Report from the Partnership Committee following its meeting held on 26 February 2003

Main Discussion Points

Matters arising from minutes of last meeting
MF tabled a copy of a letter received from Maureen Brogan (MB) of IBEC in relation to the Skillsnet Project.  The Skillsnet application for further funding was successful.  MB wishes to meet with the Partnership Committee in March.  MF to invite Maureen Brogan to attend the next Partnership Meeting.

Election of a New Chairperson
Gerry Hayden (GH) was proposed and seconded.  GD asked that the new Chairperson continue with the remainder of the meeting.  The Chairperson thanked and commended GD for his contribution to the Partnership Committee.

AOB
Equality Audit
VM asked that the committee to nominate a representative to sit on the Equality Committee in her place.  Bronwyn Molony was nominated.  GH will write to inform the Steering Committee.

It was mooted that the Partnership Committee should have been more involved in the equality audit from the outset.  There will be a meeting with the Audit team for Trade Union representatives organised in the near future.

The attendance at the information meeting held on the 25^th February 2003 was noted as poor and this seems to signal apathy among many employees.  The Partnership Committee feel they have a role to play in promoting the equality review to all staff and encourage participation.

It was decided that GH will write to the Steering Committee to advise them that it does not appear that the President’s letter was sufficient in encouraging staff to participate in the Audit.  This letter will also address the suggestion that a message be sent to every phone within the University asking everyone to complete the survey.  The best time to send this would be a day or two before the survey is distributed.

The other mechanism the Partnership Committee has suggested for providing support to the Audit is to have a link from the front page of the intranet to the Partnership Committee pages again advising and encouraging everyone to complete the survey.

Communications
The discussion on the Equality Review led to the issue of Communications within UCD.  The general consensus of the Partnership Committee is that communications within UCD is deteriorating. 

The Chairperson requested that everyone should arrive at the next meeting with suggestions as to how communications can be improved upon.  The relevant points will then be compiled into a letter and distributed to relevant personnel.  It was suggested that notification be displayed on the Partnership Committee front page where staff will be told that this is to be discussed and asked to send their contributions to a member of the committee.

Future Issues
The Committee wishes to see the finished package that the Pensioners are receiving.

At the next meeting, it was suggested that the Committee discuss the fact that correspondence sent to pensioners pertaining to their pension is not being placed in an envelope.  

It was suggested that the issue of Change Management be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.  It was suggested that there should be a Change Agent appointed within the Personnel Department, in that change always has to be negotiated within UCD and that it should be a Human Resource issue and not an Industrial Relations matter.

Again, the Committee were reminded that Work Life Balance is an issue that warrants attention from the Partnership Committee and this too needs to be dealt with.

Date of Next Meeting
27^th March 2003 at 2pm