Background to the development of the Partnership Group

The National Agreement Partnership 2000 had at its heart the intention of developing a partnership model between management and staff in individual institutions. While it has been argued that the model did not lend itself to being applied directly in a University setting it was agreed that there was much to be gained from adopting a partnership approach to issues.

In response to an invitation from the Higher Education Authority a number of colleagues attended a seminar hosted by the National Centre for Partnership in Dublin in December 1998. The Partnership model was explained at this seminar and a number of case studies referred to with, perhaps, the most critical aspect being that the Partnership Model was at its most effective when it complimented existing Industrial Relations machinery rather than attempting to alter it. The sort of topics for which the joint problem solving approach was felt to be particularly useful included Training and Development and Family Friendly Initiativess.

Following the seminar the group that attended (Ms. M. Dooley, Professor J. Ward, Mr. C. McNairney, Ms. M. Beatty, Mr. O Doherty, Mr. M. Crowley and Mr. M. Faherty) met to consider how the concept could be applied within our University. The Group felt that a formal Partnership Group should be established and that this would require extending the Group’s membership. Letters were sent to sections of staff, which were not represented on the group, asking for nominations.

The group has now been in existence for two years and has expanded to include management representatives, union membership (SIPTU Academic, Administrative, Technical and General Operatives, IFUT, UCATT, TEEU, AEEU) and independent representatives.

Under the Partnership 2000 national agreement significant progress was made in enterprise partnership and one of the key objectives of the new National agreement ( Programme for Prosperity and Fairness) is to 'Build on existing workplace relationships through the establishment or deepening of the partnership process at enterprise level'. NUI Galway is committed to this approach.

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