A separate evaluation of Acas’s collective conciliation service by National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) surveyed and interviewed representatives from both sides of Acas-conciliated disputes.
The key findings were
Disputes reaching Acas have intensified and are increasingly dominated by pay (half of disputes in 2016! compared to three-quarters of disputes in 2024)
disputes are escalating to Acas faster and there is a wider gap between the cambodia phone number library of the workforce on pay and the pay offers from management
relations between the parties are more tense – more than two-thirds of disputes coming to Acas had already involved action or the threat of it (up from less than half in 2016)
understanding of collective disputes is lower – more organisations were found to be experiencing their first types of market segmentation collective disputes! with 40% of employers being first-time users of Acas services (this chimes with the IRRU findings of the ‘knowledge gap’ in experience and skills)
What advice would Acas give to employers and trade unions entering into negotiations?
Grow your capability in negotiation skills and understanding of employment relations and before you go into negotiations! confirm your red lines of accountability.
Enter into talks with an openness to compromise. Table ao lists first position! not your final position and be prepared to listen! reflect and seek a shared outcome.
Aim for win-win. Allow yourself to think about the other parties’ position. And start with confidence that you will leave the room with an outcome – not a stalemate.
Think about long-term rebuilding of relations. Both trade unions and employers want the organisation to be successful! have engaged staff and respond to changing technology. So! when you leave the room – be thinking about how to avoid a dispute next time.
Use Acas as a tool. We can help both parties think differently! open up the discussion and test positions. And as an impartial broker! we can help you reflect on mutually beneficial solutions! which create a win-win outcome.