Learning Works www.unionlearn.org.uk/southwest
» News from unionlearn with South West TUC Summer 2010
Where now for learning? The coalition government has announced cuts running into million of pounds in education and skills. TUC Senior Policy Officer Iain Murray examines where the axe falls and finds adult employees in the firing line No matter what the government says about ‘refocusing its expenditure’, the £200m cut to Train to Gain is bad news for trade unions. For although there are plans to provide an additional 50,000 apprentices in small and medium-sized enterprises and improve college buildings, there will be a cut in overall training places for adult employees with few or no qualifications who are not ready for apprenticeship training.
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Many of these employees are our members who study hard in workplace learning centres throughout the South West to brush up their basic skills. It is difficult to tell what the overall reduction in training places will be as a result, but it is bound to be significant and bound to hit our members hardest. A related commitment by the Department for Education promising to safeguard education and skills provision for 16-19 year-olds means the number of young apprenticeships should remain as previously planned. As widely anticipated, ‘efficiency savings’ of around 10% will be applied to all education and skills quangos and two education bodies are to be abolished.
“The cut to the HE budget means the 20,000 student places in the next year committed by the previous government will be reduced to 10,000 places” The cut to the Higher Education budget of £200m means the 20,000 additional student places in the forthcoming academic year committed by the previous government will be reduced to 10,000 additional places. There is also an additional £82m of efficiency savings imposed on the HE sector. It’s better news for the schools budget, the budget for education and skills provision for 16-19 year-olds, and the Sure Start budget, with the government committing to protect these areas from ‘any in-year spending cuts.’
However, these commitments conceal the fact there will be reductions to education funding by other means. In total the Department for Education budget is to be reduced by £670m with a cut of £311m to the grant it gives to local authorities and a £359m cut comprising efficiency savings and specific cuts to programmes including a reduction of £60m for 14-19 vocational provision.
• The TUC is tracking cuts in public spending and public services. For more information go to: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/ category/cuts-watch/
Good L@WD The South West TUC has published a booklet celebrating the exciting and innovative events organised by ULRs across the region for Learning At Work Day. Featuring reports and photos from 11 events, the publication will give reps ideas for organising future sessions. For your free copy, email: unionlearnsouthwest@tuc.org.uk
In this issue » Out with the old tutor, in with the new » Learning centres launch » Save public services
Learning Works Summer 2010
Driven to success There was recognition for three bus drivers from the Wilts & Dorset Bus Depot at Ringwood who achieved qualifications via Learndirect on-line programmes, delivered by the U-Net centre at New College, Swindon. By David O'Brien, U-Net tutor
Chris Smith and Jason Cousins have both gained the Level 2 NVQ for IT Users which they felt expanded their IT knowledge and formally recognised their practical skills. Steven Dehon has gained certificates in both Adult Numeracy and Literacy and is now learning Spreadsheets with a view to starting an IT qualification in the autumn (funding permitting). Steve says the on-line programme is easy to access and flexible enough to fit in with work and family commitments; there is always help on hand by phone, email or regular tutor visits to the depot. The smooth running of the programme is made possible by the depot’s RMT
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'Baggy' has given substantial personal input, not least by covering colleagues’ duties so they have time with the tutor Learning Rep ‘Baggy’ Harold Bagwell, who was highly commended in the Learndirect Achievement Awards. After gaining his own Adult Literacy certificate five years ago (and an adult learning award for commitment), Baggy wanted to spread learning opportunities to workmates and agreed to become the first union learning rep (ULR) at Ringwood Depot. He undertook training and over the following years arranged a variety of on-site courses. In late 2008 he worked with the RMT Wilts & Dorset learning team to bring on-line learning to Ringwood. The three successes
being celebrated are being followed by several other learners doing on-line courses in numeracy and IT. Baggy says a small country depot brings its own challenges: the depot has a very low staff turnover so finding new recruits for courses can be a challenge, as is arranging private space for tutorials when office accommodation is scarce. Besides the regular ULR duties of promoting, encouraging and supporting learning, he has given substantial personal input, not least by covering colleagues’ duties so they have time with the tutor. In common with other workplaces, the ULR needs to understand and encourage new adult learners to overcome the apprehension and other barriers of starting to learn again, possibly after many years and bad experiences at school. Resting the brain cells for 5 minutes. (L to R): Steve Dehon, Jason Cousins, Chris Smith and 'Baggy' Harold Bagwell
US unions look West The South West TUC’s Green Workplaces Project is a shining example of how unions and employers can work together, according to a leading American trade union official. Keith Hatch talks to Barbara Byrd
Barbara Byrd, Secretary Treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO (the US equivalent of the TUC), spent five weeks in the UK learning about the work unions are doing in green workplaces. She spent some time in the South West where she visited a range of sites from prisons to dockyards, to see what happens when employers and workers join together to improve sustainability.
Photo: Keith Hatch
“The Green Workplaces project of the South West TUC is developing into a model for your country and for mine,” she said. “There are some surprising similarities between the South West of England and Oregon. Both areas have lost their traditional industrial base. We’ve both seen the disappearance of industries that not only built our communities but shaped the way we see ourselves. “On the other hand, labour in both places has recognised the potential of clean energy as a source of good, new jobs. Unions are working in the South West and in Oregon to spur the development of this new green
Barbara Byrd at A&P Marine in Falmouth
“In the workplaces we visited, especially A & P Marine, union members and activists are engaged with management in developing creative ideas for reducing carbon emissions and saving money ” economy, and working with public officials and business to make sure we do it right. “There are very real, and very exciting, opportunities for moving a low carbon strategy both in the workplace and more generally. In the workplaces we visited, especially A & P Marine, union members and activists are engaged with management in developing creative ideas for reducing carbon emissions and saving money. The work is good for the company’s bottom line, and it’s good for the union.” After visiting the Wave Hub site in Hayle to discuss with the RDA’s Guy Lavender the project’s challenges and opportunities, she
L to R: Sustainability officer Caroline Digby, Barbara Byrd, Nigel Costley (South West TUC Regional Secretary), Louise Henderson (unionlearn, Cornwall), Geoff Hale (Regional Development Worker, unionlearn, Cornwall), John Ellison (Head of Education Strategy, Eden) and Mark Paterson (Tertiary Education co-ordinator, Eden)
went to A&P Marine in Falmouth. Here the company’s energy team, with support from workplace unions and the Green Workplaces Project, is engaging the workforce to save energy. Barbara also saw how infrastructure improvements had been introduced, which were now saving thousands of pounds annually, as well as looking at future marine renewable energy projects A&P hope to develop. Later Barbara travelled to the Eden Project to look at their groundbreaking work on sustainability issues, before speaking at unionlearn’s St Austell learning centre about the importance of working in alliances to bring about change.
Learning Works Summer 2010
Trade union studies are vital for the future of the movement. Tim Lezard meets one retiring tutor and one just starting out
Bristol says farewell to Steve... What’s stopping you becoming a rep? Steve Lamprey, who has taught TU studies at City of Bristol College for 20 years, thinks he knows, and does his best to convince you otherwise “I understand why people are anxious to begin with,” Steve says. “People tend to be worried about setting foot in an educational establishment because, for many of them, their last experience of that was at school and may not have been that enjoyable. “They think they’re going to be tested and have to write essays, and they’re not necessarily going to feel confident in a group of people they don’t know. “But it’s not like being back at school. You’ll know a lot more than you think you do. People know about their world at work, and that’s where they’re going to be engaged as a rep. “If the people you work with have entrusted to you the role of being a rep, to negotiate all these important things for them and represent them when they’ve got problems, they must think quite highly of you because they’re not going to entrust just anybody with that. You’ve already got people’s trust, so give it a go!” Steve became involved in the trade union movement as a social worker in the 1970s. A Nalgo and then UNISON officer for the now defunct Avon County Council, he found himself spending more and more time representing members as local government was reorganised.
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“I went on the TU Ed courses myself and then one of the people running them asked if I’d
“Without reps there wouldn’t be a TUC. Reps are the most important cog in a big wheel because they are the link between the membership and the union as a big organisation” be interested in teaching,” he says. “I’d never given it a thought but I gave it a go and have never looked back.” Steve has taught thousands of students over the years but he reckons very little has changed over that time. “Apart from the technology, of course,” he states. “What I mean is essentially the courses have changed very little because the core of being a union rep, a union activist, is exactly the same now as it was then. “You have to find out what’s the job of a rep, what they’re supposed to do, how they’re supposed to represent members, how they organise their branch – what’s a branch? That’s a key point because you can’t participate within your union if you don’t know how it’s organised – how to deal with grievances and disciplinaries, how to bargain with your employer.” Steve sits back in his chair and draws breath. “All these elements are the same because in 20 years not much has changed about the structure of society. Workers still have to organise to be able to negotiate with their employers to be able to get a decent deal.
“Other things have changed, of course. You would never have seen a computer on a TU course 20 years ago. Now every student has their own computer.” As you can probably tell, Steve’s enthusiasm for his subject and dedication to the trade union cause hasn’t dimmed over the years. He still believes passionately about what he teaches and encourages all members to take the step to become a rep. “Without reps there wouldn’t be a TUC. Reps are the most important cog in a big wheel because they are the link between the membership and the union as a big organisation. “When all the surveys that have been done with union members – why are you in a union? Why do you want to stay in the union? What do you get out of the union? – the most important things for members are I need somebody to represent me when I’m in trouble and I need somebody to negotiate my pay and conditions for me. Reps are the people who do that.” He’s looking forward to his retirement, though, as it means spending more time with his grandchildren, more time as a school governor in Knowle where he lives, more time to help his daughter run her visual arts charity (www. myspace.com/creativekidsinternational) and another, lesser-known ambition. “One of these day I hope I’ll be able to play Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary all the way through,” he smiles. • If you are prepared to take up Steve’s challenge, then you can find more information at: www.unionlearn.org.uk/education/learn950-f0.cfm?regional=8
...while Swindon welcomes Viky After working in a trade union studies centre for several years, Viky Thomas-Clay took the plunge and became a tutor herself Viky now teaches Union Reps Stage 1 and hopes to be able to teach health and safety courses early next year. "I really enjoy the atmosphere in the classroom and the fact that what I'm teaching is going to help people in their day-to-day lives," she says.
Viky teaches her class
There are not many people who would admit to their boss teaching them everything they know. And whilst that's not exactly the case for Viky Thomas-Clay, it's at least partly true because Mary Scott, her manager at New College Swindon's Trade Union Studies Centre, is a tutor. And now, thanks to Mary's tutelage, so is Viky.
Photography by Clint Randall/ www.pixelphotography.co.uk
"I was a UNISON rep at Thames Water and Mary taught me all the core courses," Viky says. "I found them really useful, both for what I learnt on the course and from what I learnt from chatting to other reps. The fact I was in a classroom with six or seven reps from different companies helped me look at the larger picture. "I was able to see how they worked with their bosses, how they carried out pay negotiations. It gave me ideas. Everyone was different. One rep would say: 'Oh, I just popped in to see my HR manager at lunchtime', while another
"The majority of the students are in their 40s and have been out of education for some time, so coming in to a classroom can be a little daunting but they soon realise that TU Education is not like being back at school: some think that being a rep is all about who bangs their fist on the table the loudest.
“I really enjoy the atmosphere in the classroom and the fact that what I'm teaching is going to help people in their dayto-day lives” would say: 'I had to give three week's notice to do that, and reams of paper to say what I wanted to talk about!'" Viky was halfway through an employment law course when Mary mentioned she needed an administrator. Viky applied for the job, got it and before long was helping out in the classroom. "I wasn't teaching," she explains, "but I was spending time there, interacting with the students and really enjoying it. "During my annual review I mentioned to Mary I might be interested in becoming a tutor, and she agreed. She'd already asked me several times if I fancied doing it but I'd always said 'No'."
"Part of my job is to tell them it's not like that any more. We don't tend to bang on the table and fight management all the time, although we will if we have to. Nowadays we're more likely to negotiate and communicate with them. After all, we catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
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Steve has given 20 years wonderful service to the area and to the trade union movement. His advice must have saved hundreds of jobs over that period. We'll miss him greatly. However, he's being followed by Viky, who I'm delighted to welcome, and I know she'll do just as good a job, providing a lifeline to reps across the South West.
”
Marie Hughes, TUC Regional Education Officer
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Learning Works Summer 2010
More employers are seeing the benefits of working with unions to promote learning. Tim Lezard reports from two new learning centres
Unions and employers plot course to success A new chapter opens for learners at Gloucestershire paper mill If his words are lost to the swirling wind, there is no misunderstanding Dr Reinhard Schiebler’s message.
office equipment, to create a true 21st Century learning environment. The joint venture is already a success, with more than 50 Glatfelter employees enrolled on IT classes, with other courses to follow.
Exposed to the elements outside the new Unite learning centre at Glatfelter, the company’s Operations Director tells the assembled crowd:
“I’m doing an introduction to word processing and computer skills,” says Unite Deputy F.O.C Patrick Deacon. “It’s a bit mind-blowing at times, but I’m enjoying it and it’ll help me in my job.”
“I have worked in a lot of places around the world but I have never seen anything like this. It is a showcase of collaboration and I hope it is just the start.” Dr Schiebler, who arrived in the Forest of Dean from Germany earlier that morning, adds: “I feel really proud to be here today and I hope you feel the same. “The learning centre is a great resource and a great opportunity for the people to improve their skills, learn more and be fit for the future. It’s a great opportunity to create our own success story.” The launch is a triumph for Union Learning Rep (ULR) Tim Heward, who has worked at the paper mill for more than 25 years. “We were in hard times last year, we had potential lay-offs and machine shuts and we thought, what could we do to help move this site forward?” he says.
Photography by Clint Randall/ www.pixelphotography.co.uk
“We spoke to Brendan Parkinson, the Regional Learning Organiser for Unite, and also bought on board Declan Lynch, the company’s HR Manager, because if the company wasn’t on board, this was going to be a waste of time.” Below: Workers in the new learning centre. Inset: as it was.
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Glatfelter management sees the learning centre as a positive move towards helping the company weather the credit crunch storm, as Declan Lynch explains: Dr Schiebler, Operations Director, Glatfelter
With the idea of a learning centre gaining currency among his colleagues, Tim volunteered to attend a course to become a ULR. “One of us had to go away to the Unite College in Esher, Surrey for a total of 10 days, and muggins here got lumbered with it,” he chuckles. “Well, I say ‘lumbered’ but I really enjoyed it. Becoming a ULR gave me the skills, the knowledge and the confidence to put all this together, as well as obtaining a level 3 qualification” ‘All this’ is the £50,000 newly-refurbished on-site Portakabin, kitted out with new computers, an interactive whiteboard and
“Given the fierce global competition to serve our markets, Glatfelter is proud of the collaborative solution to enhance the skills of our workers. “This collective commitment represents an investment in our workforce and our future as we pursue our vision to become the global supplier of choice in speciality papers and engineered products. “Supporting our employees in their desire to enhance their learning and develop new skills will be central to our strategy in developing a sustainable skills base into the future.”
The learn in centres a g supporte re d 'Skills for by t Future' fu he nd
Learners set sail for new opportunities in Devon When it comes to launching things, you might think staff at Princess Yachts International would have a head start. And you would Princess Yachts International be right: workers Training Manager, Diane at the Plymouth Eckland boatbuilders celebrated the opening of their new £30,000 learning centre with a splash. The former store room at the company’s Coypool site has been transformed into a brand new classroom with ten computers – all ready to teach staff members new skills. “I’m over the moon because it’s been a long hard slog, but it’s worth it,” smiled Unite’s Senior Union Learning Rep Ben Roberts. “After a lot of effort from everybody, we can finally put some courses on, and we can reach my goal of providing education to everybody. “Education is massive. Education is power and when you’re talking about pay and wages, every time somebody learns something it’s something extra on their CV and it helps the company. Education helps people get jobs and retain jobs.” The learning centre venture is a joint effort between Unite the union and the company. The new learning centre in action
Unite ULR Ben Roberts working at Princess Yachts International, Plymouth.
“We want to engage with our employees more because we need to raise capability, whether it’s on a personal level or a skills level” “We see the benefits of specific training for the company,” said Managing Director Chris Gates. “We have a lot of on-the-job training but we’ve looked outside that to life skills. “We feel that if we can open doors for people to become more proficient at English, baking, healthy eating, computer skills, whatever, they’re going to bring value to themselves, they’re going to feel better about themselves, their morale will increase and that will bring dividends in the workplace, so it’s an absolute win-win. It’s fantastic.” Unite Regional Officer Dave Springbett agreed, saying: “It’s great to see a company invest in training because a lot of employers believe
that if you train employees they’ll go away somewhere else and you’ll lose them. It’s not the case. You’re far more likely to keep your employees if you invest in their training.” This message is endorsed by Diane Eckland, the company’s Training Manager, who added: “Training is really important to us because it’s raising people’s capability within the business. “If you can give them some lifelong learning skills – say people have problems with numeracy or literacy – even helping them with the bank accounts, doing maths for their banking or budgeting at home is going to help them and save them having worries. “We want to engage with our employees more because we need to raise capability, whether it’s on a personal level or a skills level. The learning centre will certainly help the company because it will allow our staff to know we are looking after them and trying to help them in any way we can.”
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Learning Works Summer 2010
Take on public sector myths With public services under vicious attack from the government, the TUC has leapt to the defence of public servants across the region, publishing an on-line pamphlet addressing myths spread by the media South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said: “We’re led to believe public services are bloated and costly, but the truth is they’re essential and excellent value for money. They are the foundation of a fair and civilised society and must be protected if they are to meet the needs of the future. “Public services extend opportunities, protect the vulnerable and improve everyone’s quality of life. They are essential for our economic development and prosperity. They strengthen our communities and bind us together as a society.” Among the myths ‘busted’ by the on-line publication are:
• Civil servants are overpaid (half of all civil servants earn less than £20,000 pa) • The best way to save money is to privatise (public money is best kept in the public sector because every pound of public spending generates an additional 64p in the local area) • Civil servants have a job for life (since 2004, 80,000 jobs have gone) • Public sector pensions are ‘gold-plated’ (in 2007/8 the average civil service pension was £6,500) The publication also shows spending cuts would adversely affect women because in the South West nearly three times as many women work in the public sector than men.
Martyrs on the web
South West public services under threat Take on the myths
The solution, the TUC believes, would be to finance public services by introducing a Robin Hood Tax on banks’ financial transactions. The campaign, supported by almost 50 organisations including Oxfam, Barnardo’s, The Salvation Army, ActionAid and Save the Children, would raise hundreds of billions of pounds by charging an average of 0.05% – 5p for every £1,000 traded – per transaction between financial institutions. Nigel Costley said: “The crash was made in the finance sector – finance should now make a proper contribution to putting right the damage the crash caused and preventing huge cuts in vital public services.”
The TUC has launched a new website to promote the Tolpuddle Martyrs festival and museum.
national campaign to pardon them after they were sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia in 1834.
Learning is still the business
With both attracting growing numbers, the TUC decided to revamp the existing site and turn it into a comprehensive guide for visitors the world over. The address is www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk.
There are also pages on the memorial cottages built in 1934 to house retired farm workers, and a virtual tour of the village so visitors do not miss James Hammett’s grave, the Memorial Arch, Thomas Stanfield’s cottage or the ancient sycamore tree under whose branches the Martyrs met all those years ago.
Following the success of Learning Is The Business, the South West TUC has published a sequel: Learning Is Still The Business. Packed with examples of trade unions working with employers to the benefit of both, the publication is available to order at unionlearnsouthwest@tuc.org.uk.
The Martyrs’ legacy is also examined with photographs of trade union banners, murals and past festivals, together with a chance to buy Tolpuddle merchandise from the on-line shop.
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“Every year queries about the festival – who’s playing, who’s speaking – come earlier and earlier, so we wanted somewhere to put the information as soon as we had it,” said Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC. “It provides us with a year-round platform to promote the festival, encourage visitors to the museum and inform people about the importance and significance of the Martyrs.” The new site tells in detail the inspiring story of the six Dorset farm workers and the
Finally, there is camping and travel information about the annual festival, together with details of who is appearing.
» Learning is
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Seven exa mples of wor both emp loyers and kplace learning ben employees efiting
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.
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Published by unionlearn with the South West TUC, Church House, Church Road, Filton, Bristol BS34 7BD. Email: unionlearnsouthwest@tuc.org.uk Learning Works is edited by Tim Lezard 07810 641 459 lezard@elmtreecottages.co.uk. Designed by Rumba www.rumbadesign.co.uk. Printed on recycled paper containing 70% post consumer waste.