UK

TRIPARTITISM

Phillipson meets with unions to plan new ‘partnership’ model

Unions and employers would be asked for perspectives at 'early stage' of policy development


Freddie Whittaker
4 Sep 2024


Bridget Phillipson has met with unions to discuss a “new model” for government to work in “partnership” with the education sector.

In an approach reminiscent of the “social partnership” pursued by the Blair government in the 2000s, unions and employers could be asked to contribute their perspectives to emerging policy at an “early stage”.

The education secretary today met with leaders of the National Education Union, NASUWT, ASCL, NAHT, Community, GMB, Unison, Unite and UCU.

It is the latest in a series of moves aimed at “resetting” a relationship that had become incredibly strained after 14 years of Conservative government.

Unions had grown increasingly frustrated that they were informed about key government decisions once they had been made, rather than being able to give their view during the development stage.

The Department for Education said today’s meeting was the “first stage in developing a new model for partnership working with core education stakeholders in the school and college space, by contributing staff and employer perspectives to emerging policy at an early stage”.

Phillipson will also shortly meet with the Sixth Form Colleges Association, Association of Colleges, Confederation of School Trusts and Local Government Association “who we hope will provide important input from school and college employers into new partnership arrangements”.

“We will confirm full and final membership, terms of reference and ways of working for the group in due course. We anticipate the partnership, once formed, will convene unions and employer organisations in a single body.”

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers, which mostly represents private training providers in FE, and Holex, which represents adult learning organisations, were not included in DfE’s list of engagements for this first phase.
Model ‘won’t replace pay setting process’

The DfE wants the new arrangements to “provide a model for other education sectors in the future, building on existing arrangements and learning from the approach piloted by the school and college partnership”.

But they will “not replace existing formal processes on pay setting in schools and colleges”.

Phillipson said: “From day one in government we began our reset of relations with our workforces, and today I met with leading figures in the school and college sector to discuss a new model for improving how government works in partnership with the sector to deliver change.

“Only by working together can we achieve what parents, families and workers are crying out for – high and rising standards that sever the link between children’s background and where they get to in life.”

Daniel Kebede, leader of the National Education Union, said it was “positive that the secretary of state is engaging with unions on arrangements for future dialogue.

“Decisions on education policy fundamentally always lie with the secretary of state. Future discussions on social dialogue are something I am committed to.”

Association of School and College Leaders director of policy Julie McCulloch welcomed the government’s “commitment to working in partnership with the education sector”.

“Improving pupil outcomes, closing attainment gaps and dealing with educational challenges, including the current recruitment and retention crisis, can only be achieved through a collaborative process involving the expertise and insight of the education workforce.

“Today’s meeting was an important first step in establishing that approach.”