The trades union movement has launched an initiative that it hopes will make confrontational industrial relations a thing of the past. At its heart is a new consultancy set up by the Trades Union Council called the Partnership Institute, which aims to help employers and their staff foster a more inclusive approach to problem solving. The Institute and its 26 staff can offer managers and union reps advice and on how to implement organisational change and improve business performance, while still encouraging employee involvement. The TUC says the programme has attracted a lot of interest. And those worried by the thought of having trades union folk tramping through their businesses can take encouragement from the success of the initiative's trial projects. Workers and managers involved in the trials reported a higher morale that in turn led to better performance across their businesses. And Ian Borkett, director of consultancy and training at the TUC Partnership Institute, says the trials offer a template that will allow organisations of all sizes to embrace a new way of working together. One of the first companies to get involved with the TUC Partnership Institute was Tranfood Meat Company of Birkenhead, a major supermarket supplier. Its md Chris Just says: "The past 18 months have seen a real change in the mood at the factory. Before then industrial relations were extremely confrontational, with a great deal of mistrust between the management and the trade union." Union rep Chris Monks says: "Until recently our relations with management at Tranfood were atrocious. They didn't ever listen to the workforce, but since this initiative the staff are getting the chance to put their views across. "We have great hopes of what partnership will mean ­ particularly on the learning front. It's been recognised that some workers have basic skills problems, so training is really important. Five years ago, management just wouldn't have been interested ­ now there is serious talk of building a learning centre on site." {{PEOPLE MOVES }}