Honda needs to work with union and ACAS

The arbitrator Dr David Simpson decreed after having listened to the presentations and having read the submissions from both parties that the union's claim that, the pay settlement should be further improved by 0.5 per cent based on a comparison with car workers in other UK car companies was justified.

The arbitrator was not moved by the argument that Honda put forward that they had financial problems and that their final offer was the maximum that could be afforded and indeed justified to their parent company and shareholders.

While pay costs at Honda will now increase by 5.7 per cent when Merit Pay (0.5 per cent) and the newly negotiated Performance Pay (2 per cent) are included, the independent ACAS decision clearly demonstrated how far Honda employees pay rates had fallen behind similar workers within the auto industry in recent years. This simple message represented the thrust of the Amicus case to the arbitrator.

I recognise that Honda management are disappointed at the result of the arbitration as they have been used to getting their own way and going unchallenged for many years. But they must learn that they too are capable of getting things wrong and it does them no credit to adopt a "blame culture" and point the finger at the independent ACAS arbitrator when they do.

Honda should recognise that successful business is based around meeting the needs and aspirations of both the company and the people who work for Honda and in this Amicus has a proud record of playing a key role in helping this process if allowed.

Rather than laying the blame at the feet of either the ACAS arbitrator or Amicus we need to look forward and jointly find ways to maximise efficiency and move to sustainable profitability. This way leads to better pay and conditions and greater security of employment for the workers and management alike.

JIM D'AVILA

(Amicus Regional Officer & Chief Negotiator at Honda)

Southampton