Recently in ASSET we conducted seme research into the whole question of how long it should take and how long it does take for a resisted claim to exhaust the terms of the procedure agreenent and be eventually settled. This erquiry was, we believe, the first of its nature to be conducted by a British trade union (at least in a self critical sense).
Most members know and understand the terms of the procedure agreement existing between ASSET and the Engineering Employers! Federation. They know that it consists of three basic stages: domestic (in the factory) local (at district level) and national (with the Federation representatives in London). One would assume from this that three stages means three meetings - and three meetings, three sets of discussions, all of which should take a comparatively short length of time in which to occur, It is of course, from ASSET's point of vlew, desirable that negotiations should be successfully concluded in the shortest possible time. ‘This is due to many understandable reasons: for example, if a member was summarily dismissed or demoted, the situation would require immediate action, for if the matter were allowed to drag on and on the position of the member would seriously deteriorate, Similarly, when members within a grade, make a claim for a salary incréase, it is obvious that they wish to obtain a satisfactory settlement, as soon as possible, so they can begin to enjoy the extra as soon as possible,
The results of the enquiry fran’:ly bothered us. Far from being a srraightforward series of negotiations passing through three stages of the procedure agreement, we found that the average length of time a 'resisted! claim takes from the moment it is initially raised by @ grade or group at domestic level, until it exhausts the procedure and is settled (sometimes) is nine months, There are, of course, exceptions to this, Some take only « few weeks and some take longer than a year,
The reasons for the delays are many and varied. Often at domestic level discussions, local ASSET representatives agree to repeated adjournments and resumptions of meetings, without ever reaching or approaching a satisfact~ ory conclusion, This can, and does, in many cases, last for sweral monthse At national level too, meetings are frequently delayed, but it is hard to blame anyone because the meetings have to be arranged with the consent of four parties ~ the national officers of the Engineering Employers! Federation; the national officials of ASSET, representatives of the firm involved; and representatives of the local employers association involved, It must also be remembered that the national officials of the E.E.F. negotiate with representatives of all engineering trade unions, manual and non manual, As we have already pointed out, one of the main objectives should be to try to conclude the negotiations, successfully, in the shortest possible time, By consulting the "critical path! for a salary claim chart we can locate unnecessary delays and thereby take action to reduce or eliminate them. *From ASSET Journal 1965 Issue 5.