An important aspect of personnel management concerns the manner in which relationships between management and staff are conducted, and how changes in work conditions or employment terms are negotiated and agreed with staff at all levels. The level of unionisation within the municipality is a major issue that will determine how the dialogue is conducted both during and after the introduction of PPPs. An important strategy in maintaining skilled staff is to ensure that the municipality has an effective employee-relations system in place, although the focus of such a system after the introduction of a PPP might be on senior and professional staff rather than junior labourers and field staff.