Training workshops - Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

This 2-day workshop focuses on the Interest-based Negotiation (IBN) process and the importance of uncovering and discussing underlying issues rather than positions.

Interest-based negotiations creates a more open negotiation process. Employer and union representatives share information, solve problems jointly and participate at the negotiation table.

During this workshop, participants consider alternatives to traditional ways of collective bargaining and open-up to a range of potential solutions.

• Learning objectives
• By the end of the training session, participants will have:

Who should apply

Union and employer representatives, in particular negotiating committee members, who have jointly expressed the following desires:

• to improve their relationship, and
• to reach agreements using interest-based negotiation

Contact us to apply

This 2-day workshop focuses on understanding how conflict emerges and learning how to address workplace conflicts through effective communication.

It offers parties an opportunity to identify the sources of conflict in their workplace and consider how to resolve them through communications.

• Learning objectives
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This one-day workshop focuses on how to plan and run effective meetings including effective communication and joint problem solving approaches.

Joint committees provide parties a forum to discuss issues of mutual concern during the term of a collective agreement and improve day-to-day interactions.

Though operating a joint committee can be a difficult task, it is worth the effort of making it work. A well-functioning committee enables parties to resolve issues as they arise, resulting in fewer grievances and smoother collective bargaining in the future.

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This one-day workshop is tailored for front-line supervisors and shop stewards/union representatives. It clarifies the party's rights and responsibilities and presents grievance handling best practices along with notions on how to improve day-to-day interactions.

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This 2-day workshop focuses on finding ways to move from adversarial to cooperative labour relations.

The workshop compares traditional, position-based processes to joint problem-solving ones. It also presents ways to help parties adopt more collaborative approaches.

At the end of the workshop, the facilitator invites the parties to consider and agree on new ways to work together. Follow-up actions include having FMCS mediators facilitate collective bargaining or other labour management meetings using a collaborative problem-solving process.

• Learning objectives
• Benefits of attending this workshop:

This 2-day workshop focuses the negotiation process and various approaches to bargaining.

During this training, parties will have an opportunity to identify ways of improving their approach to negotiations and prepare for collective bargaining. It also provides a safe forum for employers and unions to interact, with the potential of improving their relationship.

• Learning objectives
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During this 2-day workshop, parties will identify issues that led to the deterioration of their labour-relations. Parties will also jointly create an action plan to address them.

Relationship by Objectives is an approach that helps employers and unions rebuild their relationship. It provides a sound foundation for changing the union-management relationship in its most fundamental aspects.

Working with FMCS mediators, the parties identify the issues, jointly create an action plan and agree on the terms of its implementation.

• Learning objectives
• By the end of this workshop, participants will have:

This workshop focuses on understanding the impact of change on employees along with best practices to support them adapt to it. It aims to help parties who are undergoing organizational changes.

Organizational changes, such as mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations can have a major impact on the workplace and its employees. If not handled appropriately, such changes could strain the labour relations between union and employer. This workshop aims to equip parties in preparing for and managing organizational changes that could adversely affect labour relations.

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The focus of this 1 to 2 day workshop is to help parties rebuild the relationship following a work stoppage.

It offers parties an opportunity to discuss and resolve issues that have led to a strike or lockout. This workshop also helps parties discuss issues that have arisen because of a work stoppage. Experienced FMCS mediators will work with the parties to help them develop a process for resolving workplace issues.

• Learning objectives
• Benefits of attending this workshop:

The goal of this 2-day workshop is to put into perspective the importance of building and nurturing collaborative labour-management relationships throughout the collective bargaining cycle.

• Learning objectives