Description

This workshop is intended for excluded staff interested in the collective bargaining process or who may become involved in bargaining as a member of the bargaining committee in the future.

WORKSHOP GOAL

Participants will leave with an understanding of the collective bargaining process in the post-secondary sector

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

This course will cover the fundamentals of the collective bargaining process in the post-secondary context and will examine:

• The relevant provisions of the Labour Relations Code, including the rights and duties of employers and unions, the general bargaining process, up to and including strikes or lockouts.
• Understanding bargaining in our sector, including the role of government, PSEC, PSEA, common tables, and the coordination of bargaining in our sector.
• The bargaining committee — who should be on a bargaining committee, and the roles of each member once bargaining commences.
• Preparing for bargaining — developing proposals, researching bargaining issues, and issuing estoppel notices.
• The bargaining process including negotiating protocol agreements, exchanging initial proposal packages, progressing from housekeeping to monetary items, package bargaining, and ratification of an agreement: and
• What happens when the bargain becomes difficult — mediation, job action, strikes or lockouts, essential services, and returning to work.

Facilitator(s): 

Katie Cobban is the Executive Director of Legal and Sector Services with PSEA. Prior to joining PSEA in 2022, she worked within the post secondary sector at BCIT and as a labor and employment lawyer at Bull Housser and Tupper LLP. She has appeared at all levels of court and the provincial and federal labour board and human rights tribunal. Katie enjoys providing strategic legal advice on simple and complicated topics.