An Article in the Independent on Sunday today (13th November) tates that the ConDems are seeking tp push 1 miilion public sector workers into John Lewis style mutuals. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-seeks-to-push-one-million-workers-out-of-the-public-sector-6261605.htmls
As I understand it, John Lewis employees are (in effect) shareholders in the business and receive profit share accordinfly. The logic of this is that if the employees have a vested interest in ensuring the business runs well i.e. profit share they are going to work harder and more productively.
In the article Lesley Ballantyne, John Lewis's director of operational development, said: "When staff have a meaningful stake in the enterprises in which they work, and participate in a culture of genuine participation, the results can be incredibly powerful – in terms of productivity, motivation, staff retention, reduced sickness rates and staff satisfaction levels."
I happen to think the John Lewis model is realy good. But I've got two thoughts on this.
1. Given that Dave and the Fib Dems like the model so much why don't they put pressure on businesses to operate it? How about starting with the banks we tax payers own?
2. Why does Dave think this model will work for the likes of the NHS? As Lesley Ballantyne says, the model works for John Lewis because it is an enterprise i.e. a business. Providing health care SHOULD NOT be a business. But clearly David Cameron thinks it is or should be.
The inference is that NHS staff aren't committed now and will be if they are employed by a mutual. This is wrong. Most NHS staff I know (and I know a few) are very dedicated. They do not need to be in an enterpise to provide a service.
Why are the people of this country and indeed the Labour Party just sitting back and allowing our NHS to be dismantled by stealth?
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