Understand and effectively manage employee issues in a unionized environment.

Labour Relations in the Workplace provides a foundational overview of labour relations in both a unionized environment. Participants will learn about the collective bargaining process and how to construct and interpret collective agreements. The grievance and arbitration process will also be explored. Participants will also explore the steps involved in the progressive disciplinary process with an opportunity to practice implementing it. Participants will learn to identify constructive dismissals and how to avoid them.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate and define employee relations and labor relations.
• Understand the collective bargaining process and role of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Know how to manage grievances and the arbitration process and understand the difference between them.
• Understand and practice using the progressive disciplinary process.
• Identify what constructive dismissal is and how to avoid it.

This course is part of the Strategic Human Resources Management Program.

Participant Experiences

"Reinforced existing experience, corrected misconceptions and provided rationale for approach." - Fall 2022 Participant

Course Endorsements and Partnerships

This course qualifies for Professional Development Units (PDUs) as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Each course has a specific qualifying factor for PDUs. See the table below for a specific PDU breakdown for this Gardiner Center program.

To learn more about PDUs and how to apply these credits to your active credential please see www.pmi.org.

Continuing Education Contact Hours: 7 

Instructor(s)

Darren Stratton

Darren Stratton is a partner with McInnes Cooper.  Since his call to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1993, he has helped clients understand their rights and obligations pertaining to union-management relations, health and safety, employee discharge and discipline, human rights and employment standards - all within their unique regulatory and labour relations environments.  He has successfully represented them in collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, labour relations board and human rights proceedings, court actions and mediation.

Darren has taught labour relations at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He continues to provide specialized training and seminars on employment law and labour relations topics for clients and other lawyers. Darren is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Newfoundland & Labrador and the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers. He is a member of the Law Society's Disciplinary Panel and chairs the Labour and Employment Section of its Bar Admission Course.

A long time ago, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) degree at Memorial University and a Bachelor of Laws degree at Dalhousie University.