A model relationship - A new union partnership for children’s charity NCH

Children’s charity NCH recently signed a new working in partnership agreement with AMICUS and UNISON to reflect a modern approach to employer-union working relations.

This new style partnership reflects their commitment to mutually open and purposeful communications, so crucial to NCH, who employs over 6,000 people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. This agreement also strategically recognises NCH’s aim to ensure the provision of a first class service for children, young people and their families and the unions’ responsibility to protect their members’ interests.

AMICUS and UNISON collaborated in the original staff ballot leading up to union recognition in NCH in 2001. The objective of the partnership is to develop and maintain an environment in NCH where the three parties can raise issues constructively and work towards solutions which respect and support each other’s needs and legitimate rights.

As one of the UK’s leading children’s charity, NCH is no stranger to partnership working and have successful partnerships with diverse groups and organisations including the Methodist Church, SureStart, retailer TK Maxx, business advisers Ernst & Young, as well as numerous local authorities, health trusts and housing associations.

Janice Cook, Executive Director of Human Resources at NCH says:

We really value our staff at NCH and we are constantly open to new ways of showing our diverse and skilled workforce that they really matter. Working in this inclusive way with the unions will allow us to be a more flexible and responsive employer which in the long term will help us to fulfil our purpose: to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable children and young people.

Sara Warburton, Regional Officer for AMICUS and Mike Short, National Officer for UNISON say:

We are delighted that UNISON, AMICUS and NCH have signed this ground-breaking partnership agreement. Our members can only benefit from the close and constructive relationship we have with NCH, as we work together to make sure that staff’s interests are protected while they carry out their work providing first class services to clients.