Re: uk-policy Downing Street and after

David Wild (david.wild@virgin.net)
Mon, 8 Jun 1998 15:02:17 +0100 (BST)

Diarmid Weir wrote:
>
> David Halpern has suggested that I post some thoughts on the Downing Street
> seminar. I've also reflected on further developments since.
>
> First, let me say that my impression is that Blair's openness to new and
> possibly very radical thought is genuine. This means that we all have the
> option to influence both the underlying political philosophy of the government
> and its consequent policies - if we can find the arguments to convince him.
>
> Secondly, I think that he has identified a real gap between statist social
> democracy and laissez-faire libertarianism. And I think this gap arises because
> they seem to be such opposites that no one bothers to look for the common
> ground between them. And yet in fact that common ground does exist, in the
> contradictory facts of human nature, that while we each exist in isolated
> consciousness we must co-operate to survive, and indeed by co-operating we can
> achieve the best results both individually and collectively .
>

<snip...>

I was interested in the comments on the role of the unions. Speaking as
somebody at the sharp end of trying to define a modern role for the
unions within a gavernment agency I can see a very positive practical
role that could dovetail nicely with this whole debate.
If a problem solving culture can be developed where unions are seen as
partners in helping to develop solutions within organisations then we
would make progress. Within the Environment Agency, the unions provide
excellent raw feedback and intelligence to senior decision makers. They
tell them things that the management hierarchy would not dare. There is
in the workplace an Emperor's New Clothes situation where an
individual's performance rating will suffer if they tell the truth about
what is actually happening. Quite often I am in meetings where the
unions know more about an actual problem than anybody else.
This role of forming a democratic space within an organisation is one
that should be developed. This will require a change in tack from the
management good, unions bad mantra of the last 20 years, and will
require the unions to think deeply about their long term strategic role
in society. This is all not before time.
Also to pretend that the interests of employers and employees are the
same is not honest. If one group of people have the right to hire or
fire another group then this difference in power needs addressing
honestly and not hiding underneath the carpet of flexibility etc.

David Wild
Chair Unison
Environment Agency

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