Issue 1
June 2015
In this issue RMT Learning News Mick Cash Says The AGM and learning ULRs have their say RMTL takes to the high seas Sign of interest in Newcastle Who do they think they are? Coming soon
QUOTE TO REMEMBER! “Only the educated are Free” Epictetus Roman (Greek-born) Slave & Stoic philosopher
CONTACT RMT LEARNING 39 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD 02075 298820 i.riddell@rmt.org.uk www.rmt.org.uk Rmt Learning @rmtlearning
RMT LEARNING TEAM Karen Skelly—Donna Murray—Emily King—Paul Shaw—Ivor Riddell LO ULR Support — Asst PM/ULF Contract — Snr LO — Apprenticeships — Campaigns Welcome to the 1st edition of e-news. The new online journal for ULRs and those interested in RMT Learning. Those eagle eyed readers amongst you will notice there is a face missing from the team of 6. This is because at the time of going to press there is still a vacancy for the Learning Agreement Organiser which we hope to fill soon. The team is now up and running and in place to support learning in the RMT and the Union Learning Reps who are out there delivering it. This journal will rely on ULRs and others to contribute stories, articles and information to ensure it maximises it’s potential. So please feel free to send in items for publication to i.riddell@rmt.org.uk The LO Campaigns, Ivor Riddell, is currently working on an electronic version of the Pink Slip Memo Pads that we all love. It is being designed so that as long as you have internet access you can complete the very simple questionnaire on your mobile device or computer and submit straight away. Which will save the hassle of collecting them up at the end of the month and sending them to the team. There will still be the memo pads available for those who prefer to use the old system and that will continue alongside the techy version. The LO ULR Support, Karen Skelly, is revisiting the ULR Database and recruiting the ULRs for the ULR courses on the calendar at Doncaster if you have not done yours already then get in touch straight away and the Lead ULRs course which is already full. There will be plenty of other courses coming up so watch this space as well as the Facebook, Twitter and Website pages for more info as it comes out The LO Apprenticeships, Paul Shaw, has been doing some work supporting seafarers on DFDS in particular, with learning events on three dover based ships which was very successful and is currently contacting all the companies about the Apprenticeship scheme to find out what they are doing and where. Then he will look at how the ULRs can become much more involved in this area to support the apprenticeships who are at a quite vulnerable point in their career. The RMT Learning web pages are currently under review and will be repopulated with much more relevant and user friendly resources and information over the next few weeks. If you have any suggestions or comments then please send them asap to i.riddell@rmt.org.uk
Mick Cash says! There have been some big changes within the RMT Learning project in the last couple of months. Not least the funding. Which has meant we have had to look at what the team does and how it does it. Following this, it was decided to restructure the work so that it would best suit the needs of the ULRs and the direction the RMT is taking within Education, Learning and Organising. I believe that what we now have will deliver real benefits for the union and more importantly for the members who are the union. With—
P2 - Bro. Steve Hedley heading up the department and the people we have in place to carry the project forward, that RMT Learning is set for the next year to provide support guidance and resources for the RMT ULRs. We should be under no illusion that the next few years are going to see one assault after another on the union and its members. This means that every rep, indeed every member will be asked to step up to the plate and play their part in the organising of their union and their workplace. In order to do this we need to ensure the members have the right tools. RMT Learning will play its part in that process by empowering people through learning whether it be Maths, English, IT Skills, Languages or any other skill. I thank each and every one of the over 200 ULRs we have out there in the workplace for what they have done, what they will do in the future and look forward to the ULR role continuing to grow as a core part of what we do. General Secretary
THE AGM AND LEARNING This year RMT Learning are hosting a fringe meeting at the AGM in Newcastle on Thursday 25th June in the Rivage Suite between 1 pm and 2 pm. Paul Shaw and Karen Skelly from the team will be giving a short presentation on the role of RMT Learning and how it works within the new structure. They will also explain to the delegates and visitors how the role of the Union Learning Rep is crucial to the development of the organising capability of the union and the difference they can make not just to people’s lives personally. But to how they will empower members to make choices for themselves and as part of their branch. There will also be a buffet lunch for the delegates to enjoy as a reward for taking up their lunch break.
UNION LEARNING REPS HAVE THEIR SAY The ULR now has a clear method of communication to the supreme governing body through the National Education Advisory Conference and so the whole process is an opportunity for ULRs to play an even more integral role in their union and how it works. Each Region will also have a delegate to the National Education Advisory Committee which meets in between the National Education Advisory Conferences. These are all, ways in which a ULR can make their voice heard, through their branch or directly to effect change within the union and how it operates. Do you know who your regional delegate to the NAEC is? The next National Education Conference is in Doncaster next year. Speak to your Branch Secretary about attending.
National Education Advisory Conference 2015 @ Doncaster
RMT LEARNING TAKES TO THE HIGH SEAS Union Learning, Rep, Mark Stannard, arranged for a learning fair on board three DFDS Ferries out of Dover in April 2015. He invited Paul Shaw and Ivor Riddell along to help as well as Captain Charles Woodward, and Carla Rockson from the Marine Society and Sea Cadets and James Tweed from Coracle who design online learning portals and resources. Mark said “I am very grateful to Nicola Steer from the DFDS Training Department for facilitating the travel and on board support”. The team visited DFDS Seaways MS Dover, MS Dunkerque and MS Delft. Speaking to grades as diverse as Apprentices, Catering, Engineering, Deck ratings and Officers. Providing them with information on support for apprentices and older learners through MSSC and Seafarers UK grants schemes, Online Learning such as Maths at Sea and Writing at Sea as well as opportunities to take formal courses from GCSE to Degree level. Mark Stannard ULR DFDS Seaways
Nicola Steer from DFDS said “the whole two day event has been a massive success and we would be happy to repeat the whole thing again later in the year. I would like to thank RMT
P3 - and work in partnership with them on this in the future.” Paul Shaw, spoke about the work that was being done to support hard to reach learners such as seafarers and said “we are very close now to signing off a formal learning agreement with DFDS and this event has proved the value of learning and the work ULRs do, which can only help the process”. Have you got a story about learning in the RMT, you want to share with us? Had an event and want to tell people? Then email the details with any pictures to i.riddell@rmt.org.uk Or click here and complete the online case study report form.
Tom is a ULR & a member of the RMT credit Union because he understands that the money it makes goes back in the pot to benefit the members, not the profiteers.
COMING SOON! To a smart phone, tablet or Computer near you!
CLICK HERE for RMT Credit Union
k.skelly@rmt.org.uk
The E Pink Slip. Will revolutionise collecting IAG outcomes. Simply click on the link fill in the info and submit. It goes straight to RMT Learning where it will counted as your outcome and we can follow up if needed. To find out more contact Karen Skelly
Sign of interest in Newcastle Calvin Lawson, Lead ULR, for Northern Rail along with his fellow ULRs and their ALSEF comrades have been putting together some British Sign Language Workshops with a couple of ‘informal learning’ tutors at Newcastle. They have already run 2 which were attended by up to 15 learners this year and a further two are already planned. Barry and Mary Higgins, who deliver the BSL workshops between 10.00—16.00, are themselves deaf. Which means the learners get a real insight to BSL Learners at Newcastle with Mary and Barry Higgins. the world of a deaf adult that they can then take back into their workplace too which helps to make the journey much more user friendly and accessible for passengers who are deaf. The style of learning is very relaxed with humour and fun a main part of the session. It has proved so popular that as well as the Train Crew Grades taking it up there are even learners from the management side who see a value to learning BSL in a busy transport environment. The next BSL Session is at Newcastle Station on 17th August. For more details contact your local ULR. Or visit facebook—Learner Reps Newcastle Factoid—There are 700,000 people in the UK registered as deaf or partially hearing of which 50,000 people use BSL as their first language and many more use it as an aid to communicating.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE AT LEARN MY WAY NOW! Keeping Healthy online
Basic Computer Skills
Managing your money
Family History first steps
Using E-Government
Job Hunting skills
Basic Computer Skills
Click on the picture for a link to the website Always use Registration code 3453732
Further IT Skills
P4 Who do they think they are? This is a short feature we hope to do regularly to help you get to know the people who are making decisions about your role as a ULR. We ask the nominee 10 questions which hopefully will give you a bit of an insight into who they are and what they think about Lifelong Learning and ULRs. In this issue we talk with Steve Hedley, Assistant General Secretary, with responsibility for Education, Learning and Organising. Where do you born and brought up? “I was born and grew up in Derry, Ireland” Where do you call home now? I now live in East Ham, in London. Who was your most inspirational teacher at school and why? Mr Martin McIlveen. He taught history but was passionate socialist and this also came across in his teaching. Do you have a partner, Children, pet/s? I have 6 children Carlene 29, Lorna 27, Ashlene 25, Sinead 23, Stephanie 21 and Dilara 7, I know I don't look old enough I also have 4 dogs and 5 goldfish . So plenty to keep me occupied in my down time (ironic moment). How and why did you become involved in Trade Unionism and particularly the RMT? I joined the railway just before my 19th birthday and was inspired by meeting people like Mick Ryan, Mick Atherton , Sam Wallace ,Bill Kerrigan and of course Bob Crow. How could I not be involved? . Who if anyone inspired/s you and what do you do, to get through the tough times we all come across as trade unionists? When times are a bit heavy going. I always bring to mind people like Bobby Sands and James Connolly, people who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for working class emancipation . Regardless of the cost to themselves personally. We need leaders like that in the labour movement today. Who knows there may be someone out there who starts their involvement as a ULR? What’s your favourite sport and team or sports person and why? Boxing, I saw Muhammad Ali when I was a child and had the bug ever since. Ali was the greatest boxer I've seen and a champion for social justice. What’s your favourite quote and by whom? “Our demands are very reasonable we only want the earth” James Connolly
What is the one thing you would like to see achieved in your lifetime above all else? “A socialist society worldwide” Why do you think Union Learning and ULRs are important to the RMT? Union learning not only develops the individual but enhances the union as a whole equipping our member with necessary skills to reach their potential and to help others .ULRS the people who give their time voluntarily to help others and do fantastic work for our union ,without them we just could not function. ULRs are the unsung heroes of the RMT and deserve recognition.
COMING SOON: Mobiles, Apps & Tablets Wessex Regional Office 11th June 2015 Contact Paul Shaw —————————————————————————ULR Stage 2 course Doncaster NEC 15th—19th June 2015 Contact: Karen Skelly ————————————————————————— RMT National AGM Newcastle 21st—26th June 2015 —————————————————————————— National Education Doncaster Advisory Committee Contact: Andy Gilchrist 7th July 2015 ————————————————————————— Adult Learners Week Everywhere 13th—19th June 2015 Tell us what you are doing ————————————————————————— Lead ULR Course Doncaster NEC 20th –24th July 2015 Contact: Karen Skelly ————————————————————————— British Sign Language Newcastle Station 17th August 2015 Contact: Calvin Lawson ————————————————————————— ULR Stage 1 course Doncaster NEC 24th—28th August 2015 Contact: Karen Skelly —————————————————————————— National Education Doncaster Advisory Committee Contact: Andy Gilchrist 13th October 2015 —————————————————————————— ULR Stage 2 course Doncaster NEC 19th—24th October 2015 Contact: Karen Skelly —————————————————————————— RMT Learning National Doncaster Development Day Contact: Karen Skelly 19th November 2015
Tell us what you have planned and we can advertise it here! Let us know what you think email: i.riddell@rmt.org.uk