New information and consultation rights should mean no more 'bolts from the blue'

Attention: industrial correspondents, union journals

From today (Wednesday) companies and organisations employing more than 150 staff need to have systems in place to allow meaningful dialogue to take place between managers and staff. Welcoming the new Information and Consultation regulations, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'These new changes from Europe mean that employees now have a right to be told what’s going on and a right to be heard. It should put a stop to the bolts from the blue where in the past staff heard their jobs were to be axed via text messages or by listening to the local radio.

'Well-run, successful companies have been informing and consulting with their employees for years. Sensible employers know only too well the competitive edge that comes from helping staff feel more valued and involved in the running of their firm or organisation. Only bad managers who insist on keeping their staff in the dark have anything to fear.

'Information and consultation provides unions with a golden opportunity to increase their presence in workplaces, particularly those where there are union members but where the boss has until now been refusing to engage collectively with staff.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

To help unions make the most of the new Information and Consultation regulations, the TUC has produced a new guide, written by Mark Hall from Warwick University’s Industrial Relations Research Unit. ‘TUC Guide to the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004’ is available price £4 to unions and voluntary organisations, £8 to other organisations.

To help union reps understand these new regulations, the TUC has produced a CD-ROM which contains a variety of briefing materials, including an introductory video clip from Brendan Barber, a PowerPoint presentation as well as a full briefing document. To obtain a copy please contact Hind on 020 7467 1361 or email hgharbaoui@tuc.org.uk

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Contacts:

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk