiation process by preparing for negotiations
- Learn how to conduct pre-bargaining and relationship building while negotiating issues and crafting concluding agreements
- Discover which interests should be addressed from both your own point of view and those of your counterparts
Module 7: Collective Bargaining Simulation
- In teams, develop a bargaining strategy, assess priorities and interests, and create an effective opening statement
- Come together to negotiate all outstanding issues
- Engage with experienced coaches in the classroom, who will be on the sidelines to observe and offer feedback on the effectiveness of bargaining strategy, skills, and style.
- Review key learnings from the negotiation, including procedural trust, relationship building, labour-management committees, and best practices for union-management relations
- Examine assumptions, bias, and judgements in handling grievances, along with challenges and opportunities in labour relations roles
Learning Outcomes
Participant Benefits
By completing this program, participants will:
- Stronger labour management relations to enhance competitive capabilities
- Respond to the changing face of labour law and legal issues
- Learn about the statutes that lay the foundation for labour relations and the interplay between these statutes
- Understand practical approaches to conflict resolution
- Participate in a grievance mediation
- Understand the different arbitration processes and various arbitration considerations
- Conduct an investigation interview or draft an investigation fact-finding
- Learn the elements of collective bargaining by preparing for and negotiating a collective agreement
Organizational Benefits
By supporting employees to participate in this program, organizations will:
- Enhance competitive capabilities by building stronger labour management relations
- Align labour relations systems to promote high performance
- Reduce grievance arbitration costs
- A better understanding of how labour relations practitioners shape the union-management dynamic
- Appropriate use of the many dispute resolution processes available
Who Should Attend
Managers and Supervisors
Gain a better understanding of how labour relations practitioners shape the union-management dynamic.
Union Officials
Improve overall employee relations.
LR and HR Professionals
Make better use of the dispute resolution processes available.
Takeaway Tools
- Negotiating template and tools
- Legislation matrix for easy referral
- Sample language for investigation fact-finding
- Seminal grievance arbitration case law
