Both DIB-Unite and DIDU believe the document now placed before the Minister two weeks or so ago, should be consigned to the waste bin. Both organisations wholeheartedly are opposed to this document and both have had their membership tell them, that they would not sign up to it. .
As mentioned earlier with the Registrar seeking the ability to issue civil sanction, will breaches of the CoP be one of the areas where civil sanctions be issued.
The editors thoughts on the CoP;
The choice of wording was and still is autocratic. An example of this is the continued used of the word ‘must’. Four associations objected and the word, ‘should’ was offered as a replacement however without further discussion it was rejected, as it would dilute the code. The question then arises how can you dilute a voluntary code?
The mere fact from our initial opposition to the wording of the code we were excluded from further input shows that the code could never be endorsed by our relevant associations. Our concerns at the time and suggestions were completely ignored that is why we are in the mess we are today.
A survey was conducted independently and over 93% rejected the proposed code. Just over 12,300 took part in the survey.
Although the committees of some associations have approved and endorsed the code, the membership in my opinion has not truly been represented. This of course is of no concern to either Dib-Unite or DIDU, but when the lack of proper representation has an impact on our memberships businesses and working life we can't just sit back and allow this code to be imposed upon the profession.
There are concerns over what will happen to the code over the next few years, we see being made an integral part of registration or re-registration.
Although Mark Magee has reiterated that he see’s the code remaining voluntary, he is a civil servant and has to respond to the whims of the Minister of the day. With the Registrar seeking the ability to issue civil sanctions it seems that we have justifiable concerns, even though we have assurances that the code will remain voluntary.