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 leader 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 program includes case studies, group solution-seeking activities, leadership videos, guest speakers 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
Stay tuned for future offerings of this program! Please contact us to notify you when it will be offered again. You may also subscribe to our email list for Executive Education program updates and exclusive event invitations.
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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