Community has taken the lead when campaigning for the pay and working conditions of Corus employees.
As the largest union active at Corus plants, Community has the responsibility of guiding the relationship between Corus and the unions when it comes time to negotiate.
In this role, Community works closely with other unions as it has done for nearly 30 years.
This cooperative approach delivers results for Corus employees. In other industries, inter-union disputes reduce the bargaining power of the union at the expense of the membership.
However, Community and the other steel industry unions have developed a working partnership focussed on producing results.
In 2003 the General Secretaries of Community and Amicus signed a national ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ outlining this partnership, particularly agreeing to not recruit existing union members and avoiding activity in workplaces another union is recognised.
Five of the key points of the agreement are;
- Respect and recognise each others sphere of influence in respect of membership, recruitment and organisational matters.
- Avoid reaching agreements with employers, which would undermine the other unions’ interests
- Act as far as legally possible, in solidarity and fraternity during industrial disputes
- Develop an understanding of the other unions’ role, purpose, objectives and policy
- Share resources and mount joint campaigns where appropriate
Importantly, this agreement prevents unions from poaching each others members, which allows all the Unions represented at Corus to focus on negotiations with management.
The collective approach to representation and bargaining is one of the reasons that British Steel workers are among the best paid workers in the industrial sector.