Programs and Workshops

• Content last reviewed: February 2012

All of our workshops have practical application to management-union relationships in the workplace and are based on positive labour relations principles. All programs are facilitated by professional mediators with extensive backgrounds and experience in assisting organizations in the public and private sectors. Programs are interactive, and reflect the principles of adult education.

The length of each program varies, from one to three days. With the help of Dispute Resolution Services specialists, participants can customize their programs and workshops – or choose from fixed ones.

CHOOSE FROM:

• Customized Programs and Workshops
• Joint Union/Management Training
• Effective Labour-Management Committees
• Relationship Building
• Interest-Based Problem-Solving
• Interest-Based Bargaining

Customized Programs and Workshops

Topics can include:

• conflict resolution
• communicating for understanding
• consensus decision-making
• innovative approaches to workplace problem-solving
• developing action plans

Joint Union-Management Training

Unions and employers interested in improving the interaction between union stewards and first-line supervisors will benefit from this one-day program. The program emphasizes key concepts of grievance administration and effective communication. Each component in the program is illustrated by case studies and exercises.

Participants will explore and better understand their workplace roles and the associated rights, responsibilities and restrictions that affect their day-to-day relationship.

Effective Labour-Management Committees

Unions and employers interested in establishing a labour-management committee or enhancing the effectiveness of an existing committee will benefit from this one-day program. Mediators work with participants to identify the essential features and processes of an effective labour-management committee.

Topics include:

• developing terms of reference
• setting agendas
• chairing meetings
• committee composition
• communicating with constituents
• developing action plans

Relationship Building

Unions and employers interested in repairing, restoring or improving relationships will benefit from this three-day program. Mediators facilitate an intensive examination and analysis of the labour-management relationship. The participants jointly identify and analyze the problems hampering their relationship, explore options, create solutions and establish their action plan.

The program includes a scheduled review of the status of the action plan and the on-going commitment to an improved relationship.

Interest-Based Problem-Solving

Unions and employers interested in augmenting their dispute resolution skills with innovative approaches to workplace problem-solving will benefit from this one-day program. Mediators introduce participants to the principles, concepts, steps and skills associated with interest-based problem-solving. Each component in the program is complemented by an exercise that reinforces the concepts presented. The program concludes with participants reflecting on and discussing general opportunities for the application of these approaches in their workplace.

A further half-day session may be scheduled during which mediators will facilitate the parties’ concrete and specific analysis of a current workplace issue using the techniques of interest-based problem-solving.

Interest-Based Bargaining

Unions and employers interested in exploring an alternative to traditional collective bargaining will be introduced to the principles, concepts, steps, and skills associated with interest-based bargaining. Each component in the program is complemented by an exercise that reinforces the concepts presented. The program concludes with a simulated bargaining session to enable participants to practise the skills and steps they have learned. Mediators are available to facilitate interest-based bargaining for unions and employers who have completed the program.

Dispute Resolution Services also holds regional conferences around Ontario several times a year. Contact us with your information to be added to our mailing list to keep you informed of future conferences.

Programs and modules are offered on a fee-for-service basis.

For more information on these programs and workshops, please contact Dispute Resolution Services at 416-326-7358 or at webdrs@ontario.ca.