unionlearn Midlands Region
ISSUE 10 >> SPRING 2011
Switched on
to apprentices >>page 3
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Welcome to update!
Derby reaches out for quality
Welcome to our first edition of update for 2011. I hope you like the new look. In each issue we hope to cover key aspects of the union learning agenda: apprenticeships, learning centres, workforce development, support for and progression of learners, training for reps and work with providers.
Derby College is the latest proud recipient of the unionlearn Quality Award for its outreach support to companies in the Midlands.
We will include a new Question & Answer feature that I hope will provide unions, employers and partner organisations with helpful information. Unionlearn and the Union Learning Fund have been granted a continuation of funding from BIS, enabling us to keep providing a continued service in the region across the whole range of workplace skills issues. We will continue to deliver on our core equality mission of giving learning chances to those who need them most. In times of reduced funding it is essential that strong and effective employer/union/provider partnerships are in place so that we can all work together to ensure that learning is delivered in the workplace. Bargaining for skills becomes of increased importance for unions and the article on page 6 provides support for this aspect of workplace union learning. Unionlearn Midlands now also produces an electronic newsletter for ULRs. If you are a ULR and have not received this please send us your contact details via our email address on the back page. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine and we do welcome feedback and ideas for features. Mary Alys Regional Manager
update unionlearn Midlands region ISSUE 10 >> SPRING 2011 Writer
Astrid Stubbs
Design
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Printers
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Cover pic Images of apprentices and page 3 from the National Apprenticeship Service
The award is made to providers who are committed to working with trade unions and can demonstrate that unions and union learners are considered in the design, development and delivery of courses and programmes. Derby College award is given for a variety of training, from problem solving to health and safety as well as business improvement techniques, it has provided for 800 JCB employees and for 2,000 staff at Uttoxeter Racecourse. Pictured are Mary Alys, unionlearn Regional Manager with, right, Helen Stevenson Team Manager Community Cohesion & Social Action Employment World @ Derby College and, centre, April Hayhurst, Corporate College Director.
Commented April Hayhurst, Director: “The training ensured that in a downturn when people are at risk they were equipped “The range of skills with the skills needed to gain a chosen benefit not only better opportunity to find the organisation but alternative employment if they help individuals reach needed or else to gain the skills to move forward. The range of their full potential.” skills chosen benefits not only the organisation but helps individuals reach their full potential.” Added Mary Alys: “Derby College has long supported trade unions through the delivery of the training for reps at its Trade Union Education Centre and it’s now timely that the college receives recognition for its extensive support of the union learning agenda in workplaces across the region.”
Find out more Visit www.unionlearn.org.uk/about/ index.cfm?mins=149
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A lesson from history There are few better ways of learning history than hearing from those who lived through it as Derby Driver Kevin Thompson found out when he attended a Holocaust awareness event organised by ASLEF Education.
Kevin joined a group of ASLEF members at one of the learning seminars organised by EMT ULR Chris Nutty. The Holocaust Centre, known as Beth Shalom, near Mansfield, pictured right, is a fascinating place and gives an incredible insight into the Holocaust. Bernard Grunberg, pictured, a survivor of the Holocaust, gave the talk, describing his earliest memories as a young schoolboy, and of the changing attitudes towards Jewish communities as the Nazi party came to power. He described how his father fought for Germany in WW1 but was still sent to a concentration camp.
Bernard secured a place on a special train of 2,000 children and adolescents, leaving Germany for England. He was just 14. He found out some 40 years later that his parents and sister were murdered in a concentration camp in Latvia. “Bernard finished off by telling us about his life in England. A truly remarkable man who left us wanting to learn more,� says Kevin.
Forums offer support for young apprentices The New Life Centre, Lincoln, was the venue for the first of three unionlearn apprenticeship forums taking place in the Midlands this year. The aim of the forums is to support young people using the skills and expertise of key partners and stakeholders to ensure they make the most of their potential and are fully engaged in their futures. Young apprentices from Lincoln City and Lincoln County Councils took part in the Lincoln event, creating an opportunity to broaden and acquire new skills while meeting fellow workers. The theme was Money Made Clear, which looked at the world of personal finance and budgeting. The apprentices were also able to network and discuss a range of topics about their apprenticeship, employment status and future forum themes. Feedback revealed that the forum is a great place to meet other apprentices and learn new information. Apprentices also said they feel they are gaining quality experiences and are valued as part of a bigger team.
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Feature > Bargaining for skills
Going Dutch over learning at S Unison Lifelong Learning Coordinator at South Holland District Council (SHDC) Jeff Goodley has raised the profile of learning and of his union as well as boosting morale at an uncertain time for staff working at the authority. Andrea Oates reports.
It all adds up for numeracy leaners, left to right: Tracey Meachin, Denise Chappell, Karen Fish, Vicky Stickels, Nikki Hawley, Jeff Goodley, Lois Goodley and Mel Lawton.
When Jeff took up his new role he wasted no time in teaming up with Boston College Programmer Leader for Basic Skills, Geoff Whitwell, and Chris Donkin, from the Lincolnshire and Rutland public sector skills compact, to kick-start learning at SHDC. The authority lies in the heart of the Skills Minister John Haynes’ constituency. The team began by setting up a Test the Organisation event and 45 took part in a screening and initial assessment to test their numeracy skills. Jeff worked with the college to develop a Level 2 Adult Numeracy course based at SHDC. Nine learners signed up for the first course and successfully completed it over the autumn. They were presented with their certificates by the Deputy Principal of Boston College, John Rees, at a celebration event last December. “A lot has been made about graduation events. It’s just as big a deal to celebrate everyone’s achievements at whatever level,” said John. “I encourage you to continue with your learning.” Boston College tutor Linda Radford ran the ‘twilight’ course in the local authority’s training suite, with sessions taking place after work from 4.30pm to
South Holland 6.30pm over a five “By promoting learning week period. The 10hour course covered for the future, Jeff has key areas in given people a numeracy. “It has challenge, boosted been really successful their morale and at the and we have had good feedback from same time they’ve gained a qualification” the tutor about the commitment of the students and the good feedback from students that they enjoyed the course and it met their needs,” said Jeff. “The tutor was brilliant. She was very good, very patient and explained things very simply,” added Systems Accountancy Assistant, Karen Fish. The initiative was just what was needed at an uncertain time for staff according to Unison Branch Secretary Lynda Wilkinson. Last year the existing Customer Services, Revenues and Benefits, ICT, Human Resources and Finance functions at South Holland and East Lindsey District Council’s transferred to a new merged service company. In the same month the local authority agreed to share a Chief
Executive with Breckland District Council. There will be an integrated joint management team to serve both authorities and the commissioning of services is to be shared. “By promoting learning for the future, Jeff has given people a challenge, boosted their morale and at the same time they’ve gained a qualification,” said Lynda. “He has put 110% into his role and his personal enthusiasm – doing the training himself – has really taken people forward.” Customer service team leader, Melissa Lawton, had not studied since taking her GCSEs and A Levels at school. She was successful in gaining a position in the new structure and numeracy skills will be important for her Area Manager role. “It was a really good course and gave me the chance to brush up my skills in relation to performance data and statistics,” she said. “I’ve just started an NVQ in customer services. Once you’ve achieved one thing, you start to think you can do more. In the current job market, you need all the qualifications and skills you can get.” Nicky Hawley is the duty manager at the “Once you’ve achieved South Holland Centre one thing, you start to theatre and said: “I think you can do more. moved here from the States and found it In the current job really difficult to find market, you need all work at first because the qualifications and my qualifications skills you can get” don’t make sense to UK employers. The numeracy course will help me in my job – I jump in wherever I’m needed and I have to pick up things quickly – and I’ve also got a UK qualification.” And scheme manager Lois Goodley, who looks after a complex of supported, sheltered housing, gained her 0 and A levels in the 1960s. “The course was the ideal opportunity to upgrade and update my qualifications. It also gave me more confidence – I surprised myself!” Unison is trying to negotiate a Learning Agreement with the authority and is asking it to sign up to the Skills Pledge. This would mean more facility time for Jeff and other union learning representatives (ULRS), more courses in literacy, IT as well as numeracy skills and paid time off for learners.
Find out more Contact unionlearn East Midlands Development Worker, Lisa Stones E: lstones@tuc.org.uk
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Q+A Q As an employer, why should I consider union learning? A A recent survey of employer attitudes carried out by Leeds University’s Centre for Employment Relations and Change reveals 68% of employers reporting that union-led projects had led to employees with little history of learning taking up courses, and 71% of employees said it increased the demand for learning amongst those with poor basic skills. Union learning helps employers and employees alike. Q As an employee why should I consider learning with a union? A Unions represent and protect people at work by looking after their members’ interests: pay, conditions, health and safety as well as their learning needs. Gaining new skills and refreshing others has become increasingly important in the world of work. Trade unions help colleagues at work fill their skills gaps, changing lives through learning. Q How do I go about becoming a Union Learning Rep? A As long as you are a trade union member, you can discuss it with your branch, shop steward committee or full-time officer, who will advise you of the process and situation in your workplace. Once recruited training is provided through trade union education centres in the region or through individual unions. Q I already have a few qualifications, so is union learning still able to help me? A People across the region are learning at all levels with their unions; from taster sessions and skills for life through to higher degree level and Continuing Professional Development (CPD). ULRs can provide information and advice to help you or you could phone the unionlearn learning and careers advice service:
FOCUS ON
Bargaining for skills
Serious about sustainability REO Peter Try argues that there has never been a better time to negotiate with employers for skills training “The way that UK unions have worked to reintroduce workforce training and development into those workplaces where they have influence has been widely recognised as a great success. Union-driven initiatives have led to the establishment of learning centres, demandled learning, improved relationships between employers and the FE sector and a growth in new learning opportunities such as online learning. All of this has been a significant contribution to getting UK PLC back on its feet and the jobs of the people we represent made more secure than they would have been. In the past it has been possible to get things moving through publicly-funded projects and much of the learning and training that has taken place has been subsidised by government. In recent statements on skills strategy it has been made pretty clear that in most cases future funding will have to come from somewhere else. Those who benefit from it will have to pay. For most working people that will be impossible and much of the marvellous work that has been done will come to and end. However, there is a powerful argument that employers should see this as an opportunity to invest in workforce development so that the work that has begun can be sustained and built into the business planning process. This will is a fantastic challenge for us as trade unionists. There have always been opportunities to negotiate with employers on this absolutely essential issue but now is the time to get serious about it. In many cases unions will already have established lines of communication with managers. They should now be used to build on the good work of the last 10 years to gain permanent employer commitment to the funding of staff development programmes. This means that ULRs and workplace union reps need to work together to make decisions about raising this issue with their employer. There will be difficulties, there always are, but there will also be a chance to make progress too.
Find out more Pete Try, TUC Unionlearn Regional Education Officer E: ptry@tuc.org.uk T: 0121 236 4454
T: 0800 92 91 90 Lines are open 7 days a week from 8am–10pm. www.unionlearn.org.uk/theme /index.cfm?theme=adviceline
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Union learning reps – the next stage Union Learning Representatives Stage 2, is for all ULRs who have completed the first ULR course and is designed to help them take stock of their experience so far. It develops knowledge and skills for use in working on projects and initiatives with their union and at work.
FOCUS ON
Midland ULR courses // Summer term 2011 Birmingham Union Learning Representatives 1 Derby Union Learning Representatives 1 Derby Union Learning Representatives 2 Kettering Union Learning Representatives 1 Kettering Union Learning Representatives 2 Leicester Union Learning Representatives 1 Leicester Union Learning Representatives 2 Nottingham Union Learning Representatives 1 Nottingham Union Learning Representatives 2 Solihull Union Learning Representatives 1 Stoke on Trent Union Learning Representatives 1 Stoke on Trent Union Learning Representatives 2 Other courses dates can be arranged on demand
5 Wednesdays from 11 May 5 Wednesdays from 4 May 5 Wednesdays from 15 June 5 Mondays from 9 May 5 Mondays from 20 June 5 Wednesdays from 4 May 5 Wednesdays from 15 June 5 Thursdays from 5 May 5 Thursdays from 16 June 5 Fridays from 10 June 5 Mondays from 9 May 5 Wednesdays from 11 May
Learning centres
First class ULR An informal workshop created and run by ULR Martin Norton at the Royal Mail in Leicester and aimed at retired members has been such a success it has been extended to all.
Left to right: Chen Gahir, Martin Norton, Kevin Barsby, Claudia Ponce (Spanish tutor) and Vinod Kumar
The workshop was established at the centre’s Spanish class by Martin, CWU Leicestershire Lead Learning Rep, as an informal introduction to learning. “It was created for retired members as they always seem to fall through the cracks or get forgotten but we as a branch decided to roll it out to all our members who felt they may benefit or had little experience or knowledge where computers were concerned, ” he explains. “Doing the informal IT workshops has helped a lot of people not necessarily in their work, but in their social and home life, build confidence in their own abilities and then move back into learning properly. Whilst the informal learning I am doing fills a gap at the moment it by no means will replace something with a qualification and isn't meant to – it’s more to act as a hook to get them used to the learning environment again and to help them understand the only limit they have is the one they set themselves.” The workshops gave Martin a boost too. “This was my first experience in supporting a group on my own and I was really pleased that so many got a lot out of it. I used the last
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week to get everyone signed up to myguide (a website designed to help people take their first steps with computers and the internet). This way they could continue learning in their own time and open it up to their friends and family.” Added Steve Ratcliffe, CWU Learning Project Worker Midlands: “Martin not only showed ingenuity and innovation, he has inspired fellow ULRs across the CWU Midlands region to think differently about the challenges we face.”
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In brief
Contacts
The unionlearn Climbing Frame
unionlearn Midlands Region 24 Livery Street Birmingham B3 2PA 0121 236 4454 unionlearnmidlands@tuc.org.uk Regional manager Mary Alys
malys@tuc.org.uk
Regional Education Officer Pete Try
ptry@tuc.org.uk
Regional union development coordinator Gary O’Donnell
godonnell@tuc.org.uk
is a free website for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) to help them in their role of supporting learners in the workplace. The site aims to help ULRs effectively carry out their role in supporting union learners and bring learning into the workplace. Paul Taylor, a Prospect union ULR from the Valuation Office Agency, Derby, and Fatma Hatimy, a ULR for the Royal College of Midwives, appear in a Climbing Frame video What ULRs think of the Climbing Frame, which is available at vimeo.com/15215899.
Find out more Visit www.climbingframe.unionlearn.org.uk
Development Worker for West Midlands Paul Humphreys phumphreys@tuc.org.uk
Project Worker for East Midlands Jurgita Pranculyte jpranculyte@tuc.org.uk Regional Learning Centre Support Officer Alan Cook acook@tuc.org.uk Skills, Recession and Recovery Development Workers Anne-Marie Hanna ahanna@tuc.org.uk Irene Murray irene.murray@tuc.org.uk Administrative Assistants Louise Power lpower@tuc.org.uk Surjit Kaur Chohan schohan@tuc.org.uk
Ten new Quick Reads were released on World Book Day in March. Full details of titles, which include new books by ex Monty Python Terry Jones, pictured right, thriller writer Linwood Barclay and football coach Charlie Oatway, are available at www.quickreads.org.uk.
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TUC Education
, part of unionlearn, has launched an awareness raising and support programme with the charity Macmillan Cancer Support to help reps improve the experience of people living with cancer and carers in the workplace. It also helps them to work with HR departments to put in place fair policies to help those with the condition and to raise awareness among staff.
Find out more Cancer in the Workplace: A Workbook for Union Representatives can be downloaded at www.unionlearn.org.uk/publications/ index.cfm?frmPubID=175 www.macmillan.org.uk/learnzone gives access to interactive online learning about cancer and considers how to support union members diagnosed with cancer and their carers
Find out more For free resources, which include posters and bookmarks with which to engage people and which are ideal for use in any staff area, teaching room, canteen or library, visit www.quickreads.org.uk/ register-here
Š Jess Hurd/reprortdigital.co.uk
Development Workers for East Midlands Mick Brightman mbrightman@tuc.org.uk Lisa Stones lstones@tuc.org.uk