A new survey has found that nearly four out of five employers
(78%) think that the various sides involved in strike action
should seek independent mediation to resolve their dispute.
Acas offers a free independent mediation service called
collective conciliation that can help employers and trade unions
resolve their disputes.
The YouGov poll asked respondents whether they thought the
various sides in dispute taking strike action should seek
independent mediation. Only 7% said that they should not seek
independent mediation and 15% didn’t know.
Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, Kate Nowicki, said:
“It is clear from our poll that an overwhelming majority of
employers would like to see the various sides involved in strike
action using independent mediation.
“Acas has decades of experience in resolving conflict and we have
a team of experts that are well prepared and ready to help with
the disputes dominating the headlines now.
“However, we can only hold formal mediation talks when all the
parties in dispute agree that the time is right to use our free
and independent collective conciliation service.”
Acas has seen a 20% rise in demand for its collective
conciliation compared to the same period last year. This help has
included confidential background support to the parties involved
in strike action.
Using an independent impartial Acas conciliator in a long running
dispute can help bring a calm, fresh pair of eyes to identify
common ground between the sides in dispute and find a way
forward, which can help break a deadlock.
Acas collective conciliators are independent and impartial. This
means they do not take sides or impose solutions. They’re there
to help both parties find a solution that everyone agrees to.
The majority of Acas’s collective conciliation work takes place
before formal talks. It is a period of ‘pre-talk support’. This
can include sharing information informally between parties,
educating them on different options about talks, exploring those
options and discussing the support needed for the negotiators.
Acas handles over 500 collective disputes every year. For more
information, please see: https://www.acas.org.uk/collective-conciliation
