GMB Reachout Newsletter Issue 4

Issue 4 

New Website



ULR Success



ReachOut across the Region



Andy Pfennig



Courses



ReachOut at Congress



Working for Jobs

The new GMB ReachOut website, www.gmbreachout.org.uk, is now live.

The website contains information about GMB Union Learning activity in the region, events, news and general publicity for the many successes taking place in the GMB North West & Irish Region ReachOut Project.

In addition to this, the site will be an invaluable tool for ULRs who, via a secure members area, will be able to submit reports directly on the website, saving them time, as well as providing resources to be downloaded and links to other useful sites.

Please log on, look around the site and contact at dave@gmbreachout.org.uk if you would like to give any feedback.

ULR Success The recent GMB North West & Irish Region, Union Learning Representatives (ULR) Forum gave a very positive picture of the developments taking place across the Region in respect of access to education and training for GMB members. The increasing number of new ULRs within the GMB offering themselves for training to support their work colleagues in this important area of development for the Union was most encouraging and is having a dynamic impact at many work places. The importance of integrating the work of ULRs into Branch, Regional and National structures as part of the GMB@Work strategy has been underlined with a survey conducted by National Office into the impact of GMB ULRs. During the past year over 12,000 GMB members have benefited from training and 1,598 people have joined GMB as a result of ULF activity. The partnership with employers has been underlined with 22 new Learning Agreements across the country and 13 new Learning Centres opened.

At a Regional level partnerships with employers have led to new Learning Centres being established at John Lennon Airport and the local authorities at Tameside and St Helen’s. The signing of new Learning Agreements with Oldham M.B.C. as well as the new Reach Out office in

Accrington which is responding to Migrant Worker and redundancy issues, are all significant evidence of the impact that the Regional Strategy on Union Learning is having in meeting the needs for GMB members. The Region’s aim is to establish four Regional Support Centres offering training, advice and guidance to the wider membership as well as mapping out the standards of training that we want providers to supply to members.

None of this is possible without the strong support we have received from the Regional Secretary, Regional Committee and of course the network of GMB ULRs we have in the Region. We are in the process of bidding for the next round of funding and will be announcing new developments shortly. We record our uk . sincere thanks to the Union Learning rg o .

Representatives and our partner ut organisations for their support and o h work throughout the past year. ac

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K W Flanagan, ReachOut Project Manager

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Reaching Out Learning Takes Off at Airport Pat Mc Fadden, Business, Innovation and Skills Minister, was recently briefed by GMB ULR Steve Penketh and management from Liverpool John Lennon Airport about how GMB, partner Unions and management are working together to build the skills base at the airport.

Supported by GMB ReachOut and Unionlearn, ULR’s have now established two new learning facilities on site, one “airside” and the other “landside” allowing members from all areas to access learning opportunities.

The “airside” training room was opened in the presence of GMB ULRs and Louise Ellman MP, Minister for Transport (pictured), who was very impressed with the working partnership in place.

Mr McFadden commented “Tonight I’ve heard how people are being given the opportunity to maximise their learning potential. That’s why I came into politics, to help people make the best of their lives. These great achievements are thanks to real commitment from management and unions to help their workforce gain new skills and experience, and from Government support through the Union Learning Fund.”

Dave Flanagan, GMB ReachOut Project Worker said “The team at the Airport have worked tirelessly over the last few months to facilitate learning for staff across the whole site. Here is a project that clearly demonstrates the benefit of partnership working with other unions and the employer.”

Mark Whitworth, the airport Chief Executive Officer remarked “We have signed the Government’s Skills Pledge, which means we will actively encourage and support our employees to gain the skills and qualifications that will help their future employability and meet the needs of our business. Peel Airports Group recognises the importance of training to enable our employees to achieve their full potential.”

New skills in Cheshire After hearing of redundancies at the Brenntag site near Sandbach the GMB ReachOut project responded quickly and effectively to organise IT training courses for GMB members faced with unemployment.

Most of the workers who attended the two day course had been employed on this site for a long time, one had been there over 40 years, and all were keen to learn new skills to help them with future employment.

GMB members enrolled on the City & Guilds Start IT course to help develop new workplace skills. All were successful in achieving the nationally recognised qualification. Feedback on the course, delivered by St Antony’s Centre included:

“Great course!!!” “The course was very helpful” “I have really improved my computer skills” We have been informed that as a result of completing the training members have gone on to secure new employment.

In Your Region New ReachOut Office The ReachOut Project in conjunction with St Antony’s Centre, has officially opened the Accrington Community & Training Centre (ACT Centre).

The successful launch was attended by Scott Butterfield of Hyndburn Borough Council, Monica Woodruffe from Lancashire Adult Learning, Giovanna Holt, Senior Organiser GMB Union, Ken Lowe, Education Officer GMB Union, Peter Scott from the Learning & Skills Council and Lucy Leoni of Maundy Relief. There were also representatives from St Joseph’s church and the Parasol Project.

The facility will help the ReachOut team to work even more closely with colleagues in Lancashire, providing a base for the project in the county as well as a drop-in service.

The qualified staff at the ACT Centre are on hand to offer FREE information, advice and guidance to people looking for training and learning opportunities. The Centre is home to a Working 4 Jobs programme, providing targeted support to help those recently made redundant to access training or help them find new jobs. The facility also provides a support to local migrant workers from Poland and Eastern Europe. The Centre is based at 25 Warner Street, Accrington BB5 1HN and can be contacted on 01254 238443. You can find more information at www.actcentre.org.uk

Success in Oldham After several years’ investment in establishing a learning culture in Oldham Council, the past 12 months have seen great strides forward. With the support of GMB Reachout, Unite, Unison and Unionlearn new ULRs have been Celebration event for Lifelong Learning recruited and have organised and established a joint steering group and ULR forum. Events have been organised throughout the year to promote a Learning Culture, in particular the Learning at Work day which was a great success. A celebration event for Lifelong Learning also proved successful, with over 70 people attending in support of those who received accreditation.

The ULR Forum is now in the process of arranging with senior officers and members of the Council the signing of a Learning Agreement and the opening of a new Learning Centre at one of the main depots.

Overall it has been a very successful year following a great deal of hard work

by GMB ReachOut and our partners in establishing a learning partnership with Oldham Council.

Thanks Andy

Andy Pfennig, GMB ULR for St Helens Council sadly passed away recently.

Andy was instrumental in establishing the joint union learning project and securing on site facilities for colleagues. Caretaker at a local primary school, dedicated family man, fantastic advocate for the learning agenda, active union member Andy was highly respected in his local community for his voluntary work within his parish. The Learning Steering Group Meetings at St Helens Council will not be the same without him.

The ReachOut Team extends it’s condolences to Andy’s family and also a huge thank you for allowing him to play such an important role within the project, he is much missed.

Congress Hears About ReachOut The ReachOut Team had a stand at the 2009 GMB Congress at Winter Gardens in Blackpool. It gave members in attendance the opportunity to find out more about the union learning activity in the North West & Irish region. Regional Secretary, Paul McCarthy pictured here with Project Manager Kevin Flanagan, visited the stand to welcome the team to the four day event.

Colleagues from other areas were keen to discuss how the project works and successes achieved, with a view to progressing similar projects in other GMB regions.

For information about upcoming training courses in your area visit the GMB ReachOut website at

www.gmbreachout.org.uk Working 4 Jobs Do you live or work in Lancashire?

Participating Organisations Manchester City Council New Charter Housing Remploy (Various Sites) Warrington Borough Council John Lennon Airport Jacobs Biscuits ASDA Wincanton Distribution Heinz Salford City Council St Helens Borough Council Scapa UK Ltd Novellis Glendale Parks & Gardens Rentokil Cereal Partners Bolton M.B.C. Bolton Town Centre Chaplaincy Tameside M.B.C. Stockport M.B.C. Trafford Council Oldham Council Fylde Borough Council Knowsley M.B.C. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Lancashire Fire & Rescue Merseyside Marine Rescue Unit European Pigments Brenntag Cheshire West & Chester Council Nampak

Are you facing redundancy?

Have you recently been made redundant or unemployed?

New e-mail

Call the team at the ACT Centre on 01254 238443 to discuss your options or visit www.actcentre.org.uk for more information.

GMB members will get additional support from the ReachOut Project

Kevin: Kevin@gmbreachout.org.uk Dave: dave@gmbreachout.org.uk Matt: matt@gmbreachout.org.uk

GMB Reach Out contact details GMB Reach Out Greater Manchester & Cheshire St Antony’s Centre Eleventh Street Kevin Flanagan 07740 804042 Trafford Park Matt Bowe 07740 804056 Manchester Office 0161 8779439 M17 1JF Fax 0161 8729480

Website: www.gmbreachout.org.uk

secretary@gmbreachout.org.uk

GMB Reach Out Lancashire & Merseyside The ACT Centre 25 Warner Street Dave Flanagan 07740 804050 Accrington Office 01254 238443 Lancashire BB5 1HN

e-mail: info@gmbreachout.org.uk