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United we stand

Summary

The partnership approach at Barclays was formulated against the backdrop of increasing competition within the finance sector and a more favourable political climate for developing management-union initiatives. The main elements of the project - overwhelmingly endorsed in a ballot of Barclays employees in April this year - include:

  • a set of partnership principles that underpin the collaborative approach, enshrine the philosophy of mutual respect and recognition and commit both sides to a number of shared objectives;

  • a three-year partnership pay deal, effective from 1 April 1999, covering the bank's 50,000 clerical and managerial staff (Pay and Benefits Bulletin 472);

  • the setting up of joint working parties to make recommendations on topics such as job security, equal opportunities, job evaluation, performance management, flexible working, family-friendly policies and health and safety; and

  • discussions on a new recognition and procedure agreement that will enshrine a partnership approach to employee relations and provide for the appointment of jointly recognised union representatives.