Centre for Global Labour Research (CGLR) in association with the Wales TUC

Centre for Global Labour Research (CGLR) in association with the Wales TUC - "Working with Government" Conference

Starts: 7 April 2008

First Minister Rhodri Morgan Image (Photo: Cardiff University)

First Minister Rhodri Morgan (Photo: Cardiff University)

‘Working with Government’ - A joint CGLR/Wales TUC conference

Monday 7 April 2008, 10.00 - 16.00

Council Chamber, Glamorgan Building

In association with the Wales TUC, the Centre for Global Labour Research (CGLR) held an important conference on 7 April on the theme of ‘Working with Government’. The background to the conference was the signing last year of a groundbreaking Social Partnership Agreement between the Wales TUC and the Welsh Assembly Government, NHS Wales, Welsh Local Government Association and others in the wider devolved public services.

The one-day conference grew out of the close relationship that has been built between the Centre for Global Labour Research and the trade union movement in Wales. It was called to discuss what working with government means for workers in Wales in the context of the Agreement. The conference consisted of both plenary sessions and smaller break-out sessions, during which various elements of social partnership were explored and discussed - including workforce engagement, workplace learning, a Welsh public service, organising, procurement and equality issues.

Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery Image (Photo: Cardiff University)

Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery (Photo: Cardiff University)

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Ed Heery on behalf of the Centre and Derek Walker for the Wales TUC. The conference was opened by Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM and the concluding plenary featured Philip Kelly, of the Department of the Taoiseach, Government of the Republic of Ireland. The conference also heard plenary presentations from Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery in the Welsh Assembly Government, Professor Paul Teague of Queen’s University Belfast and Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

In between the plenary sessions there were a series of six seminars, before and after lunch. Delegates were able to attend two of the six sessions. Each of the seminars was introduced by an expert in the field and chaired by a leading figure from the Welsh trade union movement.

Session	Speaker	Chair
Workforce Engagement: communications, consultation and information	David Begg, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions	Cath Speight UNITE
A Welsh public service: barriers and opportunities	Mike Sullivan, Welsh Assembly Government Special Adviser	Jeff Evans, PCS
Workforce Learning	Caroline Lloyd, SKOPE, Cardiff University	Sian Cartwright, Wales TUC
Procurement and fair employment – the legal position	Stephen Cavalier, Chief Executive, Thompson’s	Alan Garley, GMB
Equality at the workplace	Alun Thomas, Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales	Paul O’Shea, UNISON
Organising within a partnership arrangement	Ed Heery, Centre for Global Labour Research	Graham Smith, UNITE

Vaughan Gething, Philip Kelly, Grahame Smith Image (Photo: Natasha Hirst, Wales TUC)

Vaughan Gething - Vice President, Wales TUC, Philip Kelly - Taoiseach’s Office, Irish Government, Grahame Smith - STUC General Secretary (Photo: Natasha Hirst, Wales TUC)

Ruth Jones, Wales TUC President and Professor Ed Heery of the Centre for Global Labour Research chaired the plenary sessions, and the concluding remarks for the conference were delivered by Vaughan Gething, Vice President of the Wales TUC.

The conference was extremely well attended with 115 delegates. These included representatives from 17 trade union organisations, academics, employers’ bodies and civic society organisations.

A report of the conference will be presented by Steve Davies of the Centre for Global Labour Research to the Wales Public Service Workforce Forum (set up by the Welsh Assembly Government).