aims to foster cooperation
As part of Yale's Best Practices initiative, union and University leaders will receive training designed to help create a cooperative labor-management approach leading to increased productivity, improved customer services and a culture that promotes employee satisfaction.
The Best Practices initiative grew out of the most recent labor contract and has the full support of University and union leadership. Both the unions and management agreed to use the eight-year length of the contract to try new approaches to working together that will result in improved productivity.
"One of the ways we work together is through the formation of joint labor-management committees in operating units to identify and implement Best Practices that will result in clear, measurable operational improvements within the unit," said union and University leaders in a letter to the Yale community. The letter was signed by Bob Proto, president of Local 35; Laura Smith, president of Local 34; Lloyd Suttle, deputy provost for undergraduate and graduate programs; and John E. Pepper, vice president for finance and administration.
"Our Best Practices initiative has already led to improvements in several areas around the campus -- and to a new commitment to work together to create positive change," said the union and University leaders. "As we have gained experience working together, we have also gained an understanding that a partnership to improve productivity requires a great deal of support, including critical training and facilitation as committees are formed in units. Without strong skills in communications, joint problem solving and goal setting, it will be difficult for the committees to deliver meaningful results."
Toward that end, Yale has hired Restructuring Associates Inc. (RAI) to provide training in labor-management cooperation. A national organization experienced in building productive labor-management relationships, RAI has worked in both university and for-profit settings, including Harvard University and Cinergy. The Yale effort will be led by RAI's president and chief executive officer, Tom Schneider.
The training will be provided first to the union and University leadership group, which includes Proto, Smith, Suttle and Pepper. It will then be rolled out to several joint departmental committees. It is expected that training (and start ups) will be complete in 6-10 joint departmental committees by the end of the calendar year.
"This experience will provide learning that will enable us to expand our training and successful working relationships as we go into 2006," said the union and University leaders. "We look forward to the initial results from these joint departmental committees, and we will keep you informed of their progress. In the meantime, we encourage all units to work to improve productivity, customer service and work culture in any and all ways that they see available."
Information on Best Practices and ideas for improving the workplace culture can be found at www.yale.edu/bestpractices, and visitors will soon be able to view a video on the site providing the perspectives of University and union leaders on the importance of Best Practices.
Those with questions can contact any of the above-named union and University leaders.
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Campus Notes
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