Advanced Labor Relations

The Advanced Labor Relations Certificate Program provides you with critical skills to succeed in a unionized environment through a series of two core courses and two sets of elective courses that gives you the flexibility to customize the program to your specific goals. Led by seasoned professionals with decades of experience on both the management and union sides, these programs will provide you with the practical skills required to navigate this complex environment.

Whether you manage staff and operations, work in HR, or represent employees, this interactive series provides you with the ability to develop a strategy, prepare for collective bargaining, learn at-the-table skills, understand the legal requirements of a unionized environment, analyze contract language, deal with employee conflict and discipline, handle grievances, and be successful in arbitration.

You will have ample opportunity to practice your skills using case-based scenarios in a small group setting. Class sizes are limited to ensure full participation and mentoring in small group activities and simulations. Courses in this program consist of multiple synchronous sessions per week with assignments in between sessions. Please review the details of the courses below for specific meeting dates and times.

This program assumes you have had previous exposure to basic concepts in labor relations.

Elective tracks to choose between:

• Working in a Union Environment (four courses): This track provides you with the key knowledge and skills for operating in a union environment. The focus includes: grasping the critical components of labor law that govern employer, employee, and union rights and obligations; interpreting and writing contract language; dealing with employee conflict and discipline issues, including the elements of just cause and progressive discipline; investigating workplace disputes; and managing the grievance process. Participants will study how to assist in the arbitration process by participating in a mock arbitration hearing.
• Negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement (three courses): If you’re preparing to lead or participate in labor negotiations, this track will provide you with the confidence and specialized skills you need to be ready to bargain. Relevant to both union leaders and management, the program focuses on: how to develop a bargaining strategy aligned with organizational goals; the step-by-step preparation process; developing, costing, and prioritizing objectives; writing and presenting proposals and counterproposals; managing the bargaining team; at-the-table practices and protocols; and resolving stalemates and reaching agreement. Participants will practice both competitive and collaborative negotiation skills in a full-day collective bargaining simulation.