Program Overview

This two-day program will provide participants with competencies in collaborative negotiations and joint problem-solving, leading to greater confidence to engage in collective bargaining that builds relationships and achieves the best possible results for all parties. Participants will learn strategies for conflict de-escalation, including managing bias and emotions, and practice applying these skills through several different collective bargaining simulations. Emphasis is placed on building trust through open communications and leveraging opportunities for joint problem-solving throughout the administration of the collective agreement to achieve mutually beneficial bargaining outcomes for both employers and unions.

• Key Learning Objectives

  Participants will: 

  • Understand collective bargaining fundamentals and power dynamics 
  • Learn how to build trust by embedding joint problem-solving approaches throughout the labour relations life cycle 
  • Identify structural, cognitive, and emotional barriers to collaborative negotiations and building effective bargaining teams and committees 
  • Practice the application of conflict de-escalation strategies and effective communication skills during customized simulation experience
• Who Should Attend
  Union bargaining committee members/employer committee members or anyone who will be engaged in collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of their employer/union. 
• Funding Available
  You may be eligible for for partial funding from Edwards and the Saskatchewan government. Contact sales@edwards.usask.ca for funding information.

Instructor Profile

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).

Kristin Anderson 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.

Cancellation Policy

For information regarding our cancellation and refund policy please visit our terms and conditions.