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10 June, 2001One of Great Britain's largest unions favours a modern attitude to changes in the public services.
GREAT BRITAIN: According to an interview with the Financial Times, Ken Jackson, general secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU), has called for "no-strike" deals with binding arbitration as part of the modernisation of the public services in the UK.
"Just as in manufacturing, we need to see greater competition and higher productivity in the public services," Ken Jackson said the day before the AEEU biennial conference began in Blackpool.
"There must be phased-in public investment based on tangible results. We must play our part because the government cannot do it on its own. Unions must accept their responsibilities. Their members are consumers as well as producers."
Ken Jackson, who is according to the FT "Tony Blair's favourite union leader," wants the spread of best practices in companies with a modern attitude to technological change. "I find no hostility among our members for this agenda," he added. We are more pro-active and not defensive. Unions have a good product, but they market it badly."
"Just as in manufacturing, we need to see greater competition and higher productivity in the public services," Ken Jackson said the day before the AEEU biennial conference began in Blackpool.
"There must be phased-in public investment based on tangible results. We must play our part because the government cannot do it on its own. Unions must accept their responsibilities. Their members are consumers as well as producers."
Ken Jackson, who is according to the FT "Tony Blair's favourite union leader," wants the spread of best practices in companies with a modern attitude to technological change. "I find no hostility among our members for this agenda," he added. We are more pro-active and not defensive. Unions have a good product, but they market it badly."