This program is created in partnership with:
For HR professionals working in unionized environments, labour relations can be complex and challenging—and many have learned through experience rather than formal training. Without a structured approach, navigating collective bargaining, grievances, and contract administration can feel overwhelming. This intensive, highly interactive four-day certificate program is designed to provide HR practitioners with the legal, strategic, and tactical knowledge to effectively manage unionized workplaces. Through case studies, simulations, and real-world applications, you’ll develop the confidence to build productive labour-management relationships and handle negotiations with expertise.
Why This Course Matters for HR Professionals
- Understand Labour Legislation & Collective Bargaining – Learn how to navigate the legal landscape and union-management dynamics.
- Strengthen Negotiation & Conflict Resolution Skills – Gain practical tactics for grievances, arbitrations, and collective agreement administration.
- Ensure Consistency & Compliance – Master contract interpretation and best practices for managing disputes and grievances effectively.
- Build Stronger Labour-Management Relationships – Develop proactive strategies to foster trust, engagement, and productive collaboration.
Who Should Attend?
- HR professionals managing unionized employees.
- HR practitioners looking to expand their expertise in labour relations.
- Business leaders and managers responsible for collective bargaining and contract administration.
What You’ll Learn
- This four-day, eight-module certificate program provides an in-depth, hands-on approach to labour relations and collective bargaining.
- The Labour Relations Legal Framework – Understand the legislation that governs unionized workplaces.
- Collective Agreement Interpretation & Administration – Apply best practices to ensure consistent and fair enforcement.
- The Collective Bargaining Process – Learn how to strategically approach negotiations while balancing interests.
- Grievance & Arbitration Strategies – Gain insights into preparing for and managing workplace disputes.
- Interest-Based Negotiation & Communication Techniques – Develop methods to diffuse positional bargaining and foster productive discussions.
- Labour Relations Simulations – Participate in three hands-on exercises covering union organizing, grievance resolution, and contract negotiations.
Detailed Agenda of the Program
This certificate program combines live virtual instruction through Zoom with hands-on experiential learning through case studies, scenarios, group work/break out discussions and simulations.
- Live Virtual Sessions: There will be online instructor-led modules, during which practical examples and experiences will be shared.
- Materials: Participants will be provided with session workbooks to follow along with the content covered in each module and to take notes, as well as additional pre-session and post-session assignments to prepare for the simulations.
- Peer Learning and Group Work: Participants will have the opportunity to learn from each other while answering questions and sharing experiences and observations during the modules, as well as through practical, hands-on exercises and simulations based on real-world labour relations events and processes.
- Time Commitment: This four-day certificate program will be delivered in eight modules. Participants will spend four (5) hours each day participating in the virtual sessions and accompanying exercises and simulation activities. Over the duration of the course, participants can expect to spend an additional six (6) hours completing work outside of the daily sessions, either in break out groups with peers or individually preparing for case study debriefs or simulation participation. The in-class virtual modules will be held as follows:
Day 1
- Module 1 – (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
- Module 2 – (2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Day 2
- Module 3 – June 11, 2025 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
- Module 4 – June 11, 2025 (2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Day 3
- Module 5 – June 17, 2025 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
- Module 6 – June 17, 2025 (2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Day 4
- Module 7 – June 18, 2025 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
- Module 8 – June 18, 2025 (1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Note
To receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program, you must successfully complete online assessment. This program will not be recorded. This is an intact program in which attendees must attend all of the sessions in order to qualify for the certificate.
21 hours of instruction time. CPD Code will be provided after program is completed. 6 hours of self-directed learning. Hours should be added to the subcategory A4. Self-Directed Learning.
Registration Difficulties/Questions: Please reach out to the Professional Development team at Professionaldevelopment@hrpa.ca