Compass makes pact with union after clash

Compass Group has signed a co-operation agreement with Unison just one year after a bitter dispute with the trade union in Northern Ireland.

Last week's "memorandum of understanding" establishes a framework for local recognition and procedural agreements between Unison and Compass Group companies in healthcare, education and staff feeding.

But only last year Compass and Unison were at loggerheads after the contractor took over ancillary services at the Down & Lisburn and Sperrin Lakeland NHS trusts, sacking 500 staff and re-employing them on poorer pay and conditions.

This triggered a two-week strike in November 1996. Compass threatened to sue Unison over the action and the dispute was not resolved until June 1997 when the contractor restored most of the cuts.

The new agreement commits Compass and Unison to recognise each other as partners in the workplace and maintain good working relationships and industrial relations. Compass pledges "to operate fair policies and procedures and to offer pay, conditions and training which reflect this".

Staff who become Compass employees through a transfer will do so with the full protection of TUPE and where union recognition is in place, it will be automatically accepted by the company. Unison and Compass will meet twice a year "to monitor the relationship and promote their joint interests".

John Greenwood, Compass Group's UK managing director, said the company had expanded successfully into hospital and school catering in recent years and now had many employees who were Unison members.

Unison deputy general secretary Dave Prentis said he particularly welcomed the pledge to treat staff fairly and the confirmation that TUPE rules would continue to apply to transferred staff.

By David Shrimpton