Maintain productive working relationships in a union setting
Designed with a managerial focus, the course provides practical guidance in how to maximize workforce productivity within the union-management context. Develop a framework for interpreting the collective agreement. Learn constructive ways to deal with conflict, grievances and disciplinary action. Foster collaborative interactions with employees and union representatives. Lead appropriately and confidently in a unionized setting.
Who is this for?
This course is designed for front-line and middle managers responsible for leading unionized production, service and maintenance workforces. Supervisors and managers new to a unionized workplace will find the course particularly beneficial.
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.
What you will learn
- Develop a solid framework for interpreting the collective agreement, and understand how it affects the key functions of management
- See how union representatives view and respond to management
- Minimize conflict with the union over managerial actions
- Approach the grievance process constructively
- Learn key arbitral principles shaping rights and obligations in the employment relationship
- Uncover root causes of chronic problems and grievances
- Reduce defensiveness, reactance and other negative dynamics through honest two-way communication
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
- Challenges of leading a unionized workforce
- The legal and collective agreement context; key principles shaping rights and obligations in the employment relationship
- Understanding union culture and attitudes
- Handling relations with union representatives: avoiding distractions and digressions, being pro-active
- Responding effectively to grievances: investigating grievances, grievance negotiations
- Positive approaches to performance management and discipline: identifying expectations and performance gaps, giving feedback, just cause for discipline
- Daily chores: scheduling, defining and assigning work
Special features
This highly interactive course will incorporate discussions, case studies, group exercises, videos, simulations and personal assessment exercises.
Your instructor
Dr. Tom Knight
Upcoming sessions
Note: participants in this program may qualify for up to $10,000 in funding through the Canada BC Job Grant program. Find out if you qualify.
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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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