Bargaining from Start to Finish: What to expect, what to avoid
- November 5, 2026
- Vancouver, BC
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Workshop Overview
In this full-day workshop, experts will guide participants through the bargaining process, from start to finish, with a focus on preparing for bargaining, applying negotiation strategies, and crafting appropriate collective agreement language. Participants will engage in interactive exercises relevant to the principles and practices discussed throughout the day. Questions to be discussed include:
Preparing for Bargaining
- How is collective bargaining conducted in the public and broader public sectors? How do mandates affect bargaining?
- How should parties efficiently and effectively prepare for bargaining?
- What factors should parties consider when developing a bargaining strategy?
- What are best practices for drafting bargaining proposals? What steps should employers and unions take when drafting or reviewing bargaining proposals?
- Why is costing necessary? How should parties determine the cost of benefits under a collective agreement?
Negotiating and Communicating
- What are examples of negotiation strategies and tactics?
- How can parties identify and counteract bad faith bargaining?
- When should parties consider mediation or other dispute resolution options?
- What actions should unions and employers avoid when communicating with members or employees and the media during bargaining? How can parties engage the media effectively?
Bargaining Novel or Pressing Issues and Collective Agreement Language
- What strategies should be employed when bargaining novel or pressing issues, such as the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”), workloads, and restructuring?
- What rules should parties keep in mind when drafting collective agreement provisions, especially with respect to novel issues?
- How do arbitrators interpret provisions of a collective agreement? What lessons can be learned from recent decisions in which arbitrators have interpreted contentious provisions?
Concluding Bargaining
- What steps are involved in the ratification of a collective agreement?
- What information should parties preserve in anticipation of future disagreements or in preparation for the next round of bargaining?
Who Should Attend
This workshop is ideal for:
- Union Representatives and Labour Negotiators – Stay on top of the latest cases and emerging collective agreement language and learn to develop and advocate for bargaining solutions that contribute to equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplaces and meet member needs.
- Government and Organizational Leaders, Employer Representatives, and Human Resources and Labour Relations Professionals – Learn to draft and negotiate collective agreement language that meets employer obligations and enhances workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion, ultimately creating safer, more productive workplaces with improved retention and morale.
- Labour and Employment Lawyers – Better support bargaining teams and act more effectively as spokesperson at the table by remaining up to date on the latest cases, emerging collective agreement language, and advice from other legal experts.
- Mediators, Conciliators, and Arbitrators – Expand your toolkit for facilitating negotiations and resolving collective bargaining challenges.
What to Expect
In this interactive, in-person workshop, participants will learn legal principles and best practices in bargaining and compliance. Participants will hear from leading experts and work in small groups on skill-building exercises. This workshop is designed for union leaders and negotiators, employer representatives and HR professionals, and labour relations specialists and legal experts.
Featured Workshops & Bundles
Attendees also have the option to attend the Public Sector Bargaining Conference and the Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference taking place on November 4 and 6, 2026.
Bargaining in the Broader Public Sector Conference
Lancaster House’s Bargaining in the Broader Public Sector Conference returns in-person on Wednesday, November 4, bringing together leading experts, union representatives, employer negotiators, and neutrals to examine the latest developments shaping collective bargaining in the public sector. This year’s program will provide crucial updates on the economic outlook and its implications for labour relations, as well as recent case law, legislative changes, and major political and policy developments that will inform your next round of bargaining.
Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference
Lancaster House’s Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference will take place in person on Friday November 6 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, offering essential updates and analysis for union and management representatives, legal practitioners, and labour relations professionals. This year’s program will delve into the real-world workplace impact of significant legal, legislative, and policy developments, with a focus on how recent news and trends are shaping arbitration and labour relations in and beyond.
Labour Arbitration and Policy Skills Training Workshop
Lancaster House’s Labour Arbitration and Policy Skills Training Workshop will take place in person on Thursday, November 5, simultaneous to this workshop.
Save the Date
Workshop Date: November 5, 2026
Schedule
| Schedule | Time |
|---|---|
|
Breakfast |
8:00 am – 9:00 am PT |
|
Workshop |
9:00 am – 10:25 am PT |
|
Morning Break |
10:25 am – 10:40 am PT |
|
Workshop |
10:40 am – 12:00 pm PT |
|
Lunch |
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm PT |
|
Workshop |
1:00 pm – 2:20 pm PT |
|
Afternoon Break |
2:20 pm – 2:35 pm PT |
|
Workshop |
2:35 pm – 4:00 pm PT |
|
Workshop End |
4:00 pm PT |
Speaker Lineup
SPEAKERS
Chief Executive Officer
Post-Secondary Employers’ Association
Vice-Chair
BC Labour Relations Board (BLCRB)
Director of Bargaining
Health Sciences Association of BC (HSABC)
Lawyer, Workplace Investigator, Mediator, and Conflict Coach
Casavant Law
CPD Information
Please see below for CPD information for this event. Note that some regulators impose expiry periods for event pre-approvals. Participants are encouraged to consult the code and expiry date provided during the webinar and, where an expiry code date for pre-approvals has passed or is not provided, participants should confirm eligibility directly with their professional regulator. Participants are likewise encouraged to contact Lancaster House or their professional regulator with any other questions regarding the CPD eligibility of the event.
This program has been approved by CPHR BC & Yukon for 5.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
- This program has been approved by the Law Society of British Columbia for 5.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
Changes and Notifications
All dates, prices, and locations are subject to change. Registrants will be notified of any changes to venues or dates. If you have any questions, please contact customerservice@lancasterhouse.com.