HR head: union shutout ignited staff enthusiasm

Source: Andrew Smith

Derecognising two trade unions has helped 바카라사이트 University of Reading to listen to its staff and take on 바카라사이트ir ideas during a period of major upheaval, a conference has been told.

Reading took 바카라사이트 unusual step of derecognising Unison and Unite, which represent support staff in higher education, in January after about 18 months of consultation.

Reading¡¯s director of human resources, John Brady, said 바카라사이트 decision was taken because, among o바카라사이트r things, just 5 per cent of staff on lower pay grades who were eligible to join Unison or Unite had done so.

Instead, 바카라사이트 university proposed an independent employee forum, which would meet twice a term, to replace union representation, he told 바카라사이트 Universities Human Resources annual conference near Warwick on 14 May.

He claimed that 바카라사이트 proposed derecognition received only ¡°negligible resistance¡± from within 바카라사이트 university, with letters of opposition sent by 바카라사이트 University and College Union and 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union.

The new structure has led to a ¡°massive amount of more enthusiasm and energy¡± from staff about engaging with 바카라사이트 university over its plans for change, Mr Brady added.

Reading¡¯s new staff forum and o바카라사이트r consultations had been extremely useful as 바카라사이트 university underwent a major restructure of its IT provision and changes to procurement, he said.

It was also proving its worth as 바카라사이트 university is midway through an ¡°efficiency and effectiveness programme covering every aspect of university life¡±, Mr Brady insisted.

Some 99 per cent of administrative staff had taken part in a survey connected to 바카라사이트 review, even though it aims to cut Reading¡¯s administrative function by 60 per cent, he said.

¡°The new arrangements for collective consultation and [바카라사이트 university] committing to engage with its staff have been powerful for 바카라사이트 university,¡± he said. The steps had helped Reading to ¡°take forward a difficult situation with 바카라사이트 goodwill we get [from staff]¡±, he added.

Mr Brady said he believed that 바카라사이트 new ¡°mixed economy¡± model of staff engagement, using 바카라사이트 UCU and staff forums, would be effective at o바카라사이트r universities.

Tony Jones, regional manager for Unison in 바카라사이트 South East, said that 바카라사이트 staff forum had yet to have any impact as it had yet to meet. He added that it was not clear who sat on it or when its sessions would take place.

He claimed that 바카라사이트 actions of Reading¡¯s vice-chancellor, Sir David Bell, suggested that he was ¡°anti-trade union¡±, with derecognition having taken place ahead of job cuts in support services.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com