News on 8 November 2000
In the second round of the Department of Trade and Industry's
(DTI) £5m Partnership Fund, projects which reduce harassment and
bullying to a policy of zero tolerance as well as enhancing employees'
lives by encouraging flexible working among others have won a share of
the fund.
DTI Minister Alan Johnson has announced that 41 projects across the country
have won £1.4m from the fund, to develop innovative projects between
employers and employees to address culture change, business and work-life
issues. Winners will have to raise funds to match the money received from
the Partnership Fund.
Announcing the winners, Johnson said: "The Government's Partnership
Fund is helping organisations build consensus in the workplace and move
away from conflict in employment relations. Some of the winners are developing
solutions to bullying and violence in the workplace. Others improve health
and safety training and a better work-life balance."
The Partnership Fund was launched in May 1999 and will run for four years.
Each winner can receive up to a maximum of £50,000 from the Government.
The winners come from the private, public and voluntary sectors and from
unionised and non-unionised organisations.
The winners include:
AMEC Rail and RMT - wants to implement a cultural change throughout the
company and move towards open partnership working;
Serco and RMT - aim to improve the day to day working relationships between
the unions and management and seeks to change traditional attitudes and
behaviour among employers and employees in order to rebuild a positive
approach to dealing with problems faced by the workforce;
Barclays Bank and UNIFI - have developed a project designed to facilitate
the culture of partnership within the bank. The long-term objectives are
to work in practical terms at every level in the company. The project
is based on joint training for line managers and union representatives;
British Airways World Cargo - the project is a culture-change proposal
involving the training of managers and union representatives in non-adversarial
approaches to workplace problems. Their aim is to improve the climate
in employee relations, and to gain recognition from all parties that partnership
helps the bottom line.
