Joint Supervisor-Steward Training

Joint Supervisor-Steward Training
(One Day Program)

Conciliation Services Joint Supervisor-Steward Training Program focuses on relationship building skills. It is designed to complement the training the employer provides its supervisors and the union its stewards and officers. The program covers many issues relevant to both supervisors and stewards in a non-adversarial climate which may allow for the promotion of mutual respect among the participants.

Course Agenda and Topics:

(Part 1) Introduction:

• Of instructors and participants;
• Overview of Preventive Mediation Program;
• Discussion of shared objectives of the parties;
• Discussion of the qualities of a leader;
• Outline and stress the importance of participation.

(Part 2) You Can't Negotiate An Attitude:

• This segment of the program includes showing a film with various adversarial labour relations situations outlined. This provides work groups with an opportunity to identify and analyze inappropriate interactions between supervisors and stewards. Groups are then asked to identify appropriate solutions.

(Part 3) Communications:

• How do we communicate? (Verbal and Non-Verbal)
• Sending and receiving messages;
• Effective listening;
• Obstacles to effective listening;
• Importance of Communications in Labour Relations;
• Exercises.

(Part 4) Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities in Labour Relations:

• This segment of the program includes showing a film with a common labour relations situation which helps give participants insight into what they can reasonably expect with regards to their Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities under the application of a collective agreement within a unionized workplace. This is accomplished through several question and answer exercises at various segments of the film with ample discussion on any subsequent questions or comments.

(Part 5) Grievance Administration and Procedures:

• Introduction and definition;
• The importance of time limits;
• Steps of the grievance procedure (What should and should not happen at each step of the Grievance Process);
• How to effectively investigate a grievance. ( What questions to ask? What procedures to follow?) - Handouts for both Supervisors and Stewards;
• How to prepare and present yourself at a grievance meeting, whether with an individual or a group.

(Part 6) Case Study (The Overtime Grievance):

• This segment of the program includes showing a film outlining the intricacies associated with a typical overtime grievance in an industrialized setting. Participants are then asked to analyze the situation in groups and present a case at the 3rd step grievance hearing.
• Once this is accomplished the individuals return to their original discussion groups to assess the situation and return with a possible arbitration decision based on the information given.

Points of Interest

• The program outlined above is a typical format for the Supervisor/Steward Joint Training Session.
• This program can be tailored to accommodate increased emphasis on a particular topic or incorporate an entirely different segment than those normally included.
• Participants should have appropriate lead time (minimum of 1 week) for the individuals to understand and question the appropriateness of the training.
• Generally, supervisors and stewards who work together are placed in the same discussion groups. This allows them a non-adversarial environment and opportunity to gain mutual respect for their respective labour relations roles; which may translate into less confrontation and fewer grievances in the workplace.
• Our experience from past participants and the evaluations completed after each session is that the program is well received and the vast majority of past participants would like to see more training of this type in their various organizations.