Testimonials
Testimonials
Read our trusted and valued clients’ experiences with National Collective Bargaining Institute.
“Jay provided a half day virtual Introduction to Labour Relations workshop to our HR and Management team. His delivery was excellent and touched on all of the key topics related to the gaming industry in Saskatchewan. The participants appreciated Jay’s extensive background as a subject matter expert.”
Desiree Gervais
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
“We finished our fourth round of collective bargaining with Jay Sharun representing our board of directors. As always, I found Jay was able to negotiate the successful completion of an agreement with the union in record time and we were extremely happy with the outcome. Having someone who would consider the unique culture of an organization, and adjust their style, was an essential requirement. I appreciate that Jay was able to easily meet this requirement and do so in a professional, supportive manner. I would highly recommend Jay to any organization, big or small.”
Alayne Squair
Child Development Centre
“It is an invaluable experience having Jay as part of your collective bargaining process. His knowledge and experience helped give us clarity in our expectations of bargaining outcomes and after each bargained agreement we maintained the valuable relationship with the bargaining unit. He is a true professional in labour negotiations and we are grateful to have had him on our team negotiating for our last three negotiated collective agreements.”
Michael Moore, MA
Town of Creston
“I’ve used Jay and the National Collective Bargaining Institute during 2 organizations and collective bargaining agreements. After our first negotiation there was clearly no other choice than to call Jay for our second agreement. Jay is extremely knowledgeable, calculated, and experienced. We enjoy his calm and friendly demeanor and he truly felt like a part of our team. He always has our employee’s best interest in mind and for this, we will always support the National Collective Bargaining Institute.”
James Babiy
United Ramp Incorporated
“Jay is an experienced and proven negotiator that teaches practical negotiation skills in a live setting. His expertise and approach are deep-rooted and evident from countless past negotiations in his career. Absolutely recommended to work and partner with!”
Goran Babic
Everclean Facility Services
“Jay continues to be sought out by many members of the team for his in-depth understanding of labor laws, his exceptional negotiation skills and for his experience and expertise in the Labour Relations field. Over the years, Jay has been a valuable coach and resource, helping us navigate through several challenging situations. His ability to collaborate with various stakeholders and provide insightful guidance is impressive.”
Andrea M. Cadogen
Fortis BC
“I had the pleasure of working with Jay Sharun of the National Collective Bargaining Institute in a difficult round of negotiations. Throughout the process, Mr. Sharun was the consummate professional in helping Enterprise find a deal that met their objectives. Jay quickly gained the respect of the client in a unique industry by being organized, knowledgeable, strategic, and patient. Look forward to using Jay in the future and would recommend that others do the same.”
Daniel R. Begian
Enterprise Car Rental
“Jay laid out a great framework that allowed us to negotiate our collective bargaining agreement in far less time than prior years. His thorough approach helped us achieve a fair agreement that both parties were happy with”.
Alec Hubert
Kamloops Golf & Country Club
“In 2018 we had a successful certification vote by the employees at one of our jobsites. Our company was non-union, and we had little experience in dealing with negotiating a collective agreement. I was put in touch with Jay by a colleague and it quickly became apparent that his knowledge and experience would be valuable throughout the process. He exceeded all my expectations by taking the lead during the leadup and the negotiations, and we were able to finalize an agreement that worked for both parties. We were just recently back at the table for the renewal of the agreement, and it was seamless thanks in part to Jay’s familiarity with the Union, his knowledge of different collective agreements and reasonable approach to bargaining.
I won’t hesitate to recommend Jay’s services to anyone and will be utilizing National Collective Bargaining Institute for any Labour Relations challenges that we face.”
Doug Rennie
INFRACON
“Jay Sharun of the National Collective Bargaining Institute demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate challenging discussions with poise and professionalism. His strategic approach, thorough understanding of labour laws, and impeccable communication skills ensured that our interests were extremely well represented at the bargaining table.”
Kevin Dowle
Wesgroup Equipment
“Jay played a vital role in achieving a favorable result for our company’s first collective agreement. His professionalism, expertise, and experience were key factors in our success. I enthusiastically recommend this organization for any of your bargaining needs”
Michael Cortese
National Building Maintenance
“I’m delighted to express my genuine gratitude for Jay Sharun, an exceptional negotiator. As the sole manager at my organization, I’ve overseen negotiations for two new collective agreements over the past 8 years. On both occasions, Jay’s guidance and clear explanations have proven invaluable. His direct and accessible approach, combined with his knack for simplifying complex concepts, ensured a comprehensive understanding for everyone on our side of the table. Jay’s adept balance of assertiveness and diplomacy fostered productive conversations, consistently upholding professionalism, even in challenging situations. His adaptability and unwavering dedication consistently yielded favourable outcomes while maintaining workplace civility. Undoubtedly, Jay Sharun embodies integrity, clarity, and professionalism, making him an invaluable resource for employers of any size.”
Cari Lynn Gawletz
Grand Forks & District Public Library
“In this session, I learned the steps to collective bargaining through engaging exercises. I thoroughly enjoyed the modern take on negotiating and appreciated the training before we enter another bargaining session. I highly recommend Jay Sharun as a leader in collective bargaining and labour relations.”
Juliet Hansen
Purdy’s Chocolatier
“I would strongly suggest all bargaining members attend Jay’s interactive training session for greater clarity of the bargaining process and to learn creative ways to solve issues at the bargaining table. Jay challenged all attendees throughout the workshop with an added twist of fun!”
Mike Sidol
Lafrentz Road Marking
“Jay has a captivating experiential approach to collective bargaining. His simulations help experience the real-world bargaining dynamics. I recommend his workshops to anyone looking for practical solutions in bargaining!”
Andy Dube
City of Cranbrook
“Jay helped to negotiate a new Collective Agreement which not only fell within our fairly restrictive bargaining mandate, but also provided the employer with greater flexibility in managing our operations. Jay’s experience was crucial to making an agreement which was mutually beneficial for both the employer and its unionized employees.”
Gerald Pinchbeck
Town of Houston
“Highly recommend this highly interactive thought provoking three days with Jay! Jay has experience that you need to bottle with his fresh collaborative strategic approach. He guided participants with his simulations that had us thinking outside the box. I look forward to the next workshop or webinar to learn from this talented Labour Relations professional.”
Michelle Reid
City of West Kelowna
“Jay is very good at what he does, he is personable and was able to relate to any situation that was thrown at him by attendees. He gives great examples from personal experiences and applies them directly to the strategies he introduces throughout the course. I will definitely be able to utilize the information and the connections that I have made from this course.”
Dana Chaben
Prairie Arctic Regional Council
“I had the pleasure of attending Jay’s National Collective Bargaining Training in October 2020. I found this training engaging, educational and at times comedic. I thoroughly enjoyed the levels of discussion that took place, not only by Jay but also by several other industry related professionals. I appreciated the variety of examples and simulations that took place and would recommend this training to any individual that is looking to enhance their knowledge on Collective Bargaining.”
Melinda Turning Robe
Blood Tribe Department of Health Inc.
“Jay is a wealth of knowledge, an engaging facilitator, and a master of the art of collective bargaining. I participated in the virtual National Collective Bargaining Certificate program; the program exceeded my expectations. The agenda was balanced with both theory and practice. The strategies discussed were innovative and future-focused. I highly recommend the National Collective Bargaining Certificate program for individuals who wish to hone their skills and become more effective and efficient negotiators.”
Jessica Pooley (Schaper)
Coastal Community Credit Union
“After participating in training with the National Collective Bargaining Institute, we hired them to lead us through bargaining, at the height of the COVID19 pandemic – not an easy task when all meetings had to be conducted virtually through Zoom! Jay brings a modern approach to bargaining that is strategic, respectful and efficient. He was skilled at preventing the parties from getting “stuck in the weeds” or losing sight of the bigger objectives. His relaxed approach helped us to explore shared interests and mutually beneficial solutions in a way that resulted in a successful bargaining outcome under very challenging conditions.”
Laurie Gage
Strathcona Regional District
“The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) hired the National Collective Bargaining Institute to assist us with our CUPE contract renewal. Jay was able to lead our discussions in a very efficient and productive manner that enabled us to get a longer-term deal than we originally anticipated, and both parties were very satisfied with the outcome, leading to a quick ratification of our new four-year agreement. As well, Jay’s work was coordinated with one of our member municipalities, the Town of Qualicum Beach, which enabled us to maintain communication about our bargaining objectives and ensure consistency between our local governments. Thanks to this well coordinated and efficient work, we will continue to have a strong relationship with our CUPE local, and we were able to achieve important non-monetary objectives which will be very beneficial for our future years of this agreement. Thank you, Jay!!”
Deley Wells
Regional District of Nanaimo
“Our organization was engaged in bargaining a first collective agreement, led by a management team inexperienced in contract negotiations. Jay’s practical and strategic approach helped us to identify and focus on our key priorities. Jay was knowledgeable about the labour environment and flexible to our needs, and we were extremely pleased with the results of the bargaining process.”
Paul Burry
Prince George Library
“I entered as a junior HR/LR professional, but I left feeling confident and inspired in my role as a negotiator. Jay’s vision for negotiating between Employers and Unions is simple yet impactful. He is able to strip away the complexities of what a traditional bargaining session may have been and lead a transformational bargaining session that results in a win for both Parties.”
Colleen Berner
Finning Canada
“Jay helped us negotiate an agreement while spending significantly less time at the table than past years. Jay’s extensive experience allowed us to think steps ahead to ensure we reached an agreement within our mandate. His simple yet strategic approach to bargaining is effective!”
Dustin Armstrong
Molycop Canada
“Despite that I had negotiated on my own over the past 15 years, the workshop was fantastic! Jay’s session will certainly allow me to bring a more strategic, and courageous, approach to contract negotiations in the future. He is very knowledgeable and has a ton of experience that he draws from to benefit the participants. Jay’s approach was professional and engaging, the quality of the content was high, and the scenarios were realistic!”
Deborah Fox
Kohler Company
“I had the privilege of attending Jay Sharun’s National Collective Bargaining course in 2019 and it was excellent! If you are involved in bargaining negotiations, this is a program you won’t want to miss!”
Tanya Stilborn
North Okanagan Hospice Society
“Jay brings a wealth of knowledge to this workshop – great insight and modern-day tactics to utilize for collective bargaining. His simulations kept the participants engaged and motivated to learn more on negotiating. Jay is an experienced professional in the field of labour relations, highly recommend his seminar!”
Remina Sidhu
Emterra
“Jay worked with us to identify key targets for our new CBA and worked tirelessly to ensure that we came away with an agreement that was fair to both parties. I will call Jay again in 4 years when we’re ready to negotiate the next one.”
Joe Abi-Ad
Valleybrook Gardens
“Awesome training course! Jay is a captivating trainer who uses real life scenarios in his curriculum giving the participants many opportunities to engage and draw a parallel between the techniques being taught and how they relate to everyday workplace situations.”
Amanda Laughton
Heritage Credit Union
“Our bargaining team had the benefit of participating in the 3-day collective bargaining training through the National Collective Bargaining Institute prior to bargaining. The concepts and tools were very useful and easy to put into practice throughout bargaining. During bargaining, Jay’s expertise and guidance supported our team in navigating complex problems and situations with confidence and composure. Jay’s experience and suggestions for approaching different scenarios throughout the bargaining process helped us evaluate a best path forward, and we were able to collaborate effectively with the union to achieve an outcome that was positive for both parties.”
Ellen Jackson
Comox Valley Regional District
“I have recently completed a 3-day virtual collective bargaining institute program. I found the entire program to be very helpful and insightful. I had already completed several rounds of collective bargaining as employer counsel and Jay’s course taught me a lot of new tips and tricks and different ways of approaching challenging situations. The course is very interactive and engaging with many hands-on exercises to keep you interested and to engrain the new techniques you are learning. I highly recommend this to anyone involved in collective agreement negotiation, whether they are new at it or seasoned.”
Danny Bernstein
Roper Greyell LLP
“I have worked with Jay on four rounds of collective bargaining during my time at the Hotel Grand Pacific. My experience has been that he quickly and efficiently whittles down to the core issues and effectively aides each side in finding a path to consensus. For our most recent contract renewal, we had anticipated a difficult round of bargaining but were able to successfully reach an agreement in just three days. His years of experience at the bargaining table have benefitted us tremendously and his down to earth approach makes him very easy to work with.”
Eleanor Purslow
Hotel Grand Pacific
“I very recently completed a 3-day workshop through the National Collective Bargaining Institute, instructed by CEO, Jay Sharun. It was informative, interactive, well-paced and certainly worth my time. I walked away feeling more knowledgeable and confident in this key area of labour relations, and very much recommend it to others who would like to do the same.”
Joanna May
The Victoria Association for Community Living
“I wanted to reach out and say thank you for delivering these sessions to us this week. I really enjoyed the conversations and having the opportunity to learn more about collective bargaining. I’m new to my role here with Canfor Pulp so this was my first real deep dive into the topic. I learned a ton and have a lot of great takeaways so thanks again.”
Alyssa Yu
Canfor Pulp
“I really enjoyed this training. Jay was an excellent teacher, and he is very knowledgeable. His experience was very valuable to the sessions. Thank you!”
David Rojas
Encompass Benefits & HR Solutions
“As a long-term automotive executive, I signed on to work with a store with a Union present.
Being my first experience with a Union, we hired Jay to do a day workshop with all management involved in dealing with union staff. To further my knowledge, I attended a Collective Bargaining course put on by Jay, which was awesome.
Jay is a great presenter, makes sure that you understand both sides of all dealings with a union, with a great wealth of knowledge.”
Jeremy Dally
Applewood Auto Group
“The workshop exceeded my expectations! Taking the approach of involving participants using a series of simulated bargaining sessions rather than trying to explain how Collective Bargaining works by form of lectures, kept the sessions lively , fun and relevant. I gained invaluable knowledge and actual experience. Jay Sharun is exceptionally knowledgeable and was a pleasure to learn from!”
Dianna Plouffe
Town of Smithers
“Jay’s passion in regard to collective bargaining is evident throughout the course. The sessions are interactive, participants are able to practice what they learn, leaving you feeling capable and equipped to accept the challenge of your businesses next round of collective bargaining.”
Daniela Dyck
Village of Ashcroft
“As a CPA I have been doing continuing professional development for over 35 years. I can honestly say that these 3 days were one of the best training sessions I have ever done. Jay made it practical, applicable, had good structure and pace, and it was also a lot of fun in a great setting. I will be entering bargaining with a much better toolbox.”
Don Nettleton
Okanagan Regional Library
“Jay’s ideas were innovative and helpful compared to traditional collective bargaining. The team exercises were great, and everyone got better by the end of the session. I would recommend this course to anyone working in the area of collective bargaining”
Siva Chandran Ramakrishna
School District No. 48 (Sea to Sky)
“Jay’s no-nonsense approach to the dated traditional collective bargaining process was forward thinking and enlightening. Time well spent!”
Lisa House
Vancouver Island Regional Library
“The National Collective Institute of Bargaining’s certificate course provided valuable insight into recent collective bargaining trends in Canada. The interactive simulations with peers provided great opportunity to practice bargaining strategies in a safe learning environment. Jay is knowledgeable and passionate about collective bargaining, and it shows in his delivery of course material.”
Daniel Fish
North Coast Regional District
“Jay is a knowledgeable and engaging professional. He helped our team achieve a positive result in half the time allotted by being able to home in on the core issues. His insights and ability to find solutions were extremely valuable to the process. I walked away with many meaningful takeaways on the collective bargaining process.”
Lynda Roach
City of Courtenay
“Today, I finished the National Collective Bargaining Certificate. Jay Sharun was a phenomenal facilitator, and the workshop was invaluable. All 3 days were engaging, interactive, and practical. I highly recommend this to folks in HR/LR.”
Bria Young
Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd.
“I had the pleasure of attending one of Jay’s training programs relating to negotiating with the union. I found the program educational, however more importantly I enjoyed the course as Jay made it fun with respect to role playing while challenging my skills at negotiating.”
Mike Rydl
Ridley Terminals Inc.
“As our municipality approaches negotiations this year we felt that the team needed refresher training even though we had all gone through the process multiple times in our professional careers. We hired Jay Sharun for a 3-day in-house training session and he not only blew us away with a whole new , refreshing approach to negotiations, he left us with a strong mandate that will fit our needs. Jay has an amazing delivery and abundance of bargaining knowledge and he made it very easy to learn. Bargaining prep has never been so easy!”
Nancy Coe
City of Quesnel
“Our experience was excellent! The simulations and applied scenario work helped us develop a well-grounded and strategic approach to the complex challenges of collective bargaining. Well facilitated and built on significant expertise and experience. There is tremendous value in these sessions!”
Michael Boronowski
City of Fernie
“Jay’s Negotiation course was extremely informative and included real life examples that could be brought back to the workplace. Jay’s teaching style was so effective that we were easily able to retain the information and he kept us on the edge of our seats throughout the course.”
Holly Flinkman
District of Lake Country
“The Village of Burns Lake recently used the National Collective Bargaining Institute for it’s union negotiations. The service was exceptional. Jay is experienced, knowledgeable and professional. I would highly recommend this organization for any of your bargaining needs.”
Sheryl Worthing
Village of Burns Lake
“Spending three days in a board room with Jay Sharun of the National Collective Bargaining Institute was a great experience. I entered this workshop as a collective bargaining rookie and left the workshop with confidence. Confidence on the steps of collective bargaining, the roadblocks, the strategies and what one could expect at the bargaining table. This workshop was informative and educational in a fun way. I experienced this workshop with other fantastic people with a variety of experience that lead to a great foundation in the field of collective bargaining. The training scenarios that were set up for us to run through provided realistic yet enjoyable practice for our real lives. The expertise Jay Sharun provides helps set anyone up for future successes at the bargaining table. This was three days well spent.”
Alysia Tiffen
Town of Drayton Valley
“We have been working with Jay since 2007 and together we have completed 4 sets of negotiations. Jay is able to relate to both parties very well and is able to get to the heart of a deal in a very short period of time. His approach to negotiating is very effective and we would recommend Jay to other companies looking to improve their next round of bargaining.”
Greg Thiessen
Rapid Span
“I recently took the National Collective Bargaining Certificate through Jay Sharun. I found the course extremely valuable being new to Collective Bargaining and into our first Collective Agreement. The simulations allowed me to practice some of the practical pieces learned which I found critical to moving forward in a real setting. Understanding the importance of pre-negotiation strategies and mandates left me better prepared to enter our first agreement”
Nancy Teghtmeyer
City of Chestermere
“The Village of Cumberland partnered with Jay from National Collective-bargaining Institute with our latest collective agreement renewal. The process started with a regional training session given by Jay that was invaluable in that it provided us with a solid base of understanding not only regarding bargaining strategies but how to maintain a healthy collaborative relationship throughout. During our renewal negotiations with our union members, Jay provided professional and experienced advice, kept the Employer team organized and guided us through one of the most respectful processes that I have been through in my career. In the past, the negotiations lasted many days; however, using Jay this time, we spent more time preparing and understanding our needs as the Employer prior to negotiations and as a result of this solutions-oriented approach, our negotiations lasted less than 2 ½ days! Thank you National Collective-bargaining Institute for the valued service and if this is required in the future Jay will be our first consideration!”
Clayton Postings
Village of Cumberland
“Jay’s knowledge and experience greatly assisted our team with the bargaining process. He was easy to work with, approaching situations with a calm and professional demeanor enabling us to work with our union partners in achieving a positive outcome for both parties.
I would highly recommend Jay to assist organizations in navigating through bargaining negotiations”
Marla Laycock
Municipality of North Cowichan
“The Collective Bargaining Workshop provides a straight forward approach to solving complex issues. I learned strategies that will help in future negotiations.”
Maureen Kurenoff
Growth Financial Corp.
“The National Collective Bargaining workshop was very informative, interactive and I learned many different strategies and tools that I will be able to incorporate in my future negotiations. Special THANK YOU to Jay for leading this workshop and sharing his expertise, insights and making the workshop fun and collaborative. I really enjoyed the workshop!”
Marta Tucci
Chubb Fire & Security
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