Learning Works, Summer 2011

Learning Works www.unionlearn.org.uk/southwest

In this issue »

Become a Union Learning Rep p.6 »

» News from unionlearn with the South West TUC Summer 2011 View from the inside p.7 »

MBE for learning project worker p.8 »

“ I was just doing my job” modest lifesaver Tim dismisses bravery Turn to page three to read how Tim Benn (far right) saved the life of colleague Roger Allsop (right).

Unsung heroes step into spotlight Awards ceremony a great success as South West TUC pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of the region’s reps, writes Phil Chamberlain

Friends, family and work colleagues filled The Armada House in Bristol in May to pay tribute to South West union reps who were honoured for their work.

Among them was Kev Maggs, GMB Union Learning Rep, A&P Falmouth whose passion and commitment has been crucial in ensuring all employees at the Falmouthbased ship repairer – one of Europe’s biggest – have the opportunity to access learning and training.

Also honoured were an equalities rep from Gloucestershire and an environmental rep from Dorset.

You can read their inspiring stories inside.

In total 13 people and two groups were recognised at the first South West TUC union rep awards.

The awards were presented by a range of dignitaries including those from Equality South West and the Health and Safety Executive and Janice Fine, a union organiser from America.

Joanne Kaye, Unison Regional Secretary and Vice Chair at South West TUC, said:

Kev Maggs receiving his ULR award from unionlearn Regional Manager Helen Cole. Photo: Clint Randall

“There were more than 100 nominations and some fantastic stories about the work that goes on.”

The winners each received an engraved piece of Bristol Blue Glass while those highly commended were awarded a piece of Tolpuddle memorabilia.

Learning Works Summer 2011

Unions get Arty!

CWU in Swindon are spearheading a World of Work event in conjunction with other unions in the town.

poetry and learning opportunities and fun workshops from unionlearn and New College, Swindon.

12th November, 10:00 – 4:00, STEAM, Swindon, FREE EVENT

This will be a brilliant opportunity to showcase the creativity of Trade Unions and their members through art.

An exhibition of union members’ artwork, stalls, kids events, speakers, music,

Further information will be available soon.

Union reps praised for selfless work in the South West The strength and depth of union reps in the South West is evident not just from those who won awards but also the quality of the people Highly Commended.

Indeed, for five categories there were seven winners as two people shared awards.

One of those categories where the highly commended award was shared was for learning rep. Janita Hills, from Below: Nick Caines is presented with his highly commended award for his role as Equalities Rep by Liz Payne-Ahmadi, Chair of Equality South West. Helen Cole, unionlearn Regional Manager, presents the Union Learning Rep Highly Commended award to Janita Hills (far right).

Photos: Clint Randall

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the NASUWT teaching union. Janita works for South Gloucestershire Council and was nominated for promoting the philosophy of work-life balance for all school staff, covering a variety of different trade unions through a variety of learning events.

She shared that award with Tim Heward, from Unite, who works for Glatfelter Paper Mill in Lydney, Gloucestershire. Tim helped set up a

successful skills and learning centre in the workplace with the support of Skills for the Future.

From nearby Clevedon, Unison’s Nick Caines, who works for Liberata, was highly commended in his work as an Equalities Rep. Nick set up a branch LGBT group which has done much to raise issues relevant to members and helped advise the employer and the local authority.

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Tim carried his stricken colleague a distance of approximately 1,000m – in an extraordinary feat of courage and strength which undoubtedly saved Roger’s life.

Hero Tim carries friend to safety after ammonia explosion Roger Allsop cannot remember the moment when burning ammonia sprayed from a faulty valve into his face, but he knows he is alive only because of the courage of his workmate and friend Tim Benn.

The engineers were carrying out routine maintenance on a large refrigeration unit at Unilever in Barnwood, Gloucester when a valve exploded, covering them in ammonia.

Both were hit, but Unite member Roger took the full force of the toxic chemical in his face and eyes.

Tim carried his stricken colleague up a ladder, across a landing, down three flights of stairs and across a road to an emergency shower – a total distance of approximately 1,000m – in an extraordinary feat of courage and strength which undoubtedly saved Roger’s life.

Roger was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. He was blind for weeks and, although he has recovered, his sight is impaired and he has no sense of taste or smell.

To this day he remembers nothing of the incident. Tim still suffers flashbacks.

Tim’s bravery was recognised at the first South West TUC awards in Bristol in June,

Gavin Roberts from Thompsons Solicitors (left) presenting Tim Benn with his award.

where he received a standing ovation when he collected a special award.

that dreadful day: we are pleased to be able to use this occasion to say ‘Thank you’.

Softly spoken and obviously embarrassed at the accolade, Tim told the audience: “I was only doing my job.”

“Trade unions have worked hard over generations to make work safer but people still get hurt and killed. Roger would have been another killed-at-work statistic had it not been for Tim’s determination to get him to the treatment that saved his life.”

Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, said: “Tim showed real courage and solidarity to his workmate on

Apprentice wins Young Engineer award A Unite member who is restoring a record-breaking helicopter has been named as Young Engineer of the Year.

stood for 14 years. Brendan is getting the helicopter ready in time for the 25th anniversary of the speed feat in August.

Brendan Burr is an apprentice at Agusta Westland in Yeovil, Somerset.

The apprenticeship involves Brendan experiencing a range of placements around the business.

The young apprentice received his prize at the Manufacturing Technologies Association’s annual dinner where the inaugural Manufacturing Industry Awards were presented.

His nomination cited Brendan’s consistently high standard of work and academic achievements.

At the moment he is restoring the Westland Lynx helicopter (pictured right) which, in 1986, set the absolute speed record for such a craft at 249mph. That record

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Learning Works Summer 2011

South West TUC

Union Rep Awards We pay tribute to winners in the South West TUC's first awards for union reps at The Armada House in Bristol.

Campaigning Award Nicholas & Harris Bakery union reps, GMB, Salisbury, Wiltshire GMB reps at Nicholas & Harris have worked hard to embed the union as an essential part of the company’s operations. The result has been a great takeup in learning from the bakery’s workforce.

“With the growing employment

Union Learning Rep Award Kev Maggs, GMB Union Learning Rep, A&P Falmouth Embedding a sustainable learning culture at a company takes the efforts of many people but one of the most important individuals is the union learning rep.

At A&P Falmouth, that person is Kev Maggs, whose passion and commitment has been crucial in ensuring all employees at the Falmouth-based ship repairer – one of Europe’s biggest – have the opportunity to access learning and training.

As well as negotiating with the company, which was very supportive of the GMB’s Marine Skills project, Kev also played

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“The GMB encouraged the employer to provide training and professional development for employees, with paid release for many courses. This led to learning agreements and a recognition agreement signed in 2010.” of migrant workers, mainly from Poland and Iraq, membership grew and, through providing education, the relationship between the company and the GMB improved,” says steward Piotr Synowiec.

The union has played a vital role in embedding a culture of work-based learning

a vital role in engaging employees throughout the dockyard in the idea of training. The project looks at the particular training needs of companies and individuals in the marine sector.

In September 2009, he organised two open days, the first of which attracted more than 70 people and the second more than 80. The result is that more than 70 people have undertaken in excess of 120 learning programmes from NVQs to conversational Spanish, contract law and car body repairs.

“Some people have been able to gain a qualification for a job they have undertaken for years at the company, and with the numeracy and literacy improvements, have been able to understand their pay slip for the first time,” he says.

at Nicholas & Harris, which uses traditional skills and prides itself on the superior quality of its products.

Piotr explains: “The GMB encouraged the employer to provide training and professional development for employees, with paid release for many courses.

This led to learning agreements and a recognition agreement signed in 2010.

“As well as ESOL [English for speakers of other languages], literacy and numeracy, workers are taking up NVQs and apprenticeships. This year we have 107 people doing some form of training.

“We were keen to develop learning for our members and they really enjoy the courses because it boosts their confidence and integration in the community, as well as in the workplace.”

As well as encouraging learners to enrol in courses, Kev also supports them during training, and says the learning project contributes to a healthy dialogue between himself and other employees which helps maintain union membership.

Environmental Award Sally Childs, UNISON, NHS, Dorchester, Dorset

a number of initiatives from Green Office Weeks to installing recycling facilities, encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work and identifying green champions in the office.

Sally Childs says it was by accident that she ended up involved as an environmental rep.

It was her Director of Finance who encouraged Sally to take up the challenge of greening their workplaces.

If her initial engagement was not planned, it has certainly been fortuitous as she has spearheaded a series of initiatives that have been a revolution in her workplace.

Sally, who is Dorset born and has worked in Dorchester for 22 years, said: "There was a local TUC workshop about green issues and I got much more involved after that.”

The Unison rep works for the NHS in Dorchester, Dorset. She has put in place

Simple ideas such as getting people to think twice about what they did with their office waste proved to be very productive.

“There was a local TUC workshop about green issues and I got much more involved after that”

Equalities Award Maureen Williams, USDAW, Tesco, Quedgeley, Gloucestershire Equalities Award winner Maureen Williams has forged a reputation as an energetic union activist with a particular passion for battling injustice, discrimination and prejudice.

“We’re all fighting for the same cause – to stamp out racism and discrimination in the workplace” “I’ve seen disabled people being isolated and left out in the cold just because they’re not part of the normal clique. It’s wrong and it shouldn’t happen,” says the USDAW shop steward who works at Tesco’s Quedgeley store in Gloucestershire.

“And racism too; people are aware of the issues but it’s still happening in the workplace. We will not tolerate it.”

“I'm really pleased that people have got involved,” says Sally. "There has been a real change in culture.”

The many initiatives that Sally has promoted have led to, what she hopes,

is a permanent shift in attitudes to environmental concerns in the NHS in Dorchester.

Maureen’s award was for her successful campaigning work to raise awareness of equality issues. She’s held a number of events, with titles such as Freedom from Fear, Legal Plus and Discrimination & Equality, covering topics from the rights of working parents and carers to members’ rights in the workplace and the union support available in cases of discrimination.

Maureen is pleased with how well both her colleagues and her employer have reacted to her campaigns. “There’s been a very positive response to these campaigns, they went down quite well, and personnel was quite happy for me to do them too,” she says.

“The campaigns have improved members’ understanding around equalities issues and also, I hope, given confidence to people facing discrimination to raise their concerns with the union.

“They are a step closer to getting staff at my workplace to stop stereotyping people and show respect for all staff, regardless of their sex, ethnic origin, creed, colour, religion or sexual orientation.”

Her campaigning work – inside and outside the workplace – takes up a great deal of time but it seems this energetic, generous-hearted woman will go to great lengths in her battle against injustice and discrimination.

“It’s a challenge but it’s very important,” she says. “We’re all fighting for the same cause – to stamp out racism and discrimination in the workplace.”

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Learning Works Summer 2011

Become a Union Learning Rep If you have been inspired by the stories of the award winners in this edition of Learning Works then perhaps you might want to become a Union Learning Rep (ULR).

All ULRs are given training for their role through courses provided by the TUC and individual unions. The TUC courses are all accredited through the Open College Network.

Photo: Alain Lockyer

ULRs are doing much to boost the image of their union at the workplace. They are showing the positive effects learning can have for workers and employers.

For those interested, the first step is to discuss it with your union branch, shop steward committee or your full-time officer.

The TUC provides training for all ULRs based on three core units: ■■ front-line advice and guidance ■■ identifying learning needs ■■ working with employers.

In five days ULRs can complete two units.

The remaining unit could comprise a workplace assignment and an additional day of guided learning. Each course will be tailored to meet the needs of the ULRs attending the course.

You should also check what training your own union is offering. Contact your union’s education department or your fulltime officer.

For more information see: www.unionlearn.org.uk/ulr/index.cfm

UK needs better skills – and unionlearn can provide them Unionlearn has a key role in improving the skills of the UK’s workforce, both now and in the future. That was the message from Tom Wilson, Director of unionlearn, addressing the All Together For Skills conference organised in Bristol by unionlearn South West.

More than 60 delegates attended the conference, a practical mix of speakers and workshops with the emphasis on sustaining union work on skills and learning.

Tom Wilson warned that the UK needed better work skills to prosper. Half of future jobs were forecast to be in the top three occupational groups – managers & senior officials, professional occupations, and associate professional and technical occupations – with unqualified jobs expected to comprise just 10% of the workforce.

Already 90% of all jobs required some information technology skills.

However, obstacles included low employer demand and funding for training. Around 40% of public sector workers receive 6

training but only 22% of those in the private sector.

Mainstreaming learning in economic and working life was vital for people and prosperity, he said.

Analysing learning or training needs ■■ This could, for example, include

understanding the different methods for identifying learning interests or needs, being able to effectively identify and record individual learning needs or being able to draw up a plan to meet identified learning requirements.

■■ Providing information and advice about

learning or training matters including, for example, the development of communication and interviewing skills ■■ Knowledge of available opportunities,

in order to be able to provide accurate information to members about learning opportunities within and outside the workplace ■■ The ability to signpost members to

other sources of advice and guidance

where additional support is needed, for example, basic skills tutors or fuller in-depth professional career guidance.

Arranging and supporting learning and training For example, obtaining and providing information on learning opportunities including e-learning where available, supporting and encouraging members to access learning opportunities and helping to develop and improve local learning opportunities Promoting the value of learning and training Some examples of this activity could be: understanding current initiatives for the development of learning and skills in the workplace, promoting the value of learning to members and within trade union networks and structures, working with employers to meet the learning and skills needs of both individuals and the organisation and appreciating the value of learning agreements and how they may be developed.

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Due to the success of POA Learning nationally delegates voted unanimously to commence negotiations with local prison managers in all prisons in the UK with the aim of opening POA Learning Centres in every establishment.

View from the inside

Andy Harding looks back at the first year of Dartmoor Prison’s learning centre

Funded by Prison Officers’ Association Learning and unionlearn South West, HMP Dartmoor’s learning centre was opened in April 2010, and provides mainly free learning and up-skilling opportunities.

The centre has ten computers and internet connections as well as printers and scanners for universal use.

The most popular free up-skilling courses are: ■■ Basic IT – UK Online ■■ Advanced IT ■■ OU Courses – via Open Learn ■■ Over 37 Languages to choose from ■■ Diploma Level Courses

UK Online basic it training has proved very successful with staff with 149 learners signed up in the past twelve months.

The Open University Open Learn website has similarly proved very successful with 26 learners registering for units ranging from law to psychology to counselling.

The varying IT learning based opportunities offered by www.alison.com has also proved popular with staff. Six staff have registered

Andy Harding. Photo: Clint Randall

to study a diploma in Project Management as well as another 22 staff registering for other IT-based courses in Excel etc. Since April there have been a total of 121 learner starts.

HMP Dartmoor now has a total of four Union Learning Reps thanks to the development of the Learning Centre with two reps from the POA, one of which is the local POA

Outcomes 1

Outcomes 2

n Contractual planned outputs: 100 Learner Starts

n Greater interest in adult learning within the establishment since the opening of the ULC.

n Actual outputs: 276 Learner Starts in the previous 12 months n Six staff registered with ‘Courses for you’ to undertake ECDL. n Forty staff registered to undertake language learning.

Right: Sally Woods, POA Branch Secretary outside HMP Dartmoor.

Photo: Clint Randall

Chairperson; one rep from PCS and the other from Prospect.

Due to the success of POA Learning nationally delegates voted unanimously to commence negotiations with local prison managers in all prisons in the UK with the aim of opening POA Learning Centres in every establishment.

n Greater awareness of how POA Learning plays a role in Union Learning. n Slight increase in POA Union membership over the past twelve months. n Building bridges with the local community. n Positive partnerships with local management in relation to POA Learning and staff training.

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Learning Works Summer 2011

MBE for GMB learning project worker Ian Northam Congratulations have been pouring in after it was announced that GMB Southern Project Worker Ian Northam has been awarded an MBE for services to lifelong learning.

The verdict from all is that the MBE is thoroughly deserved and couldn’t have gone to a nicer guy.

Maggie Fellows, unionlearn Skills for the Future Fund manager, said: “Ian is incredibly committed to his work, to his colleagues and to learners. He’s the kind of person who always takes that extra step for other people and he’s an excellent project manager.

“This is a man who has shown us how to rise to tough situations and make things happen.

His energy and enthusiasm and commitment remain, even when times are very challenging.

“And the first thing everyone notices about Ian is what a nice man he is. We are absolutely delighted for him.”

Plymouth-based Ian has been a key figure in GMB Southern’s learning project team since 2007. He was central to the successful development of the state-of-the-art learning centre at Babcock Marine, Appledore, working with colleges, management and other unions to raise funding for a wide range of training courses.

GMB Regional Project Manager Phil Caiels paid tribute to Ian’s “passion and enthusiasm for members,” adding: “Ian has displayed professionalism, courage and humility – and continues to be a credit to GMB and himself.”

Ian himself was modest about his success and quick to praise others. He said: “I’m over the moon to receive this award, but I see it as recognition for the entire team and Union Learning Fund project.”

Right: Ian Northam MBE.

Bargaining for Skills and Learning comes to the South West Trade union reps in the South West are being encouraged to set up learning centres in their workplaces.

This initiative, along with a series of other workshops, are unionlearn’s contribution to this autumn’s Celebration of Learning and Get Online Week, which runs from October 31 to November 6.

Ros Etheridge, unionlearn’s SW Regional Co-ordinator, said: “There are numerous examples in the region of how employers and employees have benefited greatly from learning centres set up with the union, and we’d love to see more established so these opportunities can be shared by others.”

In the run-up to the week, and during the week itself, unionlearn will run workshops for unions on issues such as negotiating for ESOL courses, collective learning funds and apprenticeships.

They will also look to encourage people to go on-line by promoting digital champions.

Ros said: “Of the nine million people not online in the UK, six million of these are older than 65, and four million are from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dates for Bargaining for Skills & Learning Centres workshops 18/19 October – Bristol 2 days to include indepth workshops on bargaining with employers on the skills agenda.

28 October – Bodmin 17 November – Bournemouth We will be sending out more information and agendas soon but recommend you keep these dates in your diary. e: unionlearnsouthwest@tuc.org.uk

“Trade unions can help rectify this inequality, so I hope people will find our workshops helpful.”

Unionlearn are encouraging unions to promote race online, recruit digital champions, work with the community and promote Skills for Life courses between 1 October 2011 and 6 November 2011.

Contact unionlearn unionlearn South West Church House, Church Road, Filton Bristol BS34 7BD t: 0117 947 0521 f: 0117 947 0523 e: unionlearnsouthwest@tuc.org.uk

All TUC publications may be made available for dyslexic or visually impaired readers, on request, in an agreed electronic format or in accessible formats such as Braille, audio tape and large print, at no extra cost. Contact the South West TUC on 0117 947 0521. Learning Works was edited by Phil Chamberlain, Susie Weldon and Tim Lezard southwestmedia@tuc.org.uk. Designed by Rumba www.rumbadesign.co.uk

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