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Wendy Alexander Praises STUC Partnership To Put Employees First
03/02/2001
Family-friendly working has taken another step forward thanks to a partnership project between the STUC and five colleges in the west of Scotland.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Wendy Alexander today launched the policy documents which set out major enhancements in working conditions.
Staff at Anniesland, Cardonald, Clydebank, John Wheatley and Langside Colleges will benefit from improvements in parental leave, maternity support and bereavement leave.
Heralding the government-backed partnership project as a model for workplace co-operation between trade unions, employers and employees, Wendy Alexander said:
"Forward looking employers like these colleges understand that motivating and retaining staff depends on partnership. Family-friendly working makes sense. It recognises that people have to juggle different priorities in their lives.
"Good employers invest in their staff through training and good working conditions. The partnership established between the STUC and the colleges offers a model of working, not only for the rest of the FE sector but for all autonomous management bodies, whether public or private. This places those responsible for delivering world class learning to our communities - the teaching staff - at the centre of the workplace agenda.
"Successful 21st Century government is about partnership & reform. The trade union movement is adapting to the ever-increasing pace of change, and is doing so in a way which continues to highlight the STUC remains relevant and significant to many aspects of Scottish life.
"Whilst the Further Education Partnership at Work Project has of course been part funded by the DTI, it is very much in tune with the Executive's vision for the sector.
"The Executive is itself delivering on the fairness at work agenda - family friendly policies, reasonable maternity provision and so on. This is socially just and establishes a basic floor and partnership agreed by employers and employees for a workplace 'fit for the 21st century'.
"This Project follows close on the tail of the launch of the Good Employment Practice Guide, which I regard as a key measure in taking forward industrial relations based on mutual respect and a sense of common purpose. It is highly encouraging to see the STUC at the centre of these important initiatives.
"The 'Partnership at Work' Project also shows collaboration between the FE sector and associate organisations can achieve a great deal - positive and progressive employer/employee relations are vital in building a knowledge economy which will benefit Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.
"I await the positive impact of the Project on those West of Scotland college partners and am certain that the Project will provide an important guide for staff welfare throughout the sector and beyond."
The Project, part funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Partnership at Work initiative, is designed to encourage a culture of workplace co-operation between and within organisations.
The Project's initial policy frameworks, "Family and Parental Leave" and "Personal and Domestic Leave", will provide the means by which, over the next 11 months, each of the five colleges will aim to exceed their legal obligations under the 1999 Employment Relations Act.
BACKGROUND
1. In 1998, the STUC established the Further Education Trade Unions Forum, which reports to its General Council's Education Committee, bringing together the further education Trade Unions representing teaching and non-teaching staff. The FE Partnership at Work Project established by the Forum will provide the means by which, over the next 11 months, each of the five colleges will aim to exceed their legal obligations under the 1999 Employment Relations Act.
2. The lead partner in the Further Education Partnership at Work Project is the STUC, representing the FE trade unions. The other partners in the Project are five West of Scotland further education colleges: Anniesland, Cardonald, Clydebank, John Wheatley and Langside.
3. The project resulted from an initiative by the STUC to promote better partnership working between the further education trades unions and colleges. The cost of the Project will be ?91,000 which consists of ?38,000 from the DTI's Partnership at Work Fund and partner provided match funding of ?53,000. The DTI scheme is designed to encourage a culture of workplace co-operation between and within organisations, improving organisational efficiency and industrial relations. The first two documents agreed by the Partnership covers "Family and Parental Leave Policy and Procedure" and "Personal and Domestic Leave Policy and Procedure".
News Release: SE0236/2001
3 Feb 2001