Fundamentals of the Collective Bargaining Process

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will cover the fundamentals of the collective bargaining process in the post-secondary context and will examine:

• The relevant provisions of the Labour Relations Code, including the rights and duties of employers
• Understanding bargaining in our sector, including the role of government, PSEC, PSEA, common tables, and the coordination of bargaining in our sector.
• The bargaining committee — who should be on a bargaining committee, and the roles of each member once bargaining commences.
• Preparing for bargaining — developing proposals, researching bargaining issues, and issuing estoppel notices.
• The bargaining process including negotiating protocol agreements, exchanging initial proposal packages, progressing from housekeeping to monetary items, package bargaining, and ratification of an agreement: and
• What happens when the bargain becomes difficult — mediation, job action, strikes or lockouts, essential services, and returning to work.