The UK Passport Agency is to radically overhaul its approach to industrial
relations by allowing trade unions to contribute to the development of HR
policies through a new partnership agreement.
The agency, which employs 3,000, has traditionally had a difficult working
relationship with unions, due to aggressive negotiations and mistrust on both
sides.
As part of the overhaul there will be greater transparency of HR issues,
including recruitment, retention and redundancies.
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Christine Cecil, acting HR director at the UKPA, said the Public and
Commercial Services union will now be involved "at the earliest possible
stage" in developing HR policies, practices and strategies. She said that
"frequent, relaxed single issue meetings" will help develop policies.
Union and HR staff will attend a joint training initiative this autumn.
