The Learning Rep - Autumn 06

the

learningrep » autumn 06

“Union Learning Reps are an extraordinary plus for the trade union movement” Alan Johnson MP Secretary of State for Education and Skills

» John Bird: he believes we can fly » 2012: let the Games begin! » Chinese takeaway some learning

www.unionlearn.org.uk

» news

24

New look for a new era Welcome to the first issue of the new-look The Learning Rep – bigger, better and with a fresh new feel for the era of unionlearn. We’ve completely overhauled our flagship publication to make it more attractive and easier to read, with lots of new features we hope you’ll both enjoy and find genuinely useful.

First and foremost, The Learning Rep is aimed at our increasing army of trained ULRs. We want to keep you up-to-date with all the latest developments in the rapidlyevolving world of workplace learning. You are the backbone of everything we do: we aim to give you all the support you need.

But we also want the magazine to be something employers might want to read, to show them what can be achieved when they work in partnership with their unions on the learning agenda. As I said at the official launch of unionlearn this summer, I want to reach out to employers and persuade them to work with us across the economy.

And I also hope that the tutors, college managers and principals who run our trade union studies centres will get something from the new-look magazine.

We’ll need their help if our trade union studies programmes are to flourish in the years ahead.

We want feedback from all our readers to help us continue to improve what we’re doing. Let us know what you think!

Liz Smith Director, unionlearn The Learning Rep, autumn 2006 Editor: Mike Power mpower@tuc.org.uk Writers: Astrid Stubbs, Martin Moriarty Design: Redhouse Lane Communications Print: Ancient House Printing Group Distribution: Cavalier mailing Cover photo: Alan Johnson by Jess Hurd

2 » autumn 06

12

16 30

14

Contents: 3 7 8 10 12 14 16 20 22 24 28 29 30 31 32

News RAW Campaign ULR Survey Skills for life John Bird interview Good practice Alan Johnson interview Modern Apprentice interview Olympics and skills Adult Learners’ Week roundup ULF update Education update Agents for change Jay knows Contacts

7

news «

Photo: Jess Hurd

Gordon backs skills crusade

Liz Smith hands Gordon Brown his Advocates’ welcome pack.

Chancellor Gordon Brown picked up his Skills for Life Advocate welcome pack on the day the TUC launched unionlearn in May, after agreeing to become the first honorary Advocate earlier this year.

The symbolism re-emphasised his political support for trade union literacy and numeracy work at the beginning of the next phase of the campaign to expand workplace learning throughout the movement.

“Nothing we do in the next few months and years is more important than extending trade union learning,” he told an audience of nearly 600 guests from the world of workplace learning who had gathered at Congress House for the historic occasion.

“The countries that will succeed in the modern world are ones that invest in the talents of everyone, and therefore, what's good for trade union education is good for the economy as a whole,” he argued.

Unionlearn director Liz Smith was proud to present the Chancellor with his Advocates’ welcome pack at the official launch of the new learning and education service.

“It’s a huge boost that the Chancellor has given his backing to trade union work on Skills for Life and it’s appropriate he should receive his Advocates’ Certificate as we celebrate the next phase of union learning with the launch of unionlearn,” she said.

“As an organisation, unionlearn is about building on union success in learning and skills and helping unions spread the lifelong learning message to even more members: Skills for Life is at the heart of that message and will be the foundation on which we can build our success.”

They said it Unionlearn is the single most important development in trade unionism in a generation– something that can act as a catalyst for a trade union resurgence in the years ahead; that shows we are fully attuned to the challenges posed by globalisation and labour market change; and that proves we are in step with the aspirations of today's workers.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber Congratulations on the launch of unionlearn. It's a great pleasure to be working with you so enthusiastically on the quick reads project, which we hope will introduce a large number of emergent readers to the pleasures and opportunities of reading books.

Gail Rebuck, Chief Executive, Random House publishers “I am so grateful that unionlearn, a new education service through your organisation, is dealing specifically with in-work training, which is going to play such an important part in delivering a games that we can all be proud of.

London 2012 organising committee chair Seb Coe

Get your new, free “welcome to unionlearn” DVD featuring the launch event – details page 31

autumn 06 «

3

» news

We got some intriguing suggestions when we asked in a poll which books people would recommend for their managers, including: How To Win Friends And Influence People; The Little Book of Calm; Diary of a Nobody; and let’s not forget the Acas Handbook!

TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady compiles a reading list for bosses

Compass shows the way It’s a deal (from left): Compass human resources executive director Mike Burton and chief executive officer Ian ElMokadem with Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

Public service union Unison has signed a workplace learning agreement with food service firm Compass Group, whose subsidiaries include Medirest in the healthcare sector and Scolarest in schools.

The initiative builds on the success of the English as a Second Language programme which Unison and Medirest delivered in five London hospitals, and the group is pledged to continue to work on local learning agreements

One day at a time Around 5,600 organisations took part in this year's Learning at Work Day on 25 May, the seventh successive year that the numbers participating has increased.

"Once again, organisations have amazed us with their imaginative and creative learning activities and what they are able to achieve through Learning at Work Day,” commented Tricia Hartley, joint chief executive of the Campaign for Learning, which co-ordinates the day.

Activities this year included: » Darlington Borough Council launching its ULR network

4 » autumn 06

» » »

Oxfordshire County Council hosting taster sessions in its learning centre Lloyds TSB inviting local fitness instructors to offer health checks and advice Innovia Films in Cumbria offering fitness workouts for staff at their desks.

To find out more about what took place for this year’s Learning at Work Day and to register your interest for 2007, visit www.learningatworkday.com

Adults Learners’ Week roundup from page 24 to 27

for contracts they hold across the country.

“Unison is delighted that Compass is making this further commitment to ensuring all of their employees have full access to training and development,” says general secretary Dave Prentis.

“The learning representatives will focus on staff who may have previously been excluded from learning, providing a confidential support and route to learning, and everyone gains.”

news « News in brief

Sisters get building A new West Yorkshire project is tackling skills shortages by training women in construction.

Women Build West Yorkshire is a new project which aims to recruit 150 women into the building industry to combat current skills shortages and redress gender imbalances in the sector.

Providing mentoring and support as well as links with employers, Women Build West Yorkshire is looking to see women through from initial training to full-time, part-time or further training opportunities.

Managed by Bradford College with backing from the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund, the project has won the full support of major local construction firms, including Lovells and Frank Haslam Milan (FHM).

“Women Build is an ideal project to encourage women to enter into jobs that in the past might have been construed as non-traditional female roles,” says FHM training manager Jan Hodgett. Alan Ritchie UCATT General Secretary said “UCATT is delighted to support this new project and is working to support women in the construction industry.”

Former chef René Krzyworaczka, a trainee plumber who works for Lovells four days a week and studies at Bradford College on the fifth, says there’s a real niche market for female plumbers.

“Sometimes you can see people on a site thinking: ‘What does she know?’ but once they see you working, they say: ‘You know more than us’,” she explains.

“The only disadvantage as a woman is that you have less upper body strength so it takes you more trips to lift things, but I make up for that with being able to squeeze into narrow spaces that men struggle with.”

With a wide variety of courses being delivered across the region, there are opportunities for women to broaden their horizons, whether it is learning to do their own DIY or learning the skills to secure a job for life in the industry.

The Whole Organisation Approach to Skills for Life has proved a big success in boosting literacy and numeracy courses run by unionlearn learndirect centres, according to the results of a new survey. Download the survey results from the unionlearn website.

For further details, contact unionlearn development worker Pam Davies.

The Prison Officers’ Association has been recognised at the first annual awards by the Centre for Social Justice for supporting a scheme encouraging prisoners who can read to teach inmates who can’t.

The Toe to Toe scheme run by The Shannon Trust has been set up to help the 50,000-plus prisoners (twothirds of the total prison population) with poor or no literacy skills.

The planned sector skills agreement in the apparel, footwear and textile sector will give unions and employers the chance to work together to raise the skill levels of the workforce, according to unionlearn research and strategy manager Bert Clough. Around 20,000 workers currently need upskilling.

Did you know?

Paul Herrmann/reportdigital

14,000 Over 14,000 ULRs have helped over 230,000 workers back into learning since the Union Learning Fund launched in 1998. autumn 06 «

5

» news

Delivering the goods Learners at the Morrisons distribution centre at Stockton-on-Tees have taken over 200 National Tests in literacy and numeracy since the onsite learning centre opened last September.

The company allows fully-paid time off for Skills for Life courses, with tutors provided by Durham Logistics College, and a subsidy from Excel Logistics ensures the tutor-led Spanish course is delivered free of charge.

TGWU project worker Mick Simpson was really pleased when Excel asked him to be the site learning champion. “Excel has champions for health and safety, disability and other fields, but it’s always managers who are selected: it’s a great recognition for all of us involved in the project that they’ve asked me.”

USDAW project worker Paul Smith says the centre has helped raise the profile of both unions and boosted recruitment. “Relations between TGWU and USDAW were always quite good on site, but they are even closer now we are working together over Skills for Life.”

Now we’re really motoring Himatlal Patel has become the 1,000th car worker at the General Motors van plant in Luton to sign up for a course since manufacturing unions Amicus and the TGWU launched their lifelong learning project two years ago.

After beginning with a few laptops in a basement room at the site, the project now boasts a stateof-the-art learning centre kitted out with 40 computers, with courses now underway four days a week to meet the ever-increasing demand.

The 13-strong team of ULRs has helped learners study literacy, numeracy, various languages, deaf awareness, building computers and construction skills.

“The take-up of lifelong learning has been tremendous, especially when the majority of courses are conducted before and after shift hours,” says Amicus convenor and ULR Laurie Evans.

“The opportunity for our members to gain further education has been too good to miss and we now aim to introduce new course subjects and have some exciting

6 » autumn 06

projects to introduce this year.”

The company is now supporting a new initiative by the project to open a construction training area onsite for practical courses, which two local colleges are already interested in funding.

The project has delivered the impressive results with the support of the company, Barnfield and Dunstable colleges, Luton Adult Education and Luton and Bedfordshire Trade Union Learning Link.

One in a thousand: Himatlal Patel in the Learning centre

RaW Campaign «

Well read Employees across the East Midlands are getting the chance to become book worms thanks to a new publication.

East Midlands region has broken fresh ground with a publication to help ULRs promote Quick reads / book swaps in workplaces and a greater confidence and love of reading The booklet is the result of a successful partnership with the BBC RaW campaign and was funded by the LSC. BBC Raw is a three-year national literacy campaign aimed at the estimated 12.1 million adults in the UK who lack confidence in their ability to read and write.

The booklet is a special BBC RaW project for the East Midlands, offering advice on setting up book swaps so that reading materials can change hands for free. Inside there are also details on how to sign up as a RaW centre to access an even wider range of free

resources and activity ideas.

The booklet has been distributed to all East Midlands ULRs, says Lisa Stones, project worker. “We are getting a steady request for the sets of Quick Reads books. We are also distributing them at ULR network meetings.”

The booklet came about after Helen Sykes, BBC Learning Project Manager for East Midlands, gave a presentation to the unionlearn East Midlands team, explains Lisa.

Peter Riley, a manager at Northamptonshire LSC, attended a promotional meeting that included the work of the RaW campaign and made contact with Helen.

He asked for ideas on how they could work together but also wanted to involve an organisation that was helping adults to address their skills for life needs so he contacted

Chanda Parmar-Bonta, unionlearn development worker from the East Midlands, and a meeting was arranged for the three parties to meet.

From that meeting, the LSC agreed to fund the publication of the booklet.

LSC also funded the production of 150 sets of the initial 12 Quick Reads books, 4,000 book marks, 4,000 pens, 500 notepads and 36,000 stickers.

The content of the booklet was supplied by BBC RaW and the TUC and agreed by all three partners.

Added Lisa: “Over the past five years, we’ve built up a strong relationship with the local LSCs and that is now paying dividends as they can see value for money when investing in ULR activity. By providing us with 150 sets of Quick Reads books, ULRs have been able to kick start book swaps and book clubs, generating discussion groups within their workplaces. We see this as a fantastic opportunity for ULRs to support existing initiatives that they are currently involved in. We will be evaluating the success of the project during the next few months and would hope that other regions may be able to benefit from the same LSC support.”

For more information about the RaW campaign and to get you and your workplace involved log onto www.bbc.co.uk/raw/campaign/

autumn 06 «

7

» Analysis » ULRs

Spot the

difference U

nion learning reps may be the trade union movement’s newest sort of activist, and they may come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes than many of their colleagues on the branch committee, but they still face many of the traditional obstacles to getting the job done.

That much is clear from the latest survey of ULRs for unionlearn, the third in the last six years, which confirms many of the most positive trends of the workplace learning revolution and indicates where there is still more work to be done.

The proportion of reps who have never held a union position before has risen massively from 9 per cent of the overall total in 2000 to 28 per cent in 2003 and 35.5 per cent in 2005.

And these new activists are more

ULRs still face some major obstacles when it comes to helping their colleagues access learning at work likely to be women (53.4 per cent compared to 41.4 per cent of the overall figure) and more likely to be younger – 19.4 per cent are under 36 years old, compared to 11.7 per cent overall.

These trends mean that the ULR population continues to become more diverse overall, with the overall proportion of women in the role rising from 37.5 per cent in 2003 to 41.4 per cent in 2005, and the proportion of black and Asian ULRs rising from 6.2 to 7 per cent.

On most measures, ULRs are achieving more than ever,

encouraging colleagues to return to learning, helping them improve their basic skills and increasing interest in union membership.

In fact, over 26 per cent have recruited up to ten new members and over 7 per cent have signed up between 11 and 20 members, while virtually 40 per cent felt their work as ULRs had improved their union’s image in the workplace.

In addition, ULRs are extending equal opportunities by opening up learning opportunities for groups who have missed out in the past (unskilled workers, women and members of minority ethnic groups).

But ULRs continue to face some major obstacles to helping their co-workers, the biggest of which is time: 24.7 per cent (nearly one in four) said lack of facility time was the major problem, 18.2 per cent

Barriers for ULRs

Barriers for Employees 3.7% Lack of access to paid time off

14.1%

Long hours

16.9%

24.7%

Cost

46.2%

15.6%

Lack of employer support

16.1%

Lack of free time Not offered training

8.9% 11.5%

8 » autumn 06

18.2% 7.3% 16.9%

ULRs « Analysis «

said they didn’t have access to time off for their duties and 16.1 per cent blamed lack of employer support.

For ordinary union members, the biggest barrier to making things happen is lack of access to paid time off for learning and/or training, according to 46.2 per cent of ULRs, with lack of employer support another significant barrier reported by 15.6 per cent.

The proportion of ULRs who have a workplace learning agreement continues to rise, from 51.3 per cent in 2003 to 60.6 per cent today.

Three-quarters of learning agreements are formally negotiated, with around half of them settled either by the shop stewards and ULRs or the branch negotiating team and the ULRs working together.

Over 90 per cent of agreements include provision for ULR statutory

On most measures, ULRs are achieving more than ever

rights, with 46.5 per cent granting members paid time off to access their rep and 42.2 per cent providing paid time off for union members to attend training.

Other areas included: » unpaid time off for members to attend training (26 per cent); » establishment of workplace learning committees (43.7 per cent); » establishment of workplace learning centres (50.2 per cent); » equal opportunities (52.9 per cent).

The survey results suggest that the new statutory rights for ULRs to time off to carry out their duties have had a greater impact in the public than the private sector.

There are now 61.7 per cent of ULRs in the public sector, a significant increase over 51.9 per cent in 2003.

However, the highest proportion of ULRs are now in manufacturing, with 19.3 per cent (nearly one in five) in this sector, followed by 16.1 per cent in central government, 13.4 per cent in local government and 12.1 per cent in other service industries.

What did you do at work today?

The survey asked ULRs how they’d helped expand equal opportunities in workplace learning.

The 300-plus responses detailed successes at everything from opening up access to groups of workers previously excluded from learning/training opportunities to initiatives that benefited women, members of minority ethnic groups and disabled workers.

Examples included: » Creating the first opportunity to learn and train for manual employees, including large groups of female, part-time and older workers » Encouraging older employees to take computer courses to give them more confidence » Improve career opportunities for younger and more junior employees, the majority of them women and members of minority ethnic groups » Identifying learning barriers (eg, dyslexia) » Introducing adaptive technology so that everyone could take part in learning » Improving language skills and confidence through provision of ESOL courses helping people gain promotion » Giving people who have no qualifications a chance to improve in a supportive environment.

ULRs by Industry Sector 70

Lack of facilities

66 2000

Lack of access to time off for duties

Cost of training Lack of employer support Other

61.7

2005

60 % of all Learning Reps

Long hours at work

2003

51.9

50

47.4

40

34.7 28

30 20 10

6

3.6 0.8

0

Private

Voluntary Sector

Public

autumn 06 «

9

» Roundup » Skills for Life

Room for one more award on top – thanks to the union First UK Bus has won recognition for its Skills for Life work at this year’s BiTC Awards.

It’s a snip (from left): Local MP Frank Field opens the Birkenhead centre with First UK’s Bob Hamilton and North West TUC Secretary Alan Manning; while HRH Prince of Wales (top, third from right) joins the BITC celebration awards.

10 » autumn 06

First UK Bus won the Rentokil Initial Skills for Life Award at this year’s Business in the Community Awards for Excellence for the literacy and numeracy programme it’s running across the country.

Backed by a 100-strong network of union learning reps, the project has brought learning opportunities to thousands of drivers and other staff through the 40 learning centres it’s opened on company premises.

“First UK Bus’s winning entry shows a genuine and innovative partnership between a company and the trade unions, an excellent example that will inspire other employers to take up the Skills for Life offer,” said Rentokil Initial managing director Henry Chandler.

“Improved customer satisfaction and retention are just some of the benefits that this

solid and sustainable programme is bringing to the business, along with tangible benefits to the learners.”

Since launching the workplace learning project, First UK Bus has saved £2.8 million in recruitment costs by significantly reducing staff turnover.

It’s also boosted staff morale by sponsoring publication of a book of short stories by learners.

Unionlearn director Liz Smith, one of the judges on the awards panel, said she was “especially pleased” that First UK Bus had won the award, although all the companies shortlisted had clearly experienced the benefits of unionled learning.

“Employees feel more valued and have improved possibilities for promotion, staff turnover decreases and morale and productivity go up – in fact, everyone wins,” she pointed out.

Skills for Life « Roundup « Why learning is the best route for First » Overall service quality (measured

© 2006 Crown copyright. Photo supplied by DFeS Embedded Learning Materials

in an independent customer survey) rose by 50 per cent in the year to October 2005. » At least £2.8 million in driver recruitment costs saved, with turnover now four per cent below industry average. » Eighty-one per cent of Jobcentre Plus applicants successfully recruited in 2004/5, partly thanks to Skills for Life support available in learning centres (above industry average) » Ninety-four per cent retention of 800-plus drivers and engineers recruited from EU accession states, in part thanks to ESOL courses. » Staff injuries decreased by 25 per cent on average. » Absenteeism decreased by 30 per cent on average.

Maureen comes through testing time Partnerships between trade unions and colleges delivering Skills for Life learning are helping people like Maureen Hooper tackle the National Tests.

Skills for Life Advocate Maureen Hooper has helped show what can be achieved when trade unions, trade union education departments and further education colleges partner up on Skills for Life learning.

With the help of Derby College, which has been working with a range of unions to deliver SfL in the workplace, the CWU Midlands regional secretary sat the Level 2 National Test in Literacy online at Derby Royal Mail Learning Centre earlier this year.

“It was a lot less scary than sitting down in an exam room with a bit of paper in front of you,” explains Maureen. “I hoped that I would encourage others to have a go by taking the test: I wanted to reduce the fear factor for people.”

Taking the test at the computer next to hers was CWU Derby branch secretary Simon Walker, who says the National Tests have become one of the union’s major selling points.

“We have to make sure that Skills for Life learning is accessible and available to working people at a time and place that is convenient for them, which means working closely with trade union education departments and local colleges to arrange learning in the workplace that meets the needs of our members,” he explains.

One of the great benefits of taking the test online is that you

don’t have to wait to find out how you’ve done – which is how Maureen and Simon were able to find out that they’d passed with flying colours within minutes of finishing.

Skills for Life provision has been greatly enhanced across the Midlands with the opening of trade union learning centres at Derby, Nottingham and Solihull as part of the Midlands Learning Centre Project.

“There are now six Learning Centres linked to the Trade Union Hub offering a wide range of learning opportunities including SfL courses through learndirect and a college programme to trade unionist and their families,” explains unionlearn regional development worker Alan Cook.

“This tri-partnership between trade unions, trade union education departments and colleges is essential in raising awareness and take-up of learning opportunities can only strengthen the trade union movement.

“And getting the backing from a senior trade unionist like Maureen is crucial to make sure all workers recognise the benefits of Skills for Life learning.”

autumn 06 «

11

» Interview » John Bird

The

big issue Don’t let a poor start in life put you off education says someone who should know

By Astrid Stubbs

Photo: Jess Hurd

12 » autumn 06

F

ounder and managing editor of the award winning Big Issue John Bird had every reason to fail after his poor start in life.

Born into a poor, abusive, alcoholic family, he was made homeless for the first time at five.

In and out of children’s homes, in trouble with the law for stealing, burglary and receiving stolen goods, he spent time in institutions throughout his childhood.

Hardly surprising then that education didn’t figure in his life and he could barely read or write.

But a spell in a boys’ reformatory in his late teens found him taking up drawing and starting to read.

“I am borderline dyslexic but I became an avid if slow reader and I’ve stayed that way ever since,” he explains.

He then went to Chelsea School of Art where his passion for education grew.

John’s transient lifestyle took him through a number of jobs and he found himself increasingly affected by politics and unions and their power to change lives.

It was as a printer and member of the former NGA that John set up business himself and came into contact with an old friend – Gordon Roddick, who had set up the Body Shop with his wife, Anita.

Gordon persuaded John to think about starting a ‘street paper’.

With his own experience of rough sleeping and homelessness John was determined that he didn’t want to ‘give’ the homeless a paper.

“I wanted to do something but not as a charity – I wanted to give homeless people something more than a handout, a chance to make their own money.”

So the ground-breaking, awardwinning Big Issue was created and with it the opportunity for thousands

John Bird « Interview «

Unions back launch of Quick Reads books Unionlearn has joined forces with Quick Reads to promote its latest books to the millions of adults in Britain who struggle with reading.

Unionlearn’s managers in its six regions are urging employers to take up the campaign, distribute promotional materials, and give out the money saving vouchers to their employees.

Vouchers are available online at www.niace.org.uk/quickreads/token.pdf and give readers the chance to buy the books for just £1.99, until the end of 2006.

For more information on Quick Reads visit www.quickreads.org.uk

of homeless people to turn their lives around through selling the paper in nearly every town and city in the country.

John has written about his experiences in his biography Some Luck (Penguin), an explanation of much of his lack of fortune, misfortune and his ascendancy out of his life of crime.

Now his latest book How to Change Your Life In Seven Steps offers his recipe for making the best of one’s life – and, needless to say, learning comes high on his agenda.

“I’m fascinated with the way that learning creates a background for getting more out of life and not relying totally on TV and newspapers,” he says.

The message of his new book in a nutshell: “Learn your way out of dependency, learn your way out of neglect, learn your way out of abuse!”

And that doesn’t mean aiming for the highest job there is, says John, but aiming for using what skills you have to the maximum.

One of the key messages of his book is about not being a victim.

“Don’t be defined by the failure of others; take a lead in life; don’t set yourself up to fail and remember the importance of telling the truth – don’t kid yourself about the truth of things,” he says.

John was delighted to help launch unionlearn because he believes unions are at the forefront of helping people achieve learning – whatever stage in life they are at.

“Unions have re-emerged as giving one of most important rallying calls for a new interpretation of social justice and of allowing people the means to transcend their beginnings,” he adds.

John on John and How To Change your Life in Seven Steps!

“Born into the London Irish underclass, I was a little racist, I was a little troublemaker. I was one of those persons who at the age of 10 became a social statistic and ended up with a probation officer, and later on did short sharp shocks and stuff like that.

I couldn’t read or write and ended up on the streets.

“I made every conceivable mistake – and that’s what this book is about. There’s a chapter called, ‘Start with 3 per cent’ which is about starting within your means, somewhere where you can get going but you don’t keep falling down. It’s to stop you beating yourself up simply because you don’t achieve what you want to achieve.

One of the big things is getting that message over to people, you have to break them from their victimhood.”

We have 10 copies of John Bird’s book How to Change Your Life in Seven Steps to giveaway.

They will go to the first 10 readers to request them through unionlearn’s website. For full details of this, and other giveaways, see page 31. autumn 06 «

13

photo: Matt Priestly

» Feature » Employers

W

hile his chefs are leading the way with cutting edge culinary skills, managing director Laurence Lee is proving that striking a partnership with unions can reap benefits for management and workers alike.

In a sector not normally associated with union organisation, Laurence, pictured right with staff, sees staff joining Usdaw as another stage in creating a highly-trained workforce capable of working anywhere in the UK. He was the first to join the union himself and says: “I’m really pleased that my staff have taken up membership so enthusiastically, and I’m confident that this pioneering agreement will encourage other members of the Chinese community to understand the real benefits in joining a union for both catering workers and the businesses we have worked hard to create.

“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth and I’ve had to face hardship in the catering industry so I feel it’s important that if I’m a boss and want to say how well I treat my customers, I also want to be able to do the same for my staff.

“I’m learning to be a better employer and the benefits for staff have been enormous – they have been taking NVQs and union learning courses – their confidence has grown, it’s very exciting.”

And, he adds: “Word

Learning at

wok Union recognition and lifelong learning feature high on the menu at one of Manchester’s most celebrated Chinese restaurants, thanks to its boss

14 » autumn 06

Employers « Feature « Laurence Lee and John Hannett General Secretary of USDAW with staff from Cathay Dim Sum including shop steward Emma Lee, centre row, far right and Gary Lord, USDAW area organiser, far right.

Staff have been fired up.

Cook and learn.

I’m learning to be a better employer and the benefits for staff have been enormous

has started going out that people at this restaurant are standing firm, having confidence, getting training and turning what could be a boring job into a profession.”

Since the agreement was struck the union has trained up two ULRs, two shop stewards and a health and safety rep.

Usdaw has also provided the restaurant with two computers, which are sited in the office so that staff can access learndirect and TU Hub courses during work hours.

Denise Gordon, Usdaw’s lifelong learning project worker for the north west, has been delighted with the progress the 30 staff have made so far.

She helped organise ESOL and Skills for Life courses, which have

proved a success with staff. “It’s good for the staff and it’s good for the restaurant because they now have well trained staff in a number of different areas – they are better able to talk to customers and the maths they are learning helps in different ways,” she says.

Adds Emma Lee, shop steward: “We’ve had a fantastic summer learning all this new stuff.”

Denise adds: “I think we will get more restaurants getting involved in recognition agreements now that Cathay Dim Sum are on board and others can see what benefits they have gained from it.”

Setting up the agreement was also part of Denise’s own lifelong learning experience. She explains that in celebration of the agreement Laurence invited her and union colleagues to have a meal at the restaurant.

“I didn’t think I liked Chinese food but it was absolutely gorgeous!” she says.

As for Laurence – he’s due to open a new restaurant, The Eat Inn, serving modern Chinese cuisine in Macclesfield this summer – and you can be sure trade union rights will still be one of the firm favourites on his new menu!

No flash in the pan – learning is here to stay.

New dish The recognition agreement cooked up by Laurence and union Usdaw is believed to be the first of its kind in the booming sector.

Usdaw general secretary John Hannett was delighted with the deal, which gives staff at Cathay Dim Sum in the Trafford Centre independent representation and access to the union’s learning programmes.

“It’s very exciting for us to be working with some of the most talented catering workers in the north-west,” he says.

The restaurant, in one of the region’s biggest shopping centres, has developed a growing reputation as one of the best places in the area to taste authentic Cantonese cuisine. It has recently won an Investors in People Award.

autumn 06 «

15

» Feature » Alan Johnson

How Alan’s getting it

sorted He started work as a postman, rose through the ranks to become the youngest postal union general secretary and is now running the Department for Education and Skills. Unionlearn director Liz Smith went to the DfES headquarters to find out what the trade union movement can expect from Alan Johnson.

You’ve obviously got a LS: deep commitment to education and training. What’s led you to that?

It’s certainly not the training I received when I was a postman. In all my 19 years before I became a full-time officer of the postal workers’ union, no-one troubled me with any training after the initial two weeks at the London Postal Training School – which was an incredible omission if you think about it, and it wasn’t just me, of course.

I started doing correspondence

AJ:

courses through the trade union movement, specifically the little town of Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire, from where the TUC ran its distance learning at the time.

While I was on the union executive, the union negotiated the Improved Working Methods agreement with the Post Office, and I was able to become an expert on it even though it involved some very difficult mathematical calculations.

Everyone thought I was this great mathematician able to work out traffic change factors, but the fact is I just used this TUC booklet I came

across, Working With Figures – the equivalent of learning the guitar with Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day – so I’ve got a lot to thank the trade union movement for in terms of education!

The role of the trade unions in education is probably one of the great untold stories and the huge success of the Union Learning Fund and unionlearn is that the trade union movement has used its inherent feel for education and training and matched that to the kind of things that government and industry needs for a strong economy.

With your history in the LS: CWU, you must be very pleased that your old union is one of many that have really got hold of the learning agenda?

The current general secretary, Billy Hayes, has been extraordinary in pushing this agenda within the CWU. It’s not always been easy: I was general secretary and we didn’t have the right approach to training at that time, both in training our own reps and on the wider issue.

Billy’s come along and really galvanised this whole agenda in the CWU – it’s one of the many good things he’s done as general secretary: I’ve opened three or four CWU learning centres in places where the whole community is using the facilities.

AJ:

Liz Smith: asking the questions and getting the answers

THE INTERVIEW CONTINUES ON PAGE 16 >

16 » autumn 06

Photo: Jess Hurd

The role of the trade unions in education is probably one of the great untold stories

summer autumn 06 ÂŤ 067 17

» Feature » Alan Johnson < CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

One of the many good LS: things about the development of union learning is that it’s bringing more women into the trade union movement. How do you see the government addressing that issue of getting more women into the workforce and progressing to higher levels?

On the first point about ULRs, I think this is an extraordinary plus for the trade union movement, because it’s not just more women are coming forward, but, as I understand it, more people from ethnic minorities, more part-time workers and more younger people who would not exactly rush to take up the job of branch treasurer!

On the wider issue, we did set up the Women and Work Commission chaired by Margaret Prosser and we’ve accepted all its recommendations and they will all be implemented.

But I think the union movement could be doing more – I’ve always thought this, I thought this when I was general secretary. People like Jeannie Drake in my own union have been banging this drum for a long time and there are unions which are

AJ:

Take five: Alan outlines his top priorites at the DfES

ULRs are an extraordinary plus for the trade union movement exemplary in this like Unison, where there’s a majority of women wherever you go, which I think is a constitutional insistence.

But the trade union movement still sometimes seems like a macho world where the things that are important are the things that were important 30 years ago.

There’s no hiding the fact that back in the Post Office in the 1970s, we had a lot of battles effectively to keep women out in the sense that we didn’t want part-time workers because “they would be only doing it for pin money” – I remember those arguments.

The phase we’re at now – as the Women at Work commission has pointed out – is that all those barriers have been broken down and companies are very happy to have flexible working, but the higher up

18 » autumn 06

you go in an organisation, the harder it gets to work flexibly.

What’s the key LS: contribution you think employers should make to upskilling the workforce?

We’ve answered the basic criticism of employers, which is that they were always peripheral to the way we shaped vocational training and Apprenticeships and foundation degrees. Educationalists and ministers told them what skills they needed and by and large got it wrong!

Now the big change in the Skills Strategy is that we’ve invited employers to come centre stage with their trade unions. The skills partnership through the Sector Skills

AJ:

Read any good books lately?

Currently reading: Andrew Motion’s biography of Philip Larkin Looking forward to re-reading: AS Byatt’s Possession Holiday reading: I haven’t got round to that yet – the best part of going away is picking the books the week before you go – but it definitely won’t be Hansard!

Councils is about saying to employers: “You are now at the heart of this – you now shape the training.”

Having dealt with that, there’s still this demand problem and there are still not enough employers realising the priority of skills training which is frustrating for some of the employers’ organisations as well.

In the face of the challenge from China and India in particular, you cannot go on with this lackadaisical approach to skills. Employers had a very good point about putting employers at the heart of this – we’ve done that now with the Sector Skills Councils. Now it’s to the next phase about how we’re going to use them.

There are all kinds of things Leitch will be looking at like training levies and other issues the trade union movement have been talking about – there are no “no-go areas” as to how we galvanise skills training.

What are your top priorities at the department?

LS:First, to close the social class AJ: gap in education at all levels: the gap has closed considerably, but 75 per cent of children whose parents are professionals will get five or more decent GCSEs and only 30 per cent whose parents aren’t qualified will.

Secondly, looked-after children:

Alan Johnson« Feature «

there’s only 60,000 of them but they get a terrible deal. They have a corporate parent in the local authority who treats them like their own parents did by dumping them in the worst schools.

Thirdly, this whole agenda of adult skills has been the forgotten bit of the education system – attracting fewer resources and less interest, even though millions depend on it for their education. We will not tolerate poor provision in further education, but it’s wider than just FE, it’s about Train 2 Gain and training at the workplace.

What are the key things unionlearn can offer to help the government achieve the goals in its Skills Strategy?

We’re moving into another dimension now with the introduction of Train 2 Gain and the NVQ Level 2 entitlement and the NVQ Level 3 entitlement for 19 to 25-year-olds. This is an enormous investment by the government and an enormous reprioritisation.

In the Skills Strategy, we agreed with the TUC and CBI and interested parties that we had to tackle the scandal that 15 million adults who didn’t have the best chance at school first time around are functionally innumerate and 13 million functionally illiterate.

They’re not thick, they’re not

LS:

AJ:

stupid: they’re the product of educational under-investment for many years, mainly through the Tory years of the ’80s and early ’90s.

The trade union movement is really well placed here, because you can have all the managers and men and women in suits lecturing people and trying their best to enthuse people about picking up new skills, but the union learning rep – the person you trust, who’s got no angle in this, who gets no bonus out of it – is enormously powerful: that’s why we want to increase the number of ULRs from 14,000 at the moment to 22,000 by 2010.

Since 1997, our problem has not been supply, it’s been creating the demand from employees and employers, making this whole system demand-led and prioritising Skills for Life and Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs: it’s a new era.

Now, it might be an answer to a different question, but after 2010, we might move into another dimension because we’ve got the Leitch review of skills and Sandy Leitch has made the point in his

Alan Johnson’s CV 1950 Born in London 1968 Starts work as a postman 1976 Elected chair of local UPW branch (Slough) 1981 First elected to UCW executive 1987 Elected UCW full-time officer 1992 Elected UCW general secretary 1995 Becomes joint general secretary of CWU when UCW merges with NCU

1997 Elected MP for Kingston Upon Hull West and Hessle

2004 Appointed Work and Pensions Secretary 2005 Appointed Trade and industry Secretary 2006 Appointed Education and Skills Secretary. interim report that 70 per cent of the 2020 workforce are already out there – which is really startling.

The Leitch review is likely to crank us up to another dimension beyond 2010, and I think your time has come.

For more information, visit Alan Johnson: www.alanjohnson.org DfES: www.dfes.gov.uk Women at Work commission: www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/women_work_commission Leitch review of skills: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/leitch_review/ review_leitch_index.cfm

autumn 06 «

19

» Interview » John Walsh

Speaking up for apprentices

Photo: Simon Clark

By Martin Moriarty

20 » autumn 06

BAe engineer John Walsh has been telling government ministers how to improve Apprenticeships for everyone involved.

This is what he’s been saying.

John Walsh « Interview«

P

utting the world to rights over a drink at the end of the day is a timehonoured way of letting off steam about your job, your boss or even (whisper it!) your work colleagues.

But what do you say when you get a genuine chance to talk directly to someone with the power to implement real change for the better – someone like a government minister?

That’s what BAe engineer John Walsh had to think about when he was invited to the Department of Education and Skills earlier this year to address the apprenticeships ministerial steering group, chaired by skills minister Phil Hope.

The 22-year-old Amicus activist – who finished his own four-year Apprenticeship at Europe’s largest defence company earlier this year – leapt at the chance to air a young trade unionist’s views on the training agenda.

“I think that if there’s any way you can change government policy on Apprenticeships, then it’s in a meeting with a senior government minister on the issue,” John says.

It was “a little bit nervewracking,” he admits. “It was the first time I’d sat down with

ministers and tried to influence their opinion on such a massive subject.”

John gave a ten-minute presentation on his own experience at BAe Systems, where he was taken on as an Apprentice at the age of 18.

“At BAE, on day one you’re introduced to your union rep, who’s there to look after your rights and any concerns that you might have, which really helps you feel like you have real support when you start,” he told the meeting.

Union support continues through the rest of the programme, he pointed out. “Since the union pushed for direct feedback forums with senior tutors, there are now regular meetings between the union, the training department and senior tutors and assessors to make sure things are going smoothly and to iron out any problems.”

After his presentation, John fielded a series of questions from the ministerial steering group on national policy issues.

He’s keen to correct some of the common misconceptions about Apprenticeships, such as the one that they’re only appropriate for the less academically-inclined.

At BAe Systems, you’re introduced to your union rep on day one

What I told the minister We need to challenge popular misconceptions about Apprenticeships: we must get the message across that Apprenticeships are important and that Apprentices can make a real contribution.

We’re must take action to ensure that more young black people end up with a job at the end of their Apprenticeship.

We must close the pay gap between male and female Apprentices, which is much wider than that between their full-time counterparts.

We need to address the root causes of why fewer than half of Apprentices complete their Apprenticeships: low pay is forcing some people to take a second job and others to quit early for better-paid work.

Excluding Apprenticeship pay rates from the National Minimum Wage regulations offers a loophole to bad employers: the government should review the exemption.

“Companies only tend to take the best students who apply, and I can’t think of a better way to get an equivalent qualification to a degree, especially considering you’re getting an extremely decent wage in many cases and your vocational experience as well as your academic studies are paid for.”

While the government is keen to keep increasing the numbers involved in higher education, John’s convinced that university isn’t the only route for young people keen to get on.

“Speaking for myself, I don’t think I’d have done particularly well if I’d have followed a purely academic route,” he says.

John was particularly wellqualified to outline the trade union view on Apprenticeships, not only as a product of the system at BAe but also as chair of the Amicus young members’ committee, chair of the TUC young members’ forum and the young members’ representative on TUC General Council.

“I absolutely enjoy the union work: I do come from a strong trade union background but we’ve also got such a strong structure in the workplace that I was always aware of what was going on,” he explains.

Right now, he’s preparing for a return trip to DfES headquarters in Westminster in the autumn for a follow-up meeting with the ministerial group.

“I’ve been invited back in September to come up with some more ideas to change policy: there’s lots of equalities problems, including the gender pay gap and the different completion rates for different minority ethnic groups, so I hope I can do justice to this massive subject and help achieve something,” he says.

autumn 06 «

21

» feature » London 2012

On your

marks Closing the skills gap in time for the Olympic Games in 2012 is the goal of a new unionlearn team

B

efore a sporting event is even publicised in the 2012 London Olympics, the TUC’s unionlearn Olympic team is limbering up to clear a number of learning hurdles.

Barry Francis, unionlearn regional manager Southern and Eastern TUC, is heading up the team, and says there is much ground to cover if the race to leave the capital with a learning legacy is to be met.

“It’s early days yet but there is a large agenda with lots of key people to talk to about various strands and lots of work to do,” admits Barry.

These key people include Seb Coe, chair of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), which is responsible for the preparation and staging of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Speaking at the launch of unionlearn this year Seb Coe said: “It’s central to the completion on time and to budget to have highly skilled people. That is why I am so grateful that unionlearn, dealing specifically with in-work training,

22 » autumn 06

is going to play such an important part in delivering a Games that we can all be proud of.”

And unions will have an input on learning and skills through their TUC representative on the London 2012 Employment and Skills Task Force.

One of the first people Barry and Iain Murray, senior policy officer at the TUC, will meet is Sandra Scott, the new skills champion appointed by the Sector Skills Development Agency, a government body tasked with ensuring employers have the skilled workers they need to boost UK productivity “We’ll be meeting with her to put across our point of view and explain about how unions can help make the Olympic and

The truth is there won’t be many unions who won’t be involved at some point

London 2012 « feature «

photos: London 2012

Paralympic Games successful,” Barry says.

Sandra Scott will work with employers, government and organisations, including the TUC, to help ensure the right people with the right skills are in place at every stage of the process.

Sandra says: “We need to harness the energy and enthusiasm that the Games bring to ensure that improvements to the UK’s skills and productivity levels continue long after they have finished.”

Barry Francis says unions are also eager to find out how £20m for training women in the labour market for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games set aside by LOCOG will be spent.

In addition much preparation for the Games will also be carried out by migrant workers which will also require union input.

“There is a wide agenda with lots of money being spent. Obviously there will be a role for unions in construction and for unions beyond that while unions representing hotel, tourism, hospitality and leisure staff

Sandra Scott

clearly have a role to play, especially around learning and workforce development.

“Similarly, BECTU will have a big role to play in the audio-visual, film and TV sectors, and we will be supporting colleagues on Sector Skills Councils, such as Skillset, who will have a significant influence on the development of the work around the Games.”

And, says Barry: “We shouldn’t forget the 70,000 volunteers who will also need training and personal development. The teaching unions will also see the Games having a big impact on the way children view learning and the Professional Footballers Association is keen to help promote sport and learning.

“In fact the truth is that there won’t be many unions who won’t be involved at some stage or other,” says Barry.

“This is an opportunity, not just for London, but for the whole country and we want to ensure that not only are the Games the best, but also that the legacy they leave behind is also the best that can be achieved.”

Skills championships “Succeeding in the skills sector takes just as much dedication, determination and hard work as academic studies,” says Chris Humphries, chair of UK Skills, the organisation which led the UK bid for World Skills.

WorldSkills, an event featuring skills as diverse as hairdressing, welding and landscaping, will be held in London in October 2011.

Some 700 young people from 40 nations will compete in the event, which includes 40 different skills.

The aim is to raise the profile and status of vocational skills, technicians and specialist crafts to a wider audience. Successful competitors are awarded medals, as in the Olympics.

“For too long the vocational route has been seen as inferior to academic studies, but succeeding in the skills sector takes just as much dedication, determination and hard work,” says Chris.

autumn 06 «

23

» Feature » Adult Learners’ Week

Access all ad From First Aid to French lessons, learners tried their hand at hundreds of new courses laying down a foundation for a life of learning

Home help When Julie Haynes, ULR at Remploy Barking, decided to run a programme of taster sessions aimed at raising awareness in lifelong learning courses available at local colleges she looked no further than fellow shop floor workers.

Colleagues were asked to demonstrate their skills to work colleagues at a series of threeday events at the factory.

The end result was fantastic

Staff at Hoppers bakery in Herne Bay, Kent, tried out some bite size courses in everything from IT to beauty treatments and making floral buttonholes and flower displays.

The centre has been set up with help from the BFAWU union and some extra funding through the Trade Union Fund South East (Tufse).

24 » autumn 06

with Julie and colleague Heather Berwick successfully encouraging five colleagues to run taster sessions on subjects such as the art of gardening, nail boutique, making jewellery, first aid and a guide to good practice and standards in food safety and hygiene Julie has launched a book swapping initiative and also had the local college run ICT, English and Maths taster sessions.

Off the shelf USDAW in the south west organised events around two supermarkets to mark ALW. At Sainsbury’s in Worle, Weston-super-Mare, the union marked the success of its scheme in which mobile ULRs support instore ULRs, with a celebration for staff who passed national literacy tests.

The event also offered the chance for new staff to take up the learning on offer and for other learners to move on to progression courses.

And at the Co-op distribution warehouse at Wellington, the union opened a new onsite learning centre in which staff took up the chance to try out Skills for Life training.

Adult Learners’ Week « Feature

dults Learning champions ULRs put disability at the heart of the learning agenda Amicus hosted a special pub quiz for Scope staff in north London as part of ALW. Scope is a charity with a mission to drive the change to make our society the first where disabled people achieve equality. Amicus works in partnership with Scope through its Disability Champions at Work Project.

The quiz night helped highlight the training and development agenda for staff at Scope and the challenges of people with disabilities in the workplace.

John Mcgann, Scope volunteer, said: “I am fortunate to have a degree and a good education.

However, when I get an interview the moment that I walk through the door the interview is over (I have cerebral palsy).

The interviewer has already made his/her mind up.

I don’t feel that I will ever get a job because of prejudice… it is pure and simple disablism…I get the interview but never the job. I am glad that through the disability

champions project that trade unions are taking forward this agenda to try to increase social inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, this quiz was great fun and I had a really lovely evening.”

George Lamb, Amicus ULR, who organised the event, said: “This was a really fun event and really helped to highlight what the trade unions can do to address the learning agenda and disability champions project in this sector. They provide signposts for staff via ULRs to training and development opportunities and in social inclusion, many of which are of no cost to the organisation!”

Blackpool Council hosted an award ceremony at which 50 employees received literacy and ITC certificates following the completion of courses designed to improve their skills.

ULR co-ordinator Elizabeth Bullen and fellow ULRs have encouraged and supported union members to take up training opportunities, particularly aimed at frontline workers.

Employees from the Council’s street scene services, who had no previous formal qualifications or experience with computers, have now completed an English Using Computers course.

As well as the achievements of the street scene service employees, Skills for Life awareness raising days have increased the confidence of employees working in other areas.

“Not everyone had the confidence to identify training needs with line managers but the ULRs are in the unique position to offer information and advice. This has been demonstrated in that the most reluctant of staff are now taking up learning opportunities,” says Elizabeth.

A learning café opened its doors to staff at Ashford International Railway Station during ALW. The object of the exercise was to entice railway staff working for South East Trains and Eurostar into trying out learning by offering free refreshments to those prepared to undertake a Skills for Life assessment, chat in French, or discuss a book they had been reading.

autumn 06 «

25

» Feature » Adult Learners’ Week

Access all adults

Quiz Over 80 people found out about training and learning opportunities at the first Learning at Work Day held at the British Library in Boston Spa. PCS north organiser Sarah Wood-Ripley and local ULR Marjorie Newson organised a learning quiz and questionnaire.

Not strictly dancing Salsa dancing and sculptures in clay were some of the trial sessions offered to staff at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Southend thanks to Amicus ULRs. They went all out to make sure staff at RBS Thanet Grange had some fun learning opportunities during ALW, working with a local

college to offer the free taster courses.

And learners appreciated the event: “I had a brilliant time – more please,” said a learner from the yoga course. “Konnichiwa Nikki san! Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Japanese lesson!” remarked another.

“We had such a good laugh in our Salsa class, what a great activity to bring a little light relief to work,” added another colleague. ULRs are now in negotiation with the local college to provide onsite tutors to hold regular work-based learning for staff.

A taste of Claret

Men from the shop floor at Quest International, Bromborough, in the north west joined female colleagues for some wellearned TLC with hand massages and manicures during ALW. They were treated as part of a range of taster courses offered to staff, which also included healthy eating awareness sessions and making hanging baskets and patio plants.

26 » autumn 06

More than 30 workers from Rastrick High in Yorkshire and Humberside region had a go at 45-minute taster sessions at the Claret learning centres during ALW. The courses included everything from yoga, maths, interior design to digital photography and a large variety of IT courses.

Since the centre has now been awarded ITQ status, the day also gave ULRs the opportunity to

discuss the new qualification with employees and how they can take this in the work place.

What other course would you like to do?

5% 5% 9% 9% 9% 22% 8% 5%

9%

9%

5% 5%

Aerobics Child care Digital photography eBay First aid French Interior design Italian Reiki Spanish Weight management Yoga

Adult Learners’ Week « Feature

News in brief ULRs organised a learning day at the Post Office sorting office in Fulwood Preston when activities included first aid sessions given by the onsite first aid trainers. They also ran a quiz and a ‘name the skeleton’ competition. The CWU also had a stand giving union information and course details.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals and the GMB union launched a BookSWAP scheme on the company’s Bradford site. Employees donated over 300 books and the union and company provided a range of additional new titles.

Spanish and IT taster courses were held at the Brighton Learning Centre with some great results. “I came to support my sister and I enjoyed the ECDL session so much I am going to sign up for the course!” said learner Donna Rose.

Write on ULRs from across the Derbyshire area came together at Bombardier Transportation during ALW and marked their network meeting with news of a special campaign.

The reps heard about a new BBC Reading and Writing (RaW) campaign project in the East Midlands.

The project is running in partnership with unionlearn and funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

The campaign hopes to encourage ULRs to set up book

swaps and reading groups in their workplaces.

Helen Sykes, from the East Midlands BBC RaW campaign and Paresh Patel, unionlearn project worker, delivered a joint presentation to the ULRs about the campaign and how they can drive this forward in their workplaces.

Each workplace ULR was given a set of 12 Quick Read books, with authors ranging from Ruth Rendell to Richard Branson, and the accompanying booklet Make it Work to help them drive the campaign forward.

Oasis Art and Craft in Kidderminster opened its doors to learning with Amicus (GPM Sector) and Kidderminster College hosting a learning day. The company showed its commitment to lifelong learning by agreeing to release employees during a particularly busy work period.

autumn 06 «

27

» Update » ULF

Key players As a wave of new ULF projects gets underway the role of ULRs is increasingly crucial Unions are stepping up their commitment to their members and lifelong learning through a whole range of projects, which kicked off in April.

And at the heart of almost every new project is an emphasis on strengthening the position of the ULR and improving ULR networks.

This demonstrates repeatedly the vital role ULRs play in helping to bring learning to their work colleagues.

Unions as diverse as those representing rail staff, the NUJ, BFAWU, finance and banking unions, the FBU, NASUWT, the NUT and the POA are all seeking to improve and increase their networks of ULRs through the latest round of projects.

And in the 2007/8 Prospectus for Round 10 ULF funding, the training and development of ULRs is cited as one of the seven themes under which unions can apply for support.

In the prospectus, unionlearn states: “The role of ULRs needs to be mainstreamed within the union

Sporting chance The Professional Footballers’ Association ULF project covers the major sports trade unions and is designed to integrate trained learning champions into clubs to develop them as learning organisations.

The project hopes to have ULRs in at least six professional football clubs, two rugby union clubs and two county cricket clubs by 2007.

Said project manager Alan Irwin: “In a precarious industry ULRs will have a crucial role to assist workers in accessing education and training opportunities that are

28 » autumn 06

and incorporated into bargaining structures. Working towards this is an essential feature and focus of union activity and will be a crucial element in sustaining the work commenced within ULF projects.”

Other themes under which unions can bid for funding in the Round 10 prospectus are skills for

The role of ULRs needs to be mainstreamed in unions and incorporated into bargaining structures work, progression and professional development, ICT and e-learning, technical infrastructure development, supporting sector based union initiatives and cross cutting themes – such as working with employers to agree partnership approaches to learning and promoting and demonstrating commitment to equality and diversity in learning.

Alan is pictured centre with Osher Williams, PFA, Project Worker, left and Pat Lally, PFA, Education Officer.

relevant to sport.”

Alan said there are significant barriers to learning in the professional sports industry

Key goals of ULF

» Building union organisation and growth » Promoting equality » Building the union contribution to learning and skills » Improving the quality of workplace learning » Building the knowledge and intelligence base » Raising the profile of learning and skills in unions and pressure to succeed is paramount with everything taking second place to sporting success.

But the project ultimately aims to have a ULR assigned to each club, liaising regularly with players and reporting back to PFA Education.

Education « Update «

Feel the quality High standards and innovation are the hallmarks of TUC Education The launch of unionlearn took place at a time when learning and training for union reps and professionals reached its highest since records began.

And with 10 consecutive Adult Learning Inspectorate Grade 1 reports and an unrivalled reputation for quality and innovation in adult education, TUC Education looks well-placed to take advantage of the fresh opportunities offered by the new structure for all the TUC’s work on learning.

Did you know?

99% of union representatives who have been trained in recruitment and organising say their recruitment efforts have been successful in the last year.

Figures for 2005 rose by 9.3 per cent from 2004 to a total of 46,502, the highest level of student participation ever.

Union professionals’ training also soared, with an increase in programmes tailored for individual unions.

TUC Education now offers training to more than one in five of the UK’s 220,000 union workplace representatives each year and there has been a steady demand for the range of core courses, an expansion of tailored courses for individual affiliates, a booming short course programme and a healthy ULR programme.

A key intention during the coming year is to promote TUC Education’s online service to unions wishing to develop a high quality online service. Large and

small unions are already using the service to produce new training programmes.

“We’re really proud of TUC Education and the service it provides. We know the reps’ role is complex and challenging, and that the training we offer really helps them deliver in the workplace,” says Frances O’Grady, TUC deputy general secretary.

Added Liz Rees, unionlearn trade union education manager: “We need to thank key people who have contributed to this – the union education officers across the country, who drive up demand for rep training; the TUC tutors, who work so hard and so creatively to ensure reps get the most they can out of their courses; and the reps themselves, who do all this on top of their jobs and their home responsibilities and who still manage to surprise with what they achieve.”

During 2005 TUC Education trained 3,571 ULRs.

Training for union officers includes the annual Women Officers’ Summer School, held in London. This year 17 women officers from nine unions took part in the event, which covered employment law, pensions, organising, equalities, negotiating and action planning. Women MPs held a reception for the school at the House of Commons. “I feel inspired and valued,” commented one participant. “This course has been an excellent source of information and has given me space to think about how I do my job in the future,” added another.

autumn 06 «

29

» Update » Equal

Sonia sees

red Sonia Mullins, TGWU ULR and bus driver at Metroline Bus Garage, Harlesden, couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw a traditional 98 Routemaster bus in the middle of Finland.

Sonia saw red while attending the Agents for Change conference as part of the EQUAL project in Tampere, Finland.

The conference looked at diversity, equality, and Access to Learning.

Also in the party were Barry Francis, unionlearn regional manager, Bert Clough, unionlearn national officer for research and strategy, and Joe Fearnehough, who heads up unionlearn’s EQUAL High Road Project.

Bert Clough said the event offered a unique opportunity for ULRs to

We’ll take the High Road The study visit formed part of the ‘transnational’ work of the TUC’s High Road Programme, which has links with partners in Finland, Austria and France. High Road is an innovative programme, led by the TUC, that seeks to build on the proven capacity of union learning representatives to act as learning advocates/intermediaries. It is aimed at improving the learning opportunities of those most excluded from the labour market.

The event offered a unique opportunity for ULRs to exchange views and share ideas about their roles and training

30 » autumn 06

exchange views and share ideas about their roles and training.

The establishment of learning representatives in Finland is part of a government programme, the Finnish Adult Education Initiative (NOSTE) set up to raise the educational levels of 30 to 59 yearolds who left the education system at the earliest opportunity with no or few qualifications. There are about 350,000 Finns in this target group; most of them low skilled workers, says Bert.

The central organisation of Finnish trade unions, SAK, has been very much involved with the government in establishing the initiative. An important element in NOSTE is the role of ULRs, which is organised through SAK. They are trained by the Finnish Workers Education Association to provide information and support to help workers take up learning within NOSTE. They help their members assess their skill needs and guide them through the development of their competences. That is why they are called ‘competence pilots’.

About 600 have so far been trained out of a target of 800.

“The role of the Finnish ‘competence pilot’ is similar to that of the ULR in the UK. A major difference is that although recognition may soon be in sight, at present they do not have statutory recognition, the right to paid time off to train for and carry out their role. They do the training in their own time during weekends,” added Bert.

Q&A « Feature «

Jay knows Contact us...

If you have a question you want answered or want to take part in online discussions, please visit www.unionlearn. org.uk/discuss

Q I have been refused time off to

become a Union Learning Rep (ULR). Do you have any information on my legal rights?

A Paid time off to train as a ULR is a statutory right. Since 27 April 2003, employers must allow ULRs in union recognised workplaces to take “reasonable” time off during working hours to train for and to carry out their roles.

But this is not as simple as it looks.

There are procedures that you need to follow to secure paid time off. Firstly, you must speak to your union official, who may be able to advise you about how to go about establishing your rights through negotiation. The best way is to get your rights as a ULR set out in a learning agreement with your employer, have a look at the TUC’s model agreement www.unionlearn.org.uk/ modelagreements The TUC provides helpful information with its campaign pack Bargaining to Organise. To get a

Jay Sreedharan, unionlearn’s website officer answers some recent questions raised by site visitors

copy email your address to: etapper@tuc.org.uk and there’s more on the TUC website at: www.tuc.org.uk/b2o The way these rights can be implemented is also set out in the ACAS Code of Practice on Time off for union representatives you can download the ACAS PDF guide at http://www.acas.org.uk/media/ pdf/l/q/CP03_1.pdf.

If your employer is unreasonable in denying you time off to undertake trade union duties, it could lead ultimately to a complaint being made to an Employment Tribunal. But long before that stage is reached speak to your union who should give you advice and guidance and steer you in the right direction.

Q I’m a newcomer to the learning reps community and was hoping you can point me in the right direction to secure funding.

A Project funding can be difficult to obtain. The best route you can take

is to ask your union if they have funding agreements in place. Your union may already have Union Learning Fund (ULF) projects in progress, which you may be able to get involved in. The ULF is a great way to help unions to encourage greater take-up of learning at work, and boost their capacity as learning organisations. It has been managed by the Learning and Skills Council for the past eight years and has supported over 400 projects. It proves to be a year on year success.

There are also regional funds in the Northern Region, South West and East Midlands. Local Learning and Skills Councils can also provide some funding for workplace learning projects. Ask your union and find out if they have a union learning fund project within your area. For more information on ULF visit http://www.unionlearningfund. org.uk

Free books and DVD for Learning Rep readers

Giveaways

» How to change your life in 7 steps John Bird We have 10 copies of John Bird’s book How to change your life in 7 steps (see interview on page 8) to give away.

The first 10 readers that apply for a copy on our website will get one each.

» The TUC – from the General Strike to the New Unionism Robert Taylor And we have copies of Robert Taylor’s book The TUC – from the General Strike to the New Unionism for any reader who signs up on the unionlearn website. “substantial, authoritative, lucid and well written . . . a brilliant piece of scholarship” Geoffrey Goodman, former industrial editor Daily Mirror

You’ll have to be quick to get one of the 10 copies of John Bird’s book, but we hope to have further Quick Reads titles in future editions of Learning Rep. But you can order not only Robert Taylor’s book, but also our new DVD Welcome to unionlearn and more copies of the Learning Rep. To get your free books and DVD simply complete the order form on unionlearn’s website at: www.unionlearn.org.uk/freebooks where you can also sign up for our regular email alerts.

Go to www.unionlearn.org.uk/freebooks autumn 06 «

31

» contacts

unionlearn contacts All TUC email addresses are letter/surname@tuc.org.uk eg: lsmith@tuc.org.uk All Congress House numbers begin with 020 7079 followed by four digits

» unionlearn

» Midlands team

» Union contacts

Tel: 020 7079 6920 Fax: 020 7079 6921 Liz Smith, Director Denise Doherty, Secretary, 020 7079 6926

0121 236 3327 Mary Alys, Regional Manager Gary O’Donnell, Union Development Coordinator Pete Try, Regional Education Officer

Tom Beattie Amicus 020 8462 7755 tom.beattie@amicustheunion.org Mark Holding ATL 020 7782 1596 mholding@atl.org.uk Trish Lavelle CWU 020 8971 7340 tlavelle@cwu.org Trevor Shanahan FBU 07917 759473 trevor.shanahan@fbu.org.uk Jennifer Moses, Stephen Smith NASUWT 0121 453 6150 lifelong.learning@mail.nasuwt.org.uk Andrew Parry Williams NUT 020 7380 4800/4780 learning.reps@nut.org.uk David McEvoy PCS 020 7801 2727 ext 5208 david.mcevoy@pcs.org.uk Andy Rowett POA 07917 699210 poaulf@yahoo.co.uk Rachel Bennett Prospect 020 7902 6287 Rachel.Bennett@prospect.org.uk Andrew Barton RCN 01962 868332 andrew.barton@rcn.org.uk Jim Mowatt TGWU 020 7611 2500 jmowatt@tgwu.org.uk Steve Hayes Rail unions 07720 840 276 stevehayes@rul.org.uk Jeff Hopewell UCATT 01302 364028 jhopewell@ucatt.org.uk Pam Johnson Unison 020 7551 1267 pam.johnson@unison.org.uk Barry Faulkner URTU 07795 562 873 barryfurtu@yahoo.co.uk Ann Murphy USDAW 0161 224 2804 ann.murphy@usdaw.org.uk

» National unionlearn managers

» Northern team

Ian Borkett, Standards and Quality Manager, x 6940 Bert Clough, Research and Strategy Manager, x 6925 Matthew Fernandez-Graham Business and Finance Manager, x 6936 Mike Power, Communications and Marketing Manager, x 6942 Liz Rees, Trade Union Education Manager, x 6922 Judith Swift, Union Development Manager, 0151 243 2568

Barney McGill, Regional Manager 0191 227 5552 Elizabeth Killoran, Union Development Coordinator 0191 227 5557 Ian West, Regional Education Officer 0191 232 3175

» Learndirect centres 0191 227 5567 Helen Gagliasso

» Equal 0151 243 2571 Joe Fearnehough, Equal National Project Manager

» Website 020 7079 6943 Jay Sreedharan, Web Officer www.unionlearn.org.uk

» Southern and Eastern team 020 7467 1251 Barry Francis, Regional Manager Jon Tennison, Union Development Coordinator, Maggie Foy, Rob Hancock, Regional Education Officers

Supported by:

» North West team Dave Eva, Regional Manager 0151 236 2321 Tony Saunders, Union Development Coordinator, Liverpool office 0151 236 2321 Manchester office 0161 877 4407 Peter Holland, Regional Education Officer 0151 243 2564

» South West team Helen Cole, Regional Manager, 0117 947 0521 Regional Development Workers: Alan Shearn, Bristol 0117 947 0521 Geoff Hale, Cornwall 01209 611 604 Marie Hughes, Regional Education Officer 0117 933 4443

» Yorkshire and Humberside team 0113 245 4909 Alan Roe, Regional Manager Marion Simon, Union Development Coordinator Trevor Sargison, Regional Education Officer