The reason for the interest is an employment guarantee at the centre of the three-year agreement, now extended for a further year to 1998. All 2,000 employees have their employment protected, but not their precise jobs. Wage rates are to rise by at least the retail price index plus 0.5 per cent. For United Distillers, the advantage is flexibility and the development of a more motivated workforce without the constant fear of job insecurity.
Employees are committed to retraining, redeployment and possible relocation.
It is vital that the workers do not feel threatened by the whole process in any shape or form. All employees have taken part in basic training in communication skills and the company is moving towards Investors in People status. The new agreement has involved a complete change in culture from both management and trade union. Leaders of new working teams are to be jointly trained alongside shop stewards with part of their training being provided at the GMB college and the remainder by the company. We are moving from an attitude of rigid job description and job protection to job enrichment and enhancement.