Who is this for?
Managers and supervisors responsible for leading unionized workforces, including:
- New supervisors and managers new to a unionized workplace
- Experienced managers who want to gain fresh insights on how to enhance union/management relations and the work environment
"This course provided a great balance between hands-on, interactive discussion and conceptual learning. It is challenging to find a course that provides practical tools for improving communication between union representatives and management, and I think this course delivered."
Benefits for you
- Enhance your capacity to interpret the collective agreement
- Anticipate and minimize conflict with the union over managerial actions
- Develop positive approaches to performance management
- Approach the grievance process constructively
- Uncover root causes of chronic problems and grievances
- Ensure a safe workplace environment
"This was a great course. It allows me to plan for an upcoming meeting with our union, to talk about our ‘traditional relationship’ and where we can go in the future."
Program content
- The organizational landscape: emerging leadership imperatives, situational leadership 101
- The unionized workplace: the role of the union, key elements of the collective agreement, Labour Relations Code framework, union-management relations
- The work: schedules and conditions, employee expectations and responsibilities, supervisory commitments
- Performance management: job descriptions and expectations, performance feedback, performance gaps and development
- The team environment: employee behaviours and group relationships, workplace communication and collaboration
- Grievances: the grievance process, grievance investigation and negotiation
Special features
This highly interactive program includes group solution-seeking activities, leadership videos and personal assessment exercises. You will leave with tools and tactics to use in your workplace, along with a clear sense of your leadership capabilities under a collective agreement and a set of goals for improving your performance.
Program leader

Dr. Gordon McIntosh
Upcoming sessions
For financial assistance opportunities, please refer to Financial Assistance, Scholarships and Team Rates .

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Contact a learning advisor for more details.
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Get in touch
604.822.8400 or 1.800.618.3932
exec.ed@sauder.ubc.caVisit our contact page for more information.
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