Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Written Answers. - Workplace Co-Operation.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

59 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to a recent survey undertaken by the ATGWU which showed that almost four in ten of those surveyed believe that workplace co-operation had decreased over the past two years, with just 23 per cent believing that co-operation had increased; the measures, if any, planned to provide for greater participation by employees in the running of firms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25037/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I am aware of the survey referred to by the Deputy. This survey was undertaken to assess not only workers' experience of but their attitude to national social partnership agreements. It is encouraging that the study of these trade union members indicates that the majority of those surveyed view the framing of a new national agreement positively. I expect that an agreement to succeed Partnership 2000 would aim to deepen partnership in Irish enterprises.

There are indications from a number of sources that partnership agreements are increasingly found in Irish workplaces. At a recent conference organised by SIPTU it was stated that increasing numbers of that union's membership are covered by an agreement on employee participation. Earlier this year, an IBEC survey of companies which together employed more than 200,000 employees, indicated that 44 per cent of the companies surveyed had jointly created partnership initiatives with their unions. These cover such areas as: communications; consultation and joint management – employee activities; organisation of work; training and development; financial involvement; job control; occupational health and safety; and equal opportunities.

Contemporary enterprise faces a number of challenges in order to maintain competitiveness in the rapidly changing global economy. The emergence of partnership initiatives has facilitated the understanding by both employers and employees of these challenges and enables them to work together in a non-adversarial manner to meet them. There is evidence of considerable efforts by unions and employers and their organisations to meet the challenge.

It is well recognised that the development of partnership at enterprise level is an evolving process. Chapter 9 of Partnership 2000 states: "The National Framework for Partnership for Competitive Enterprises does not attempt to impose any single structure or model of partnership. There is a need to tailor the approach to fit different employment settings." Partnership at enterprise level can and should take many forms. It is to be anticipated that the emergence of partnership will occur gradually.

The national centre for partnership established under the current national agreement, Partnership 2000, is working to facilitate the establishment of partnership agreements in enterprises, both in the private and public sectors. This work underlines the commitment of the Government and the social partners to the extension of partnership in the workplace. An evaluation of progress made to date is being carried out for the centre and the results will be available to it in December.