Unite at RSA
RSA and Unite share
a common interest in RSA being profitable, able to pay good
salaries and provide an interesting career for employees. We've
recently entered into an agreement with RSA to work in closer
partnership. As part of this agreement, RSA positively endorses the
role of Unite and encourages all employees to become union members
and play an active part, for example by volunteering to become
local reps.
Unite has been well organised within RSA for
many years now. The Company provides good facilities for the Unite
RSA section. In addition to adequate facility time for our National
Company Committee members and work place reps there are a number of
full-time seconded senior reps. RSA also provides office space for
Unite at the major office locations.
We have faced many challenges over recent
years. Staff numbers have been reduced considerably due to wide
ranging re-organisations of the business. However our membership
density has remained reasonably high and there is an active
programme of organising and recruiting RSA staff. At most major
sites we have the opportunity to recruit new staff into Unite as
part of the induction programme.
One of the more recent challenges has been the
Company’s desire to reduce the financial impact of the Defined
Benefit pension schemes to which approximately 50% of the staff
belong. Long and robust negotiations resulted in the retention of
D.B pension provision, albeit with some reductions in the benefits
to members.
We regard the education of union activists
within RSA as being an important part of our strategy. Working
together with the Unite education department we have a
well-established programme of courses specially designed for our
NCC members and workplace reps to improve their knowledge and
skills.
Equalities feature highly on our agenda within
RSA. We encouraged the Company to produce an Equal Pay review some
years ago and this is now being up-dated. We have an active
presence in Unite’s BAEM [Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities]
structure.
