- Conference
- 2005 Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 25 February 2005
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that the new Information and Consultation Regulations come into force in April 2005. These new regulations are having an important impact on all workplace relations but particularly in the Community and Voluntary Sector.
Conference notes that the Information and Consultation Regulations will introduce important new rights for employees to be informed and consulted about an organisations’ economic situation and employment prospects. In addition, new Information and Consultation Reps will have facility time. Conference believes that the regulations provide an opportunity for UNISON to organise in workplaces where there is no recognition.
However, Conference is concerned that some employers, particularly in the Community and Voluntary Sector, may use the regulations to try to bypass the union and set up a staff council. This is particularly an issue where there is low union density. In addition, some employers are using the new regulations in an attempt to de-recognise UNISON.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to work with regions and branches to:
1)Circulate information about the new Information and Consultation Regulations
2)Develop recognition strategies in the Community and Voluntary Sector
3)Negotiate extending existing recognition agreements to include the requirements under the Information and Consultation Regulations
4)Include Information and Consultation reps in facility time agreements
5)Ensure union members or reps are put forward as reps on any new staff councils or Information and Consultation bodies in non-recognised workplaces
6)Increase membership density in the Community and Voluntary Sector