NHS partnership working & industrial democracy‏

The unanimous support of UNISON health conference for motion 2 on partnership working will surprise some who regard that concept as a watchword for union incorporation and subordination to employer interests.

Moved by service group chair Lilian Macer, the motion welcomed the achievements of partnership working in the nHS which has delivered ‘real and sustainable improvements in patient care.’

With a change of UK Government imminent this successful model of joint working will face a severe challenge in the coming years. However in the new political landscape of devolution the gains of co-determination will hard to eradicate.

The industrial arrangements in the Scottish NHS have been described by a leading academic in the public services magazine in the following positive terms:

‘NHS Scotland has gone further by passing an innovative Staff Governance Code into law, so compelling all its health boards to engage and involve staff and their representatives. This innovation in industrial relations has received attention all over the world and is today, arguably, one of the best examples of effective industrial democracy in the world.’
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=13712

There are many battles to be fought in the years ahead – budget cuts, job levels, procurement and skill mix to name a few. But NHS partnership working which puts union representatives in the middle of these discussions is well understood by UNISON health activists as a solid platform for engagement and negotiation.