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Date: 04 April 2008

Embargo: For Immediate Release

Attention: Newsdesks, Education and Social Affairs Correspondents

Unions and Employers Working in Partnership Towards World Class Public Services in Wales

The Wales TUC and Cardiff University will bring together leading academics, trade unionists and politicians to build on the groundbreaking Welsh Social Partnership Agreement at a key conference this Monday, 7 April 2008.

The agreement, signed last year between the Wales TUC and the Welsh Assembly Government, NHS Wales, Welsh Local Government Association and others, sets out a programme for workforce engagement in the development of world class public service built on consensus and common goals. It includes learning, employment, organising, procurement and equality issues in the public sector. The conference will discuss what working with government means for workers in Wales.

Key speakers include Wales' First Minster, Rhodri Morgan AM; Assembly Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies AM; David Begg, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress; Stephen Cavalier, Chief Executive, Thompson's Solicitors; Paul Teague, Queen's University Belfast and many more.

During the day experts will run workshops that explore elements of social partnership and delegates will have opportunities to discuss ways in which the Agreement can be taken forward.

Derek Walker, Wales TUC Head of Policy and Campaigns said:

'This conference is an important milestone for the public sector workforce in Wales. As well as aiming to strengthen partnership working across the public sector in Wales, we are looking outward to share best practice across the UK nations and Ireland and improve how we work collectively here in Wales.'

'In recognising the value of public sector workers as the cornerstone of developing better public services, the agreement is bringing key benefits on all sides - to staff, public sector employers and, crucially, to the many people who use our public services everyday in Wales.'

Professor Edmund Heery, Centre for Global Labour Research, Cardiff University said:

"Cardiff University is delighted to join with the Wales TUC in hosting the conference on Working with Government. In many European countries trade unions engage constructively with Government and the purpose of this crucial event is to promote a fruitful dialogue in Wales. Working with the Welsh Assemly Government, trade unions in Wales cannot only improve conditions for working people but also improve the services to the public which many of their members provide."

Notes to Editors:

Working with Government Conference, 7 April 2008, Glamorgan Building: Programme

• The vision for Public Services in Wales is shared by the stakeholders and can be summarised as services which are: world class and exemplars of outstanding small country governance; efficient, effective and delivered through collaboration; designed with citizens at the centre and promote social justice and equality; provided by model employers and regarded as offering careers of first choice; delivered by a well-trained, well-rewarded and well-motivated workforce.

• As part of the attachment to partnership thestakeholders are making a commitment to a set of principles directly relevant to managing change in public services. These are:

1. The stakeholders will use their best endeavours to ensure employment continuity.

2. The stakeholders support the use of the best standards of employment practice to manage deficits and surpluses in the public service workforce.

3. The stakeholders will ensure that any change is properly planned to avoid crisis responses.

4. The stakeholders expect that public sector organisations embarking on change, which impacts on the workforce, will involve the trade unions at the earliest opportunity.

5. The stakeholders recognise that this Agreement strengthens and supports the capacity of the workforce to engage fully and proactively over achieving continuous improvement in methods, practices and value for citizens and/or the organisations that serve them.

• For a full copy of PARTNERSHIP AND MANAGING CHANGE: A Partnership Agreement for Public Services in Wales please go to: http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/403823121/PSMW1/psmwpub/PartnershipEnglish?lang=en

• Media Enquiries: Christopher Hartwell t: 029 2034 7010 or e: chartwell@tuc.org.uk

Press release (1,100 words) issued 7 Apr 2008