Dear all
You may find the following press notice on the launch of a TUC briefing on the Information and Consultation proposals in the UK of some use?
Regards
Jennifer Rockliff
Information Service
Trades Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3LS
Tel 020 7467 1221
Fax 020 7467 1273
email [log in to unmask]
www.tuc.org.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nigel Stanley
> Sent: 07 July 2003 11:33
> To: #Congress House; #Council Offices; #Education Office; #NEC
> Subject: TUC release - info and consultation
>
> This was released earlier this morning. It is accompanied by 2 briefins on how it will work, and why it's good for business. They can be found o the web site and T:\releases
>
> immediate release July 7 03
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>
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> Attention: industrial, business, political correspondents
> 2 pages
>
> TUC hails information and consultation rights as 'breakthrough'
>
> Speaking at a press briefing held at the DTI, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
> "> Today is a real milestone along the long march to winning information and consultation rights in Britain> '> s workplaces. People at work are on the brink of securing the right to be told what> '> s going on and the right to be heard. It> '> s a breakthrough and a great victory for sustained cross-European union campaigning.
> "> These new rights could lead to the biggest change in workplace relations for a generation. But that> '> s not a threat, it> '> s an opportunity for both employees and employers to improve the quality of working life and boost productivity.
> "> Too often new rights for people at work are presented as a zero sum game. If employees gain, then business must lose, goes the argument. That might well be true for some issues, but not for information and consultation. Companies and organisations that communicate with and consult their workforce gain a competitive edge. People want to feel valued and treated with respect, just as much as they want good pay and conditions. Partnership is good for employees and employers. Only bad managers will resent having to communicate with staff.
> "> In bringing us together with the CBI the government has done the right thing. We have always said that social partnership of this type is the best way to draw up the detail of implementation, particularly when there> '> s a clear legal requirement or government policy that both of us understand is non-negotiable.
> "> Of course negotiating means that we will not always get everything all our own way. And not all the detail is yet resolved. Both of us no doubt have some more lobbying to do. But today we have a framework that is practical, builds on what already exists in the best UK workplaces and is rooted in our particular industrial relations traditions. It> '> s not quite what we, or the CBI, would have wanted when we started, but both of us, I believe, can honestly say that our major concerns have been wholly or partly met.
> "> These are exciting proposals. Britain> '> s best workplaces already gain from good, high trust, relations with their staff. Too many of the rest are stuck in the kind of command and control management that now looks increasingly out of date, and lies behind much of our productivity gap. Of course you can> '> t legislate to change attitudes, but you can nudge them in the right direction. That is what these rights will do.> ">
> Notes to Editors:
>
> The TUC is today publishing, It> '> s good to talk - a briefing on why information and consultation is good for business, and a briefing on how the new scheme will work in practice. These are attached, or available on our web site
http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/index.cfm .
> .
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> - All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk <http://www.tuc.org.uk>>
> - Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access
> pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet <http://www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet>
> - A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
> - If you want to apply for 2003 Congress credentials go to www.tuc.org.uk/mediacredentials2003 <http://www.tuc.org.uk/mediacredentials2003>. The closing date for applications is Friday 22 August 2003. Applications received after this date will be subject to a charge.
>
> Contacts:
> Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Other enquiries:
>
>
> Nigel Stanley
> Head of Campaigns and Communications
> Trades Union Congress
> 020 7467 1244
> 020 7467 1241 (fax)
> 07699 755102 (pager)
>
>
> Keep In ToUCh
> To keep up to date with TUC news and views, register for, In ToUCh, the monthly TUC e-bulletin at www.tuc.org.uk/register.
>
>
> workSMART, www.worksmart.co.uk, brought to you by the TUC, is here to help today's working people get the best out of the world of work
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