Building strong links with trade unions means bright prospects.  We value trade unions as key stakeholders and work hard to maintain positive and constructive relationships with them. Since the level of trade union membership in Serco is currently twice the national average for the UK's public sector, a policy of partnership makes sound business sense.

We hold regular meetings with trade unions at local, national and international level. We have signed over 100 recognition and/or partnership agreements with around 20 different UK unions, among them Unison, Amicus, the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) and the Prison Service Union. In 2005, we launched a number of joint initiatives with trade unions to address issues such as lifelong learning and equal pay at work. We also developed divisional-wide partnership agreements and national memoranda of understanding with Unison and Prospect. 

The strength of the relationship between the Serco-managed National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Prospect is a measure of the value we attach to the trade union community. Built on mutual trust and respect, our relationship dates back to 1995, when nearly 600 staff transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to work for NPL Management Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Group. 

Collaborating with the NPL management team at a very sensitive time, Prospect ensured the transition from the public to private sector was successful, balancing the needs of their members with the necessity to make the new business work.

In its early days, our relationship with Prospect was primarily about negotiation and it successfully delivered a framework of simple and effective collective agreements. From the start, everyone addressed people-related issues together, listening to each other and balancing the needs of the employee and the business.

In recent years, the relationship has become increasingly strategic, with Prospect closely involved in a series of key initiatives. These include presenting two successful cases to the DTI that increased investment in salaries during 2002 and 2003; shaping our recent Equal Opportunities Audit and Skills For You surveys, achieving high return rates for both (82 per cent and 65 per cent respectively); and helping to identify soft skill requirements during the design of our leadership development programme.

Recommending our recent rebid for the NPL contract to its members, Prospect declared its confidence that Serco will deliver what we say we will deliver and that Serco people are people with whom they can do business.

Commenting on the partnership, Paul Gaskin, Serco Science HR Director, says: “Prospect provides a sounding board for initiatives and acts as a barometer of morale while raising key issues in the organisation, enabling the management team to remain informed and responsive. Our bond is robust, constructive and at times challenging. In short, it is of the highest value to the successful running of the NPL contract”.