Contacts – Education Officers

TUC Education officers (national): TUC regional education officers (REOs) Harry Cunningham Liz Rees : Ian West National Education Manager REO in Scotland REO in the Northern Region, and t 020 7079 6923 t 0141 221 8845 Yorkshire and the Humber e [email protected] e [email protected] t 0191 232 3175 e [email protected] Jackie Williams Pete Holland Education & Training Officer REO in the North West Pete Try t 020 7079 6924 t 0151 236 7678 REO in East & e [email protected] e [email protected] t 0121 236 4454 e [email protected] Training for Martin Hegarty Julie Cook Education & Training Officer REO in Wales Rob Hancock t 020 7079 6946 t 02920 347010 REO in Southern & Eastern Region e [email protected] e [email protected] t 020 7467 1369 e [email protected] Craig Hawkins Marie Hughes Online Learning Officer REO in the South West Phil Gowan t 020 7079 6947 t 0117 947 0521 REO in Southern & Eastern Region e [email protected] e [email protected] t 020 7467 1238 e [email protected]

Kevin Doherty Workplace Northern Ireland ICTU Education & Training Officer t 02890 247940 e [email protected] Reps

A guide for employers

Design: Eureka! Design Consultants Ltd Print: Newnorth Print Ltd June 2013 Foreword

Contents In today’s difficult economic Clearly representatives need appropriate time climate, it is more important and facilities to undertake training. This guide 1 Foreword than ever that all resources is designed to inform employers of the return 2 About this guide available to the workplace for their investment in paid release. The TUC is are well deployed. There are particularly proud of its trade union education 3 How do employers benefit from having well-trained union representatives? approximately 200,000 union programme, offered in partnership with individual representatives on-site at British affiliates and colleges across 4 What is the official guidance on paid release? workplaces and they constitute a major resource the country. The programme has an unrivalled 5 What does the training cover? for their colleagues and for employers. Most are reputation for quality and innovation – fourteen traditional representatives such as shop stewards, consecutive Grade 1 inspection reports from 7 How to reach agreement on time off for training convenors, branch secretaries and safety OFSTED – and offers practical, professional 9 TUC Education and union courses representatives. But numbers of specialist union support to union reps at work. representatives – in particular, learning, green Please contact the appropriate TUC Education 11 How do I find out more? or equality representatives – are on the rise. Officer (see back cover) for details of programmes 12 Directory of TUC Trade Union Studies Centres Government research in 2007 found that union near you. reps in the public sector save the taxpayer between £167m and £397m every year by helping to resolve disputes, increasing the take up of training and reducing staff turnover. Workplace reps in both public and private sectors reduce dismissals, creating a benefit to employers that is worth between £107m and £213m, and by reducing voluntary exits benefit employers to the tune of between £72m and £143m. Union learning reps are worth between £94m and £156m to Frances O’Grady employers in enhanced productivity. TUC General Secretary

1 How do employers benefit from having well-trained union representatives?

About this guide Acas, the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service, I am far more aware that there are always two says that training for union representatives sides to every story. This guide is for employers who receive requests Employers need to know that requests for time from trade union representatives for time off off to train are legitimate and will be made with …will enable them to undertake their role with I am more organised and better researched when work to take part in union training. regard to their business. Employers also need greater confidence, efficiency and speed and dealing with issues the members bring to me. to see how the training will add value. thus help them work with management, build We outline the responsibilities of employers I changed my approach to dealing with effective employment relations and represent and unions over training for representatives, And representatives need to know that they management and became more measured their members properly. and give practical advice about how the benefits can gain time off with pay to be trained, to and professional. (Trade Union Representation in the Workplace, Acas) can be shared. ensure that they are competent in their role and confident when talking to managers and There is strong evidence to support this official view. (Making a Difference, Doug Gowan. TUC Education, 2010) The work of union representatives has expanded members alike. A recent evaluation of the TUC’s unionlearn work, for Research into the business benefits of equality as new issues have come to the fore in the example, found that reps showed modern workplace. These issues include health “We have contact centres across several and safety, redundancies and reorganisation, …over half the employers (in the study) involved sites in the UK. In each site, our colleagues …improved workforce morale, improved equality and diversity, training and upskilling in union learning projects stated that the take and the management (including myself) recruitment and retention, higher productivity the workforce, and environmental and green up of employees attaining qualifications had are fortunate to have trained, well versed, and reduced tribunal costs. It is also notable that strategies. One result has been that training increased....moreover, almost a third of employers union representatives. These reps, through equality reps are just as likely to report that they for union representatives has become more believed that organisational performance had their training, provide expertise in a number have had a positive impact in the private sector complex. However a common sense approach increased and two in five stated that levels of trust of domains, that massively benefit not just as they are in the public sector, suggesting just as based on agreement is usually all that is between management and unions had improved. their members but the business as a whole.” great an appreciation on the part of private sector required to resolve any complexity. (Assessing the Impact of Union Learning and the Union Learning Darren Cornish MBA, Head of Residential managers of the benefits equality reps can bring. Fund, Leeds University Business School 2010) Servicing, E.ON UK Equality reps in SMEs are also just as likely to Representatives who have taken part in union learning report having had an impact in their workplaces report how relations with management have improved as are equality reps in large organisations, as a result. Here are some typical comments from a suggesting that the equality rep initiative has recent survey: the potential to bring benefits to all sectors of the British economy. … (I gained) confidence to approach management and solve problems for members and management. (Nottingham University Business School report on the survey of equality reps, 2009)

2 3 What is the official guidance on paid release? What does the training cover?

From 1975 there has been legislation on paid Specialist representatives For union representatives, training must link to For health and safety representatives, training release for union training. This has since been “aspects of industrial relations relevant to their should help them carry out their functions, which Unions may have representatives who specialise extended and amended and now covers: trade union duties” (Acas code). Relevant topics are are set out by law. These functions include: in certain areas. They include: those that are covered in negotiations between union • union workplace representatives • investigating potential hazards, dangerous • equality representatives and employer and can include the following: occurrences and complaints • health and safety representatives • pensions champions • pay and conditions • making representations to the employer • union learning representatives. • environmental or green representatives • recruitment and dismissals • inspecting the workplace Although the legislation can be complex, useful • disability champions. • work patterns official guidance on rights to union training • meeting safety inspectors and getting information for these representatives has been published These representatives are covered by • discipline • attending safety committees. by Acas and the Health and Safety Executive legislation on time off for union activities, • union membership and facilities (HSE). Both these bodies include employers but not specifically for union training. For more detail see the HSE code. and trade union members and both issue Training recommendations are however • negotiation and consultation codes of practice, which have legal status. included in the Acas good practice guidance. The guidance is practical and based on • any other issues discussed between experience of what works. management and unions. For more detail see the Acas code. • Time off for trade union duties and activities “Trade unions are co-owners of the Acas Code of Practice 3 company.” Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy Company • Trade Union Representation in the Workplace Council, 19 July 2010 Acas booklet “At Tata Steel, safety reps have a vital and growing part to improve health and safety and • Consulting employees on health and safety TUC Education provides first class support for HSE guide and safety representatives the reps in our safety committees.” regulations Andrew Page, Health and Safety Director, Tata Steel Group © John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk

4 5 How to reach agreement on time off for training

For union learning representatives (ULRs) the The role of specialist union representative is covered The Acas code notes that union representatives Time off agreements need to reflect local position is somewhat different. To qualify for time off in the Acas guide Trade Union Representation in should be prepared to be flexible and help minimise circumstances and could cover amount of to carry out their duties, ULRs must be sufficiently the Workplace. The guide looks at the role of union business disruption, and equally employers should time, calculation of pay, and notice required trained. If they do not have the required training when equality and environmental representatives, in recognise their mutual obligation to allow union for request. they are appointed, then they must become trained addition to the other representatives covered by legal representatives to undertake their duties. within six months. In that case the union must inform rights the employer in writing that the representative is to time off for training. Time off for training requests to management should, undergoing or has completed the training. according to the Acas code: The guide points out that The Acas code points out it is good practice for the • give at least a few weeks’ notice to management Examples ...in practice all union representatives have union letter to the employer to set out what the training to gain approved time off from their work to • provide details of the content. covers and what the representative has previously carry out their duties...and they need at least A distribution centre in Heywood offers union completed. The six month rule may be extended by While it is important that legal requirements are met, some training...if only to communicate with representatives ten days off in the first year employer/union agreement. many employers and unions believe that a written management and their constituents. for initial training, and in subsequent years agreement is the best way of handling time off ULRs have a number of duties that should be covered five days off per year to attend trade union requests. The Acas code includes a section on time off in the training programme. These duties can include approved updating and specialist courses. For newly appointed representatives, the official agreements and the benefits they can provide. some or all of the following: guidance emphasises that introductory training For example they can: A book publishing company in offers • analysing learning and training needs should be arranged quickly: training for accredited introductory and • provide clear guidelines against which applications advanced training courses organised by the • providing information and advice about learning ...union representatives are more likely to for time off can be determined TUC or unions, providing it is agreed by union and training carry out their duties effectively if they possess • establish realistic expectations on the part of union headquarters. Allowances are as follows: year skills and knowledge relevant to their duties. • arranging and supporting learning and training representatives and managers 1 up to 10 days, and year 2 up to 5 days. Any In particular, employers should be prepared to additional training day is subject to further consider releasing union representatives for • avoid misunderstanding • promoting the value of learning and training. discussion. initial training in basic representational skills • facilitate better planning For more detail see the Acas code. as soon as possible... • ensure fair and reasonable treatment.

6 7 TUC Education and union courses

TUC Education and individual unions arrange courses throughout the UK, which are closely linked to the requirements for paid time off outlined in this booklet. Each year around 120,000 trade union reps attend courses organised by the TUC or by its affiliated unions.

Types of course

Introductory courses for new representatives Updating and specialist courses for established representatives • Induction • Employment law • Union Representatives Stage 1 • Equalities • Health and Safety Stage 1 • Dealing with redundancy • Union Learning Representatives Stage 1 • Introduction to pensions

Advanced courses for senior representatives • COSHH • Occupational health • Employment Law • Trade unions and the environment • Next Steps for Safety Representatives – Stage 2 • Apprenticeships • Union Learning Representatives Stage 2 • Cancer in the workplace • Diploma in Employment law • Work/life balance • Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

• Diploma in Contemporary Trade Unionism © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk © Jess

8 9 How do I find out more?

TUC and union courses are run in local colleges Quality assurance and education centres throughout the UK. There are a number of ways in which the quality of They may be offered in several different ways: courses for union representatives is assured.

• day release – the course is run one day a week • TUC Education courses and many union courses are over several weeks run by professional tutors working in TUC Education units in further education colleges throughout the • short block release – a short course run over two UK. For a list of partner colleges see page 12. TUC Education has a network of education or three days in succession Information about trade officers around the UK. They can help with any • OFSTED inspections have consistently given trade unions today • blended – part of the course takes place in the questions about the programme of courses union education courses a Grade 1 rating. classroom, part online for union representatives. See back cover for Reps in action: how workplaces can gain

• The courses are accredited to national standards contact details. from modern union representation • online – most courses are offered as online www.bis.gov.uk/files/file51155.pdf through the NOCN, with nearly all courses learning without attendance at a college. You can download the official guides to time contributing towards a qualification offered through off from these locations: TUC website For the online courses the same rules for paid the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). www.tuc.org.uk release apply. In practice this means that employers Acas Code of Practice 3 – Time off for trade • Courses are underpinned by occupational standards Trade union education and union learning should allow time for representatives to work union duties and activities approved by the Pan Sector Skills Council. www.unionlearn.org.uk through the online course. http://is.gd/dhsDP • All the courses are based on practical development of skills and knowledge relevant to the union Acas Guide – Trade Union Representation

“At Railcare we rely on well-informed union representative’s role and workplace. The in the Workplace http://is.gd/dhsNl representatives to maintain our high standards participants are often required to find out more and TUC Education provides first class training about their employer’s policies and agreements and HSE Consulting employees on health for the representatives who take part in our to communicate with managers and members. and safety safety committees and negotiations.” http://is.gd/dhtag David Hilliard, Training and Development Manager, Railcare Limited

10 11 Directory of TUC Trade Union Studies Centres North West Sheffield Liverpool Wirral South Cheshire South Yorkshire Trade Union Studies Centre Wirral Met College Sheffield College Trade Union Education Unit Workforce Development Unit Hillsborough Barracks Centre Suite 520, The Cotton Exchange Dane Bank Avenue Learoyd Way Old Hall Street Crewe CW2 8AB Northern Yorkshire & the Humber Sheffield S6 2LR Liverpool L3 9LQ Les Doherty t 01270 654654 Paul Gibson David McMonnies f 01270 669739 t 0114 260 2594 t 0151 237 2750 Sunderland North East (WEA) Bradford e [email protected] f 0114 260 2595 f 0151 237 2755 Trade Union Education Centre WEA North East Trade Union Studies Centre e [email protected] e [email protected] City of Sunderland College 21 Portland Terrace Bradford College Oldham Bede Centre Sandyford Grove Library Wakefield (WEA) Warrington Durham Road Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 1QQ Great Horton Road Business Development Unit WEA Wakefield Warrington Collegiate Institute Sunderland SR3 4AH Lyn Coulthard Bradford BD7 1AY Rochdale Road Castleford Community Learning Centre TUC Trade Union Education Unit Garry Hunter t 0191 2126100 Steve Davison Oldham OL9 6AA 1 York Street Museum Street t 0191 511 6707 f 0191 2126101 t 01274 436115 Becky Evans Castleford Warrington WA1 1HU f 0191 510 3401 e [email protected] f 01274 433180 f 07703 559735 Wakefield WF10 1JS Rick Cayzer e [email protected] e [email protected] e [email protected] t 01925 494 637 (WEA) Brian Chadwick t 07966 255769 f 01925 494 673 Newcastle Leeds Wigan WEA Cumbria f 01924 303615 e [email protected] Trade Union Education Centre 2 William Close Department of Trade Union Studies e [email protected] Wigan & Leigh College Dalton in Furness Leeds City College Stockport Trade Union Education Unit 2nd Floor, The Sandyford Building Cumbria LA15 8JD Horsforth Centre Barnsley The Pauline Ortiz Trade Union Learning Pagefield Campus Sandyford Road Chris Thackrah Calverley Lane Walkden Avenue Trade Union Programme Centre Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 7JL t 07815 841 347 Leeds LS18 4RQ Wigan WN1 2JH Northern College Room 1.80 First Floor Margaret Stephenson e [email protected] John Botterill Wentworth Castle Wellington Road South Dave Jones t 0191 200 4823 t 0113 212330 Stainborough Stockport SK1 3UQ t 01942 761873 f 0191 200 4852 f 0113 2162401 Barnsley S75 3ET Dianne Jones f 01942 761883 e [email protected] e [email protected] e [email protected] Carlisle Trade Union Education Centre George Pope t 0161 296 5720 t 01226 776000 e [email protected] Darlington, Middlesborough, Hull, Grimsby, Scunthorpe Blackburn C13 Chatsworth House f 01226 776025 Stockton Carlisle CA1 3NS Trade Union Studies Centre e [email protected] Blackburn Trade Union Education Unit Trades Union Education Centre Tracey Errington East Riding College 313 Victoria Building Darlington College t 07736 954723 24–30 St James Street Room 218, St John’s Centre Blakey Moor Central Park f 01228 822710 Hull HU3 2DH 2 New Quay Street Blackburn BB2 1LH Manchester M2 3BE Haughton Road e [email protected] Dave Parr John Murphy Darlington DL1 1DR t 01482 382545 Kevin Duffy t 01254 677756 Mike Applegarth f 01482 382587 t 0161 920 2835 f 01254 677712 t 01325 503273 e [email protected] f 0161 234 0900 e [email protected] e [email protected] e [email protected]

12 13 Midlands Wales Southern and Eastern Blackpool Birmingham Lincoln, Mansfield, Nottingham Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil,Swansea East and North East London Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Trade Union Education Unit Kings Lynn, Norwich, Ipswich South & City College Central College Nottingham Trade Union Studies Unit Blackpool & The Fylde College College of Haringey, Enfield High Street Deritend Trade Union Education Centre Bridgend College City College Norwich Ashfield Road and North East London Digbeth City Learning Centre Morien House, Bridgend Business Centre Trade Union Studies Unit Bispham Tottenham Centre, High Road Birmingham B5 5SU Norwich Union House Bridgend Industrial Estate 9 The Norwich Business Park Blackpool FY2 0HB Tottenham, London N15 4RU Bob Anderson 8–12 South Parade Bridgend CF31 3SH First Floor Dave Barnes Tony Holding/Alison Foster t 0121 694 6345 Nottingham NG1 2LH Richard Young Whiting Road t 01253 504067 t 020 8442 3075 e [email protected] Colin Nolan t 01656 763233 Norwich NR4 6DJ f 01253 504377 e [email protected] t 0115 950 8154 e [email protected] Mark Hughes e [email protected] Derby, Northampton, Leicester e [email protected] Bedfordshire, Dunstable, t 01603 614322 Cardiff (WEA), Rhondda Valleys e [email protected] Burnley Derby Trade Union Education Centre Leighton Buzzard, Watford Stoke-on-Trent Derby College WEA South Wales Central Bedfordshire College South London Johnson Building Stoke-on-Trent College WEA Office, Rooms 110–112 Trade Union Education Centre Kingsway, Dunstable Locomotive Way Trade Union Studies Unit The lnovation Centre South Thames College Princess Way Bedfordshire LU5 4HG Pride Park Cauldon Campus Festival Drive, Victoria Business Park, Trade Union Studies Centre Burnley BB12 OAN Michelle Marshall Derby DE24 8PU Stoke Road, Shelton Ebbw Vale NP23 8XA 2nd Floor Paul Summerscales t 01582 477776 Simon Ferrar Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DG Katrina Taylor 71 Tooting High Street t 01282 733035 e [email protected] t 01332 387491 Ron Foulkes t 07775 448741 Tooting, London SW17 OTQ e [email protected] e [email protected] t 01782 603552 e [email protected] Chichester, Crawley, Hastings, Samantha Ward-Crossley e [email protected] Lewes, Newhaven t 020 8918 7383 Newport and Gwent Valleys f 020 8918 7543 Coventry, Walsall, Hereford, Sussex Downs College e samantha.ward-crossl@south-thames. Shrewsbury College Trade Union Studies Unit Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, Newhaven Campus ac.uk Trade Union Studies Coleg Gwent Rugby, West Bromwich Denton Island London Road City of Newport Campus Newhaven BN9 9BN Central London (WEA) Shrewsbury SY2 6PR WEA Office Nash Road Mark Everden 78-80 Sherlock Street Newport NP19 4TS WEA London Region Michael Edwards t 01273 511409 Birmingham B5 6LT Trade Union Learning t 01743 342342 Roy McCabe e [email protected] e [email protected] Iain Geffen/Louise Williams t 01633 466061 / 446136 96-100 Clifton St t 0121 237 8120 London EC2A 4TN e [email protected] Canary Wharf, Lewisham Solihull e [email protected] Monica Gort e [email protected] Wrexham (WEA), North Wales t 020 7426 1950 Trade Union Studies Centre f 020 7729 9821 Trade Union Studies Centre Coleg Harlech WEA(N) Campus e [email protected] Blossomfield Road Caia Park Partnership 2 Deptford Church Street Solihull B91 1SB Prince Charles Road London SE8 4RZ Wrexham LL13 8TH Julie Matthews Fred Behardian/Dawn Livingston t 0121 678 7180 Nick Taylor t 020 8694 3424 f 0121 678 7170 t 01978 318866 f 020 8694 3494 e [email protected] e [email protected] e [email protected] [email protected]

14 15 South West Scotland Northern Ireland

Basingstoke, Isle of Wight, Cambridgeshire Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Dorset Southampton Edinburgh Inverness Derry Huntingdonshire Regional College Trade Union Education Centre Edinburgh College Inverness College Trade Union Studies Dept California Road City of Bristol College North West Regional College Sighthill Campus Longman Campus Huntingdon Room 02.18, Davy House Strand Road Bankhead Avenue 3 Longman Road St Mary Street Cambridgeshire PE29 1BL Ashley Down Centre Derry BT48 7AL Edinburgh Longman South Southampton SO14 1AR Ashley Down Road John Hueston Julie Weekes Lothian EH11 4DE Inverness IV1 5HA Angela Perry t 01480 379169 Bristol BS7 9BU e [email protected] Colin Arthur Andrew Chatterton t 02380 577359 e [email protected] t 0117 312 5607 t 0131 669 4400 x2142 t 01463 273247 e [email protected] f 0117 312 5052 f 0131 535 4666 f 01463 711977 Oxfordshire e [email protected] West London e [email protected] e [email protected] Ruskin College Swindon, Wiltshire, Stoke House, Stoke Place Fife Gloucestershire, Dorset Trade Union Studies Unit Headington Adam Smith College London Road, Isleworth OX3 9BX Trade Union Studies Centre St Brycedale Campus Middlesex TW7 4HS New College Nigel Williams St Brycedale Avenue Martin Donohue New College Drive t 01865 759608 Kirkcaldy t 020 8326 2235 Swindon SN3 1AH e [email protected] Fife KY1 1EX e [email protected] Mary Scott Jim Walker t 01793 732848 Kent t 01592 268591 Chelmsford, Colchester, Stansted e [email protected] f 01592 640255 Colchester Institute e [email protected] Trade Union Studies Unit T3 C03, Brook Street Plymouth, Exeter and Cornwall Sheepen Road Tonbridge TN9 2PW Trade Union Studies Centre Colchester CO3 3LL Ade Phillips Glasgow City College Plymouth Trish Alford t 01732 372017 x2017 Goschen Centre Stow College t 01206 712244 e [email protected] Saltash Road, Keyham Stow West Campus e [email protected] 75 Hotspur Street, Maryhill Plymouth PL2 2DP Surrey Glasgow G20 8LJ Basildon, Grays John Terry Brian Corrigan Carshalton College t 01752 305020 South Essex College t 0141 564 7500 Room L203 e [email protected] Trade Union Studies Unit f 0141 946 5679 Nightingale Road Nethermayne e [email protected] Carshalton SM5 2EJ Basildon, Essex SS16 5NN Lesley Hibberd Corrine Martin t 020 8544 6331 t 01268 461619 e [email protected] e [email protected]

© John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk

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