Program Overview

The Labour-Management Relations Certificate is an intensive 4-day program that would be beneficial for anyone working in a unionized environment. The program is specifically targeted toward those operating in key labour relations positions, including union leaders and officers, human resource managers and advisors, workplace consultants, and neutral government officials.

The Labour-Management Relations Certificate program covers fundamentals of labour relations, collective bargaining, mediation and grievance arbitration, labour and employment law, and emerging workplace issues. It offers a rare opportunity for union leaders, managers, and neutrals to trade perspectives and share ideas with industrial relations experts. The program incorporates active learning through group discussions and includes a collective bargaining simulation. 

• Key Learning Objectives
  • Understand major legislative and workplace issues surrounding collective bargaining, mediation, and grievance arbitration
  • Develop practical skills and learn tools for effective communications, negotiations, and conflict resolution
  • Explore how to develop fair and effective solutions to common labour relations problems in organizations
  • Provide an opportunity for union leaders and officers, managers and human resource professionals, and neutral mediators, arbitrators and government officials, to come together in a safe and collaborative learning environment and be exposed to diverse perspectives
  • Practice negotiation skills and collective bargaining through customized simulation experiences
• Who Should Attend
  • Union Leaders and Officers 
  • Human Resource Managers and Strategic Business Advisors  
  • Labour Relations Managers and Professionals 
  • Mediators and Labour Arbitrators 
  • Neutral government officials 
  • Workplace Consultants 
  • Lawyers with an interest in labour and employment relations 
• How Will This Program Benefit Me

  Improve labour-management relationships Effectively prepare for collective bargaining Understand labour law and emerging legal issues Navigate investigations, mediation and arbitration Gain access to experts and leaders in the labour relations field Utilize newly-built professional relationships to strengthen your network

• What Is Included
  • All learning materials provided digitally through Canvas
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Credential to add to your CV and LinkedIn Profile 
  • 22.75 CPHR Saskatchewan Continued Professional Development (CPD) Hours

Check out the funding opportunities available through the Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant

Program Faculty

Our program instructors are top academics from the University of Saskatchewan in the areas of Industrial Relations and Human Resources. In addition to our well-qualified instructors, we will be joined by industry expert guest lecturers who will discuss special topics and contribute a balanced perspective.

• Instructor Profiles

  	Dionne Pohler, PhD, B.Comm, CPHR Dr. Dionne Pohler is an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan Edwards School of Business and head of the Edwards human resources and organizational behaviour department. She also serves as senior grievance officer for the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association. She holds the Co-operative Retailing System Chair in Co-operative Governance with the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and is a research fellow with the Rotman Institute for Gender and the Economy. She was previously a faculty member and Acting Director at the University of Toronto Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources and vice-chair of a federal independent taskforce responsible for making recommendations on modernizing the Employment Equity Act. Dionne holds a PhD in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Alberta School of Business, a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University, and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources designation from CPHR Saskatchewan. She has been the recipient of four international research awards and her work covers topics on unions and labour relations, organizational governance, labour and social policy, gender earnings gaps, and rural co-operative development. She edited the Labor and Employment Relations Association’s 2020 research volume Reimagining the Governance of Work and Employment, and co-edited Building Inclusive Communities in Rural Canada (2023).
  	Scott Walsworth, PhD, LLM, MIRHR, BA Dr. Scott Walsworth is an Associate Professor of Industrial Relations at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan. Before joining the University in 2007, he completed a Ph.D. and a Masters degree in Industrial Relations at the University of Toronto.  Most recently, he completed a Master of Law (LLM) in employment and labour law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. He is the former president of the national Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA). In 2019, he began a four-year term as the Chair of the Educational Relations Board, a position created by the Saskatchewan Education Act to oversee labour relations between the province and its 17,000 teachers. Since 2020, Scott has worked as a labour arbitrator, adjudicating cases in the healthcare, public and private sectors. He was the principal investigator on a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant to investigate how, and under what circumstances, unions affect management decisions and firm outcomes, such as innovation, profits and employment growth. His work is published in several top journals including Industrial Relations (Berkeley), Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations and the International Journal of Human Resource Management. He teaches university courses on human resources, industrial relations, and labour and employment law. He muddles through life in the company of a lovely wife, four energetic sons, and two lazy cats.  August 1, 2023 - Walsworth appointed USask's vice-provost, faculty relations read more
  	Christine Mintenko, Director, Employee and Labour Relations, Public Service Commission Christine Mintenko has spent the last 16 years of her career working in Human Resources with the Government of Saskatchewan, with the last 8 years spent in the specialized field of employee and labour relations. On a daily basis, Christine provides oversight to a team of Labour Relations Consultants who provide advice, guidance and coaching to Human Resource Business Partners and Ministry leadership on culpable/non-culpable performance management, grievance and third-party disputes, risk management and interpretation of Government’s collective agreements. She is also responsible for preparing and presenting grievance files at third party arbitration. In her spare time, Christine loves to explore the outdoors with her faithful golden retriever Oliver and squeeze in as much travel as possible.
  	Kristin Anderson, Executive Director, Labour Relations and Mediation, Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Kristin has been the Executive Director of Labour Relations and Mediation at the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and has been with LRWS since 2011. She holds over 20 years of experience working with conflict and developing programs to prevent or address conflict and leading teams of professionals. Kristin’s areas of expertise are restorative justice, peacebuilding, human rights, civil conflict, cross cultural conflict, reconciliation, labour disputes and labour negotiations. As an experienced negotiator and mediator. Kristin has been involved in effectively resolving high conflict disputes in South Africa, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and Canada, helping people come to agreements in desperate situations. Kristin holds a Master’s Degree in Transitional Justice and a Post-Graduate Degree in Social Development, from The University of Cape Town, as well as a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Saskatchewan. She is a Chartered Mediator with ADR Canada.

   

• Guest Speakers

  Aaron Fornwald, Vice President, Human Resources Business Partners, Nutrien Aaron is a Saskatchewan lifer. Raised on a farm in southern Saskatchewan and a graduate of Edwards School of Business, Aaron spent 20 years in Human Resources and Management in health care with a focus on Labour Relations.  During his time in Health Care, he was on numerous provincial bargaining tables as employer rep for health regions. 16 years ago, he made the move to the mining and agriculture space with Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp. He began as the Director of Employee and Industrial Relations, responsible for leading negotiations on behalf of the company with its five 5 unionized mine sites. He is currently the VP overseeing the Human Resources Business Partner team that supports leaders and employees in Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and the Corporate functions within North America and Trinidad. He has a passion for leadership and creating inclusive workplaces where everyone can be their authentic self and feel psychologically safe.

• Message from the Program Director

  “The union-management relationship is the most important in a unionized workplace because of the profound impact it has on organizational effectiveness and employees’ lives. Building and maintaining this relationship requires finding good solutions to labour relations problems. In this program, participants develop their knowledge of what works and what doesn’t in unionized organizations, as well as the skills and tools necessary to help fix a problem or repair a relationship.” 

  _____

  Dionne Pohler