date: 24 January 2003 embargo: 00.01hrs Monday 27 January 2003

Attention: industrial, legal and political correspondents

TUC criticises employers’ 'paranoid' objection to consultation

Commenting on the CBI’s submission to the government’s consultation exercise on the forthcoming European Information and Consultation Directive, Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary Elect said today (Monday):

'Only the paranoid will see moves to inform staff about things that affect their job and to consult them about the future as a cipher for union power.

'All the academic evidence shows that the most productive workplaces practice both face to face communication and collective consultation with the workforce as a whole.

'Why should the kneejerk reactions of British employers stop staff feeling more involved at work and stop the wider economy of reaping the benefits of the greater productivity that flows from information and consultation?

'Workers in Britain should not be kept in the dark. In much of the rest of Europe, employees earn more, produce more and work shorter hours. There’s no secret about why - it’s because staff there have a say.

'Companies which consult properly with their staff are more likely to solve problems within the workplace, removing the need to visit employment tribunals - something employers would understandably wish to avoid.'

Notes to Editors:

The TUC released its submission to the government’s review on 17 January http://www.tuc.org.uk/em_research/tuc-6125-f0.cfm

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Press release (300 words) issued 27 Jan 2003