Strategic CBA Negotiations for Employers

Negotiating with the union is fraught with many challenges. If not done properly, it can result to an onerous contract that could affect the profitability and sustainability of a company. At worst, it could result into a deadlock and strike. Main objective of this course is how to avoid these pitfalls in negotiations.

CBA negotiations must be strategic in the sense that the results must be aligned to your business plans and the agreement ensures that it will contribute to a productive, stable and sustainable business operations. It means approaching this process armed with the necessary information, with a clear understanding of your priorities and with a clear bargaining strategy.

The course will help the participants in developing a strategy which includes the list of the outcomes you are seeking in the negotiations, identifying the financial costs of agreeing to particular wage/benefit demands, a list of items you insist to be included and excluded in the agreement, and the formulation of a strike contingency plan as a preventive, if not, a mitigating measure.

The seminar also presents innovations in negotiation techniques and tactics, provides fresh perspectives on rules and practices and helps participants identify their negotiating style.

Preparation, knowledge of the opposite bargaining team, data gathering, communications, techniques in bargaining, identifying the bargaining zone are central points to be discussed in the seminar.