Visit to ACAS

On April 29, 2008 I went to London and visited ACAS. This acronym means the Advisory Conciliation Arbitration Service. It stands as a testimony of impartial, efficient and timely dispute resolution in the employment relations field since 1975 when it was established. Prior to this, its activities resided in the government's employment department, much as it still does in Jamaica. They undertake conciliation of both individual and collective distutes, provide a mediation service as well as aribtration if requested by the parties. Importantly it offers an advisory service through its telephone helpline and other means such as its website to employers, employees, trade unions, indeed any person seeking information on how to settle employment disputes. I met and interviewed Mr. Conrad Almeida, ACAS' International Programmes Manager who gave me a wonderful understanding of how ACAS works, its success rate and how it affects the workload of the Employment Tribunal, the other arm of the dispute resolution mechanism. The visit was quite facinating giving me insight and of course instantly had me comparing the Jamaican equivalent. This will be a major plank of my thesis comparison. At home employment disputes relating to individuals and their employers are not presently allowed access to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, rather these person must seek redress in the courts, with its attendant challenges. In relation to the ACAS jurisdiction, there is also no formal conciliation procedure available in Jamaica for individual workers disputes. Thus what inevitably happens is that the workers that need the most protection are the ones who are denied it. Well, the work will soon begin in earnest for that disseration...more anon! I think I will attempt to get an interview with someone at the Employment Tribunal Service as well. That should make the paper even more rich with cogent information. We will see how that goes!ACAS' Head Office in LondonThe Sign! The Certification Office and Central Arbitration Committee are also housed in the same building (will tell you more about that later)
That is me... on the day!