18.
a development as almost inevitable.
There is much evidence to suggest that
this is occurring in spite of government attempts to rigidly adhere to a
formal policy of-joint consultation that precludes overt bargaining.
Joint Consultation: Formal Channels and Informal Conflict.
The formal channels of joint consultation operate, at best, in a
partial and sporadic manner, heavily slanted in the government's favour.
The SCSC is hamstrung because there is no genuine negotiation and little
consequent commitment on the part of either side. The government has
attempted to diffuse dissent by encouraging joint consultation at department
level. However, the CSB has only been able to exert a minimal influence on
department heads who decide whether consultation will be formal or informal,
whether unions will be represented, what issues are discussed, how far
discussions may proceed - and even whether consultation of any description
will be entertained at all!
22
Union officials frequently accuse department heads of being paternalistic,
trying to intimidate-union officials, members or council representatives
and/or confining discussion to trivial issues such as stationery, broken
kettles and use of lifts. Evidence suggests all these problems do occur.
Even CSB officials privately admit that 'bloody minded' department heads have
been a problem. In practice, the critical issues of salary grades, promotion
and employment cannot be meaningfully discussed at this level. The former
is precluded by the potential impact of salary grade changes on internal
Promotion and employment policies are decided centrally by the
relativities.
government and the raising of individual cases is prohibited.
Thus joint consultation appears to exist in name only in most departments.
At best, an exchange of ideas establishing che frontiers of conflict is achieved
in a few departments, but little else. The Education Department Joint
Consultation Council generally acknowledged as the most developed is
deadlocked over the government's attempt to transfer primary schools to private
22. Including discussions with officials in the Medical, Post Office,
Education and Housing Depts. and the General Grade Secretary.