APA is backing CIPD’s call for government to bolster [public sector] employee engagement in order to avoid mass strike action, despite swingeing cuts to public services
CIPD suggests there are a number of high stake options open to government in seeking to avoid strike action as spending cuts bite, but ultimately only a focus on building public sector leadership and management skills and improving consultation will make a real and lasting difference.
In its latest report, Developing Positive Employee Relations, CIPD highlights the higher stakes policy options the government should be considering to protect public services if there is an upsurge in industrial unrest, including banning strike action by workers involved in the essential services.
Other policy options open to the government set out in the report include legislation to require parties to public service disputes to take part in compulsory arbitration prior to industrial action and changes to balloting requirements so that ballots should be counted separately for each employer.
The paper highlights research from the CIPD's quarterly Employee Outlook survey series, showing:
- low levels of trust and confidence among public sector employees in senior management teams - just 16% of public sector employees say they trust their senior leaders
- 54% of public sector staff agree most people today are not willing to lose pay by going on strike, compared to 47% in the private sector.
- More than four in ten employees are in favour of banning public sector workers involved in the delivery of essential services from striking
Trade unions have the power to disrupt only if employees trust them more than they trust management. The fundamental need is not to 'manage the trade unions' it is to manage the employment relationship and communicate the case for change. Both sides have heavy duty weapons available to them but neither has much to gain from deploying them. Unions, government, frontline workers and public alike have far more to gain from a strategy focused on building trust and avoiding conflict.
APA
CIPD suggests there are a number of high stake options open to government in seeking to avoid strike action as spending cuts bite, but ultimately only a focus on building public sector leadership and management skills and improving consultation will make a real and lasting difference.
In its latest report, Developing Positive Employee Relations, CIPD highlights the higher stakes policy options the government should be considering to protect public services if there is an upsurge in industrial unrest, including banning strike action by workers involved in the essential services.
Other policy options open to the government set out in the report include legislation to require parties to public service disputes to take part in compulsory arbitration prior to industrial action and changes to balloting requirements so that ballots should be counted separately for each employer.
The paper highlights research from the CIPD's quarterly Employee Outlook survey series, showing:
- low levels of trust and confidence among public sector employees in senior management teams - just 16% of public sector employees say they trust their senior leaders
- 54% of public sector staff agree most people today are not willing to lose pay by going on strike, compared to 47% in the private sector.
- More than four in ten employees are in favour of banning public sector workers involved in the delivery of essential services from striking
Trade unions have the power to disrupt only if employees trust them more than they trust management. The fundamental need is not to 'manage the trade unions' it is to manage the employment relationship and communicate the case for change. Both sides have heavy duty weapons available to them but neither has much to gain from deploying them. Unions, government, frontline workers and public alike have far more to gain from a strategy focused on building trust and avoiding conflict.
APA
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