Certificate Program in Labor-Management Relations
Demand for experts in labor-management relations continues to grow as new legislation and court rulings set updated standards for employment conditions. Professionals in this field prepare information for management to use during negotiations and help keep labor and management focused on long-term issues while addressing short-term conditions. This program focuses on the practical skills and knowledge essential to constructive labor-management relations.
How you will benefit
- Gain an understanding of employment relations from both management and labor perspectives.
- Develop knowledge in labor law and collective bargaining trends.
- Sharpen your negotiating skills and improve your effectiveness at the bargaining table.
- Provide a key link between management and labor.
- Meet State Personnel Board standards by substituting this program for one year of work experience in three job classifications.
Who should attend
Labor relations representatives, union officials, attorneys, human resource managers, industrial relations directors, employment counselors, affirmative action specialists, management representatives, or anyone who represents labor or management in contract negotiation, collective bargaining, or arbitration proceedings.
Certificate Requirements
Courses may be taken individually or as part of the certificate program. Participants will be awarded a Certificate in Labor-Management Relations upon the successful completion of 18 course units and submission of the application form and fee. Courses are typically offered in the evenings and on weekends, to better serve the needs of working professionals. It is possible to complete this program in one year. Please call (530) 757-8895 for more information.
Tuition for the entire Labor-Management Relations Certificate Program is $3,750 to $4,050, depending on when you enroll. The certificate application fee ($45), textbooks and parking are not included in the tuition fee.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | |||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Introduction to Labor-Management Relations | 3 | 
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| The American Labor Movement | 3 |
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| Preparing for Negotiations | 3 |
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| Employment Law and Legislation | 3 |
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| Negotiating a Labor Agreement | 3 |
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| Labor Contract Administration | 3 |
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Classroom format |
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Required Courses
Introduction to Labor-Management Relations
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.1. 30 MCLE Hours, 30 HRCI Hours.
Improve your understanding of current developments and best practices in labor relations. Explore the legal framework for collective negotiations in both the private and public sectors. Learn to select exclusive representatives and develop knowledge about unfair labor practices and federal and California labor-management relations laws.
Delve into strikes, scope of bargaining and the differences between the NLRB and the PERB as enforcement agencies. Also discover best practices for impasse resolution and grievance procedures.
This course is not currently scheduled.
The American Labor Movement
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.7. 30 HRCI Hours.
Trace the beginning of the American labor movement from the legislation currently affecting workers to what the future may hold. From the beginning of labor-management cooperation to the development of the high-performance workplace, explore the origins of unions and how their evolution affects the collective bargaining process today.
Compare public and private section union structures; examine labor developments in the 19th and 20th centuries; review the Wagner Act; and discuss the growth of public employee unions and union structure. Other areas of interest include strikes and their alternatives, as well as trends in collective bargaining.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Preparing for Negotiations
3 quarter units academic credit, X414.1. 30 HRCI Hours.
Discover practical methods for researching, anticipating and preparing for negotiations. You will also explore specific means of gathering and using information in the bargaining process. Topics include:
- the collective bargaining process
- setting priorities
- selecting the spokesperson and committee
- analyzing the current agreement
- the Consumer Price Index
- drafting contract language
- internal data collection
- classification and pay
- external surveys
- legal framework
- costing proposals
- psychological preparation
This course is not currently scheduled.
Employment Law and Legislation
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.2. 30 HRCI Hours, 30 MCLE Hours.
Learn the historical development of the dual doctrines of labor-management relations (collectively bargained terms and conditions of employment) and social legislation (legal protections in the workplace, such legislation often being sponsored by labor organizations). Topics covered include:
- federal and state wage and hour laws
- analyzing their application in the public and private sectors
- the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- the California Family Rights Act
- the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Title VII and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act
You will also study policies for workplace violence, employee privacy and the interface of workers' compensation remedies with FMLA and the ADA.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Negotiating a Labor Agreement
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.3. 3 HRCI CEUs.
After an overview of the basics of contract bargaining, you will receive intensive, hands-on experience in simulated negotiations, participating alternatively between roles as chief negotiator and as support staff. The instructor will critique your individual performance, as well as overall team strategies and tactics. It is recommended that students take Preparing for Negotiations before enrolling in this course.
Prerequisites:
Preparing for Negotiations, or experience that meets approval of Instructor
This course is not currently scheduled.
Labor Contract Administration
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.10. 3 HRCI Hours.
Administrators of collective bargaining agreements must know how to analyze the techniques and processes used in effective negotiation. This course examines the role played by union stewards and first-line supervisors in the grievance process and administration of negotiated contracts. You will learn:
- to prepare and present mock grievance cases from their initial meeting through the arbitration hearing
- the theory behind and the use of contractual dispute resolution mechanisms
- how to represent either the grievant or management in informal complaints
- all of the formal steps of the grievance process
You will also acquire the ability to distinguish between a proper grievance and a violation that should be adjudicated outside of the contractual dispute resolution process.
Prerequisites:
Introduction to Labor-Management Relations, or written approval from the instructor.
This course is not currently scheduled.
For More Information
Download a Labor-Management Relations Certificate Program brochure for a list of current quarter courses and enrollment information. 
(251 KB)
UC Davis Extension is a Human Resource Certification Institute-approved provider of HR educational programs.
testimonials
"The UC Davis Extension LMR program allowed me to expand my view of pertinent management-union issues. My participation in the LMR program will continue to benefit me in my career for many years to come."
Alicia Van Meier, Industrial Relations Contract Administrator
