MIR 870 Public Sector Collective Bargaining
The public sector serves a critical role in Canadian society and the broader economy. The delivery of public services is a labour intensive process, dependent on the skills and commitment of a large and diverse workforce. Nearly a quarter (23.4 percent) of Canada’s total workforce is employed in the public sector. The public sector presents unique challenges in the practice of human resource management and labour relations. The union density rate is significantly higher in the public sector (71.4 percent) compared to the private sector (17 percent).
MIR 871 is an advanced course in labour relations (LR) and human resource management (HRM) in the public sector. The course design assumes that students will already have proficiency with foundational concepts of HRM and LR. The course will be in a seminar format, using a combination of lectures, in-class discussions and guest speakers. The course draws heavily from skilled and experienced practitioners to provide practical applications of key concepts.
Course objectives
The core objective of the course is to develop analytical and problem-solving skills that will prepare students for human resource and labour relations careers in the broader public sector. Specifically, this course provides an awareness of the public sector’s legislative framework and unique employment relation dynamics. Problem solving and analytical skills are developed within the context of issues and emerging trends across public sector jurisdictions.
