the infinite one
19-11-2008, 11:45 AM
(14/11/08) UNISON has won a victory at Westminster City Council by convincing the authority to withdraw 'big brother' fingerprint recognition machines at workplaces.
The machines were introduced at some council worksites by community protection management in the autumn, without consultation.
The union campaigned against what it called "big brother proposals … based on mistrust of staff, and a disproportionate way of keeping records of working time."
As part of the campaign, Wesminster branch secretary Phil Vaughan met council chief executive Mike More to explain the union's position and inform him that members would refuse to provide their fingerprints.
"I had a very positive meeting with Mike More about the proposals to finger print staff," reported Mr Vaughan.
"Although he clearly supported his managers, he was also concerned about the wider impact on employee relations."
Following that meeting, Mr More wrote a letter to the branch promising that management "will remove the machinery from current locations" and "will not pursue the use of machines in the community protection service in the foreseeable future."
"We are obviously very pleased with this decision," said Mr Vaughan, "and are now keen to engage with local managers on other ways in which time monitoring can be done without biometric technology."
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4989
The machines were introduced at some council worksites by community protection management in the autumn, without consultation.
The union campaigned against what it called "big brother proposals … based on mistrust of staff, and a disproportionate way of keeping records of working time."
As part of the campaign, Wesminster branch secretary Phil Vaughan met council chief executive Mike More to explain the union's position and inform him that members would refuse to provide their fingerprints.
"I had a very positive meeting with Mike More about the proposals to finger print staff," reported Mr Vaughan.
"Although he clearly supported his managers, he was also concerned about the wider impact on employee relations."
Following that meeting, Mr More wrote a letter to the branch promising that management "will remove the machinery from current locations" and "will not pursue the use of machines in the community protection service in the foreseeable future."
"We are obviously very pleased with this decision," said Mr Vaughan, "and are now keen to engage with local managers on other ways in which time monitoring can be done without biometric technology."
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4989