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27 November, 2006
Balloting is underway among paperworkers represented by three UK unions to turn the page on the adversarial relationship that has dominated the country’s papermaking industry.
A new framework “Partnership Agreement” has been agreed to by senior industrialists and national officers of Amicus, the Transport & General Workers Union (TGWU), and GMB, together with Britain’s Confederation of Paper Industries, an employers’ grouping of pulp, paper, and converting companies.
The agreement sets out modern approaches to the employment relationship across the sector, and includes as its motto “Work Together, Grow Together, Stay Together.” The three unions briefed local branch leaders on the agreement earlier in November, and union leaders are recommending that workers now accept the concept.
"The new agreement is an important step in securing modern working terms across the industry, such as work-life balance, actively promoting learning and skills, providing safer workplaces, promoting dignity at work and giving employees an opportunity to be informed and consulted, and actively involved in improving the performance of their workplace," said Amicus Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke.
According to the independent chairman of CPI, Professor Frank Burchill, “The agreement provides an essential framework for all the parties to work as partners in tackling the challenges in securing a healthy future for the papermaking industry."
The agreement, if passed, is expected to take effect in early 2007.
UK’s papermaking industry employs over 10,000 people in over 60 worksites, but has struggled to remain competitive in the face of reduced output coupled with high energy costs. Papermaking, along with printing in the UK, is one of the few industries to have industry-wide bargaining.