$1.$ Summary

Students in the class will be divided up into pairs of negotiating teams $($union and management$)$ to carry out a collective bargaining simulation using a case study from the required textbook in the HRM $2201/5202$ course.

The outcome of this assignment, in addition to the experiential awareness of the dynamics of bargaining, negotiation strategy, conflict resolution and the importance of communications is a written report submitted following the simulation by each team that summarizes the planning, participation and reflections on this third phase of the labour relations process as set out in the course.

$2.$ Team formation and review of case facts and contract summary.

The class will be divided into pairs of bargaining teams. Student teams will assign their members respective roles seen in $$real world$$ bargaining and assume these duties during the preparation and carrying$-$out of the simulation. Typical roles for each team include,

For the union For management

Union Local President $($Chairperson$)$ Director of HR $($Chairperson$)$

Business agent $($Vice chair$)$ Labour Relations Consultant $($Vice Chair$)$

Chief Steward Line manager $1$

Steward $1$ Line manager $2$

Steward $2$ Financial analyst

Union secretary $($Recorder$)$ HR assistant $($Recorder$)$

Team formation and review of case facts and contract summary $($cont$$d$).$

All members of each team are expected to:

a$)$ Have access to the negotiation simulation section in the course text $$ see Appendix C

b$)$ Review the $$Background$$ and $$Issues Arising Under the Current Agreement$$ and $$Other notes$$ sections of Appendix C$.$

c$)$ Review the expired collective agreement text in Appendix C $($grey shaded pages$).$

d$)$ Attend each simulation session in full and as scheduled. $($Absences may be subject to individual mark deductions on this assignment $10\%).$

e$)$ Fully participate in the simulation.

f$)$ Receive and consider additional information provided by the course leader.

g$)$ Contribute to the report writing following the conclusion of the simulation.

$3.$ Simulation activities and requirements

Location The simulation will be scheduled in available meeting rooms and classrooms to allow two teams $($management and union$)$ to carry out simulated contract negotiations. These rooms will be arranged by the course leader and teams will be notified of their daily location and schedule.

Team roles In advance of the first day of the simulation, each team will have met, assigned respective roles as set out above and developed ground rules for bargaining between the teams, $$first day$$ bargaining items and any other matters required.

$1$st day$$s agenda Each team to review all their respective demands. The first day of bargaining should resolve relatively $$light$$ issues that are likely to be quickly agreed to$.$ More complex issues such as wage increases, contracting out language etc. should be scheduled later in the simulation.

Role of recorders A recorder for each side creates a meeting log or set of minutes that for each session records:

I. Persons present, identify any absences$.$

II$.$ Items presented for negotiation that day.

III. Summary of discussion on these items.

IV$.$ Agreement reached or items requiring more discussion at next meeting.

V$.$ Items to be discussed next day $($carry$-$over and new items$)$

It is recommended that the recorders from each negotiation team meet at the end of the session to confirm the accuracy of their minutes. Also note, minutes must accurately reflect the final understanding of each party.

Meeting conduct Each chairperson should assist the group to complete its daily assigned tasks. This means starting on time, enabling constructive discussions to take place, calling for caucusing breaks on occasion to review a team$$s position on an issue and effective time management of each day$$s session.

The chairperson of each team will be responsible for reaching out to the other team to discuss meeting times and any other issues pertinent to the negotiations process.

Role of the course leader The professor or course instructor will circulate among the assigned MS Team rooms each day to witness the simulation in progress. The professor is mainly an observer during these visits. While adopting a $$fly on the wall$$ approach, the teams may ask to $$caucus$$ with the course leader when he or she is present.

$4.$ Outputs

There is a distinction between the content items discussed in the actual negotiation meetings that are scheduled and the content of the final report to be filed by each team following the completion of the simulation. The following chart highlights these key differences.

Negotiation sim.

Team final report

$5$ items based on case facts or additional factors outside the case your team wants added or changed.

$3$ items of the five your team negotiated from either your case facts list or the other $2$ items you brought forward.

$1$ item the OTHER TEAM presented for which your group had to develop a bargaining zone strategy. This