Staff support for Blue Circle Cement’s merger last week with French building
materials group Lafarge was fostered by its consultative structure.
Unions at Blue Circle Cement are heavily involved in all aspects of the
business at local and national levels, and the IPA audit uses its model as an
example of good practice.
Staff representatives from each Blue Circle site were kept informed of the
merger, and unions and management made joint presentations to staff.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Mike Gibson, national empl-oyee relations manager of Blue Circle Cement,
said, "Some staff might have been cynical about the credibility of the
managers, but with union reps on the platform, it was easier to get the message
across."
There are 16 shop stewards on a company action team, together with four
works managers.
