But, nevertheless, the BSA plans to meet government next week to negotiate the terms of any new approach. BSA director general Norman Rose said the issue needs to be worked out with government and the unions.
'Two-tier' workforces are the product of staff recruitment to outsourced services on lower pay than those originally contracted out. 'We will take action to stop that happening,' said Stephen Byers, the secretary of state for transport, local government and the regions.
Rose said that his members could see a way to putting an end to 'two-tier' workforces if clients paid the extra costs. Government would need to structure changes, he said, so that the client pays any extra costs that arise from increased wages.
Stephen Byers has promised a review of 'two-tier' workforces.
'I am prepared to give commitment so that two-tier workforces can end. If you have people working alongside each other on different pay, different conditions and different pensions, it leads to conflict and division and it doesn't provide the standard of services we want,' said Byers.
The review was one of a number of concessions offered by government to head off an angry debate with unions opposed to PPP and PFI. The debate on the issue has effectively been delayed until next year.
Source
The Facilities Business
