The Unionized Workplace:

Labor Law and Collective Bargaining

Coming: Spring 2027

Labor law shapes far more than the bargaining table. It influences organizational strategy, workforce planning, operational continuity, employee relations, and institutional reputation. A new generation of leaders is being called upon to navigate increasingly complex relationships among employers, employees, and labor unions. These professionals must understand what labor law requires and how collective bargaining, union organizing, workplace disputes, and labor-management strategy affect organizational decision-making.

UCLA School of Law Executive Education is excited to announce Labor Law and Collective Bargaining, a professional course designed for non-lawyer executives, human resources professionals, labor relations specialists, and other organizational leaders who regularly work with unions or operate in unionized environments.

This program focuses specifically on the legal and strategic framework governing collective employee action and the employer-union relationship. Participants will examine the National Labor Relations Act, union representation and organizing, collective bargaining agreements, bargaining obligations, grievance and arbitration procedures, strikes and other concerted activity, and the role of the National Labor Relations Board.

Through sophisticated legal instruction and practical application, participants will learn to recognize labor-law issues, communicate more effectively with counsel and union representatives, and approach labor-management challenges with greater confidence and fluency.

No law degree or prior legal training is required.

What You'll Learn:

Participants will develop the knowledge needed to:

• Understand the fundamental principles and institutions governing labor relations.
• Navigate union organizing, representation elections, and employer obligations during organizing activity.
• Understand the structure, negotiation, administration, and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements.
• Recognize mandatory, permissive, and prohibited subjects of bargaining.
• Understand grievance procedures, labor arbitration, and common approaches to resolving contract disputes.
• Identify labor-law risks early and collaborate more effectively with legal counsel, HR teams, and operational leaders.
• Make more informed decisions while supporting constructive and sustainable labor-management relationships.

Designed For:

This course is designed for professionals across industries who work with labor unions or make decisions affecting unionized employees, including:

• Human resources and people leaders
• Labor and employee relations professionals 
• Executives and organizational leaders 
• Operations and workforce-management professionals 
• Public affairs and government-relations professionals 
• In-house professionals who collaborate with legal counsel
• Managers entering or currently working in unionized environments
• Professionals preparing for collective bargaining or contract administration