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DECISION TIME AT PEARSON

Pearson is very happy to work with unions and has a long tradition of working with both the NUJ and Unite (Amicus)

Pearson is very happy to work with unions and has a long tradition of working with both the NUJ and Unite (Amicus): this is the message Tim Williams, Human Resources Director for Pearson Education and Edexcel, gave the NUJ Books organiser Sue Harris at a meeting to discuss recognition at Pearson’s Oxford site a few weeks ago.
Local management, however, have said they would like to finish the business of integrating the former Heinemann business into Pearson Education first, but have given no timescale for this. For the time being they prefer to deal with the staff council, which, although it is consulted on some matters, has no negotiating power.
This is an important time to gain recognition so that the union can negotiate with management while the company goes through these changes. Integration brings uncertainty and the possibility of redundancies, and salaries will need to be protected from price increases and inflation. So members at Pearson don't want to hang about.

Pressing concerns
Joint MoC Sally Emerson said, “Our members have pressing concerns, not just about the integration, but about the sharp rise in the cost of living and the economic downturn. We feel the goodwill and confidence is there on both sides to come to a speedy agreement over recognition. But we don’t want this process to drag on any longer, and applying for statutory recognition is now an immediate option.”
The way is now open for the NUJ to apply to the Central Arbitration Committee, a statutory body that can insist that the company recognise the right of NUJ members to be collectively represented over matters pertaining to their pay, hours and holidays, in companies like Pearson where there is very strong membership and support. As the whole process is carried out within strict timescales, this would be one way of ensuring members get what they have been waiting for without further delay.