FDA Union Boss Appointed to ACAS Council
Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, has been appointed to the Council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) by the Department for Business and Trade today.
ACAS is an independent public body providing free and impartial advice on employment rights and resolving workplace disputes, often preventing cases from reaching employment tribunals. The Council sets the strategic direction and priorities for the organization, and members are selected for their expertise in business or trade union representation. Penman, first elected as FDA general secretary in May 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2021, expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “I am looking forward to working with ACAS on how they shape the future of industrial relations, building a more progressive partnership approach to help make the world of work a better, more productive place for employees and employers.”
He further explained his motivation for applying, noting the FDA’s “pragmatic approach to negotiations” aligns with ACAS’s dispute resolution work. Nicola Smith, the director of policy at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) since 2024, also joins the ACAS Council as a new appointee; she is also a member of the Labour Market Advisory Board, which advises the government on tackling economic inactivity. This appointment comes at a time of increased focus on worker’s rights and fair labor practices.
Penman and Smith’s combined experience is expected to contribute to ACAS’s ongoing efforts to improve working life through better employment relations, as detailed on the ACAS website. The Department for Business and Trade indicated that the new council members will begin their duties immediately, working to shape the future of workplace relations in the UK, according to government guidelines.
