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THE DISINGENUOUS MR FRANCIS
Nov 22nd, 2009 by admin
"We want to keep talking with the unions
We have written to the trade unions several times to make it clear that we remain willing and available to continue talks at any time to try to reach an agreement. So far, they have not agreed a date when they will meet us. So I’d reiterate - there is no need to vote ‘Yes’ just for the talks to continue. They can continue at any time, if the unions are willing to engage. If you want them to come back to the table, please ask them to do so." Bill Francis November 2009.
Bill Francis’s most recent words, repeated above, are probably the most hollow in this whole sorry episode. To describe them as extremely disingenuous is being polite.
It seems Bill Francis’s idea of good industrial relationship with the TUs is to hold talks, move the goalposts on numerous occasions, waste time at ACAS before unilaterally imposing changes to contractual terms and conditions. Then, when the Union are holding a legal and lawful ballot about those impositions, he announces he is ready to talk and criticises the Unions for not committing to a date? It is akin to the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbour and then complaining that the Americans are dragging their feet in fixing a date for a coke and a hamburger.
Bill, we will talk anytime, anyplace, anywhere but first we have the not insignificant matter of the imposition. Remove that imposition and let’s get back around the table to talk about a negotiated settlement to a dispute that is 100% of the company’s making.
BASSA don't seem to know what they want. They say they are willing to talk, but if they are then why is it a problem to talk during a ballot? And of course they want imposition removed first, so they can reset the clock to 9 months back and carry on stalling change.
