unionlearn.org.uk | Spring 2015

Monika wins ULR of the Year award

• Building through learning • Moving on in mid-life • National Numeracy Challenge • Industrial Partnerships • New eNotes SPREADING OUR SKILLS MESSAGE Health unions win

WE ARE ALREADY INTO THE ELECTION NHS learning deals campaign. What’s our message to all the parties? That low-paid does not mean low-skilled. It is a core trade union message we need to get across whenever skills come up in the election campaign.

Far too often, commentators assume that low-paid means low-skilled. Not so. Many jobs in retail, catering, hospitality or social care would have been paid much more 20 years ago than they are today.

That’s because today’s economy does not properly recognise skills. Small wonder there has Health sector unions everyone has access to been a boom in low-paid jobs leading to the so secured two new learning our resources, which cover called ‘hourglass’ economy with more high-paid agreements in the East brushing up English, Maths and low-paid jobs but fewer in the middle. Midlands in the autumn, the and IT skills, online training first at Chesterfield Royal for health care assistants, “Employers That’s because many of the Hospital NHS Foundation right through to clinical will recognise previously middle-paid jobs Trust in October and the information on drug error have slid down into low second at Kettering General and accountability.” skills, train pay. Measured by skill, the Hospital NHS Foundation It took a three-year to fill gaps economy looks much less Trust in December. campaign led by the Royal like an hourglass, more like “Chesterfield Royal is the College of Nursing (RCN) and help a straightforward column. first Trust in the country to and supported by UNISON staff progress That’s why gaining skills is launch the NHS Employers and the Royal College of because so important to getting and Learning for Life campaign Midwives (RCM) to persuade keeping a better job. by signing a partnership Kettering General to sign that makes agreement with the unions,” its Learning for Life business In the upcoming election says RCN Learning & agreement. sense.” campaign, we need to Development Facilitator “Thanks to the tireless ensure that our message is Irene Murray. work to secure this heard loud and clear: a sustainable economy with Learning for Life is the agreement by Pat Edkins, decent jobs must recognise and reward skills. development initiative RCN’s senior rep at run by the NHS Social Kettering, we can now Once employers need to pay the proper rate Partnership Forum (SPF), celebrate the success of they will take training more seriously. They will which brings together reaching a stage where recognise existing skills, train to fill the gaps unions, employers and the employer is fully on and help their employees progress because that other key health sector board,” explains Irene. makes sense in business terms. Linking pay to stakeholders to discuss the “We are all winners, as skill helps build a more productive economy. workforce implications of our members and their health sector policy. colleagues will have access “The signing of the to trade union learning and Tom Wilson is Director of unionlearn Partnership Learning for the benefits of the support Life Agreement between the of union learning reps.” recognised trade unions and Both agreements commit the employer at Chesterfield to giving ULRs reasonable Royal will bring real benefits time off to carry out their to all staff working at the duties and both create joint Funded by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the European hospital,” Irene adds. union-management groups Social Fund. Learning Rep magazine is published three times a year by unionlearn, “With the support of to oversee development of Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. our union learning reps the learning agenda in their Written and edited by Astrid Stubbs and Martin Moriarty | Designed by TUC | © unionlearn, 2015 Cover photo: Monika Paczkowska by Mark Harvey/iD8 Photography (ULRs), unions can ensure respective workplaces. Top author meets materials; plan training Usdaw readers programmes for learners; REPTECH and gives them the Best-selling author Martina information they need to Cole presented certificates perform better in their role. New ESOL to shopworkers who The Climbing Frame can resource completed the 2014 Six also raise a ULR’s profile Book Challenge when she in the workplace, as one Unionlearn visited Usdaw’s Learning user pointed out: “It made the workplace that support has teamed Zone at the Argos Home me more visible as I’ve technician registration and up with Delivery Store in Castleford, shown it to management access to more CPD. the British West Yorkshire in October. and used it to help organise The project will also Council to Martina also talked to continuous professional build partnerships with produce a new Usdaw members about development (CPD).” professional bodies and online resource to her writing career, Unionlearn is other stakeholders to help unions organising signed copies of always updating support the technician workplace courses in her best-selling the Climbing workforce, helped by English for Speakers thriller Revenge Frame, and uses the Memorandum of of Other Languages and latest crime the feedback Understanding signed with (ESOL). drama The from its annual the Science Council at the The interactive Good Life and users’ survey to 2014 annual conference. workbook aims to raise conducted a prize add new content awareness about ESOL needs and how ULRs draw, where the and improve existing • Click here to request a prizes on offer were an material, helping to make hard copy of the Technician and other reps can help e-reader, and vouchers from it even more useful for ULRs Registration Toolkit — a resource co-workers whose first for union negotiators and reps a supermarket chain and and other reps who work language is not English. Waterstones. with learners. ESOL: Language “The wonderful thing Recent additions include for life and work – Interactive module for about the Six Book a ULR events section for LASTLET CALL US KNOW FOR Challenge is that people promoting upcoming events; READERS’ SURVEY! union reps includes tips who don’t normally read, or information on free learning YOUR VIEWS on organising face-to- who think that reading isn’t websites; and a dedicated There’s still time to help us face learning with local There’s still time to their bag, are encouraged area with resources improve the Learning Rep providers and how to help us improve the to pick up a book,” said for supporting mid-life and give yourself the chance set up a workplace Learning Rep and give Martina, who is also an development. to win one of three £20 book language club. yourself the chance ambassador for the scheme. tokens by completing our “There are videos to win one of three for ULRs to watch and • Click here to register and log in new online readers’ survey. £20 book tokens by to the Climbing Frame The survey doesn’t take activities they can try, as completing our new © John Fisher/Rex Features, Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk and Stefan Cagnoni/reportdigital.co.uk ULR thumbs-up for • Click here if you need help long to complete, and your well as tips about using using the Climbing Frame online readers’ survey. Climbing Frame responses will help us the workbook in the • Click here to complete the workplace,” explains current survey continueThe survey to improve doesn’t our The Climbing Frame, the communicationstake long to complete, with our unionlearn Policy Officer free resource to help union 30,000and your ULRs. responses Kirsi Kekki. learning reps (ULRs) support Technician Pathways willOnce help the ussurvey continue is Several of the unions learners and promote launches phase two complete,to improve we willour select that have done most learning in the workplace, threecommunications readers at random with who work on the ESOL has won a big thumbs-up Unionlearn has secured willour each 30,000 receive ULRs. a £20 book agenda contributed to from users in the latest further funding from The token. the development of the To say thank you, we annual feedback survey. Gatsby Foundation to workbook, including will pick three names BFAWU, UNISON, Unite ULRs say the finance a second phase of • Click here to complete the out of the hat to receive Climbing Frame the Technician Pathways survey and Usdaw. a £20 book token. helps them project, which will run for two signpost years up to autumn 2016. ▸ Look out for the • Click here to complete online launch on the learners to Phase two aims to the survey useful websites, engage more unions about unionlearn website. resources and negotiating strategies at

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 03 TSSA lights up chairs TSSA’s national lay learners’ lives forum of senior ULRs), helped run a stall at St Pancras International to promote the wide variety of learning opportunities available through the union to members and potential members. Other opportunities on offer during the week included guitar and Hindi Transport and travel union language tasters in London, TSSA lit the blue touchpaper Welsh language classes to a special week of in Cardiff, a Women into personal and professional Leadership Course in development activities called Scotland and a knowledge Rocket Launch Your Learning! lunch with the union’s in Bonfire Night week. employment rights adviser “The Spring Into Learning at The Quadrant, Network DORSET UNISON MARKS initiative earlier this year, Rail’s headquarters in 100 YEARS OF LEARNING when ULRs took control of Milton Keynes. organising the events, was The union has already very popular so we decided been raising its profile at With the help of South West unionlearn, Dorset to run another week this The Quadrant with regular County UNISON attracted more than 70 people autumn with even more learning and recruitment to a learning and history event at Dorchester’s activities,” explains TSSA stalls in the building, run Shire Hall in November to celebrate the 100th National Learning Organiser with the help of ULRs anniversary of the town’s first local government Sal Morawetz. Angela Belcher and union branch. “As TSSA members (as Wendy Vant and Regional ‘Working History Day – Dorset UNISON 100’ well as their family and Organiser Matt Barrow, and included free guided tours of the Old Court House friends) are interested in support from unionlearn and cells, where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were courses that improve their SERTUC Union Support tried and held before they were transported to career, our next step is to Officer Oreleo Du Cran. Australia in the 1830s for trying to organise local talk to employers about agricultural workers. what they can do to support their staff with career UNISON boosts It also featured talks on using the Dorset History development.” apprentice campaign Centre and the library service to research family As part of the week – and union history; an update from the Tolpuddle which ran from Thursday UNISON marked TUC Martyrs Museum; and a case study on researching 30 October to Wednesday Young Workers’ Month in civil servants who fought in World War One. 5 November – the union November by Event coordinator Roger Bell says the branch is launched its first initiative publishing a new keen to build on the success of the day to further with the Institute of Rail booklet aimed develop its work bringing together all the material Operators, offering free and at encouraging it can find from the Dorset History Centre and the inexpensive opportunities more branches UNISON archive at Warwick University to tell the to help members with career to get involved in history of local government union organisation in progression. Apprenticeship the county. It also promoted the schemes in their National Numeracy workplaces. He is also very happy that not only did some of the Challenge, with a special “Apprentices participants volunteer to help the branch take the login to the campaign’s are a crucial project further, but also that two of them signed website for TSSA members. part of the future up to train as UNISON learning reps. On day one of the week, of our workplaces,” argues Thameslink Trains Lead General Secretary Dave ULR John Bacon (who also Prentis in his foreword. “By working to ensure and the tutors are there Yorkshire ULRs Apprenticeships are a when you need them: learn together rewarding and valuable everything is written in such experience, we can connect a way that it really helps your More than 65 union learning with a new generation of confidence.” reps (ULRs) from across trade unionists.” There’s a choice of Yorkshire and the Humber The 32-page booklet three modules: Arts and came together in October for includes case studies of languages (Y031); People, a ULR network event in the some of the Apprenticeship work and society (Y032); St George’s Centre, Leeds. programmes that the union helped ULRs from unions and Science, technology “The event was an has helped develop through including shopworkers’ and maths (Y033). Learners opportunity for colleagues the Eastern Region project union Usdaw, public service can choose the one to network and to talk about and the Apprenticeship union UNISON and the that best fits with and share some good programme UNISON public and commercial what they want to practice, and gave launched in 2013 at its services union PCS. study next. us in unionlearn National Centre in London. Lisa’s Supporting Mid-life As students a chance to And it interviews young Development workshop at work through discuss our members who have become the Birmingham Tribunal the module, current initiatives active in the union through Service, which attracted they are and work in their local government more than two dozen introduced to the coming and health service participants, was a fantastic skills like reading months,” explains Apprenticeships; and offers event, according to ULR and writing for study Mark Ball (with Ian branches a useful checklist Lindsey Naughton from purpose, note-taking, and Clayton, left, and Monika of key points to help create the West Midlands and organising study time – as Paczkowska, centre). decently paid, high-quality Warwickshire (Ministry of well as the basic computing The interactive, Apprenticeships. Justice) PCS branch. skills needed for study and informative and enjoyable “Everyone who attended online learning. Students workshops covered: mid-life • Click here to order your copy thoroughly enjoyed it: need to put aside about development reviews; digital of Training The Next Generation members of staff were still nine hours per week, over inclusion; the Citizen Maths talking about it the following a period of 30 weeks, to initiative; and creative day – one of the delivery complete their module. literacy. Midlands team runs managers also spoke to a If you study an Access The day finished with each informal workshops PCS colleague to say how module as an additional group of reps collaborating good it was,” Lindsey says. preparatory stage towards to write a poem on the The unionlearn Midlands an OU qualification you theme of journey to be read team staged more than two could be eligible to study out at the end by local author dozen one-hour workplace- Prepare yourself your module for free (the Ian Clayton: the poem that based workshops as to study with OU actual cost of an Access received the biggest ovation part of the Celebration of module in England is £660). from participants was Learning in the autumn to Registration for the next In order to qualify to study deemed the winner of the help ULRs throughout the round of Access modules for free you must: exercise. region encourage interest in at The Open University • be resident in the UK “The poetry exercise informal learning. (OU) closes on Thursday 8 • have a household income was well received by all More than 230 workers January for courses that start of less than £25,000 (or and a perfect ending to a took part in the events, in February 2015 (another be in receipt of qualifying successful event,” Mark says. which focused on stress- round will start in October). benefits) Feedback about the event busting, supporting Access modules are the • have no previous was overwhelmingly positive. mid-life development, ideal way to prepare for experience of study with “It was very enjoyable and understanding your payslip learners who want to study The Open University interesting and we all learned and the introductory IT with the OU but are not quite • have not completed something,” commented one online learning package sure they are ready. a higher education ULR. “It was that good, I can’t Learn My Way. “If you require confidence, qualification at NQF Level wait for the next one!” The team of Lisa Stones, then study an Access 4 or above. Another commented: Mick Brightman, Alan module,” says Access “The venue, format and all Cook and Paul Humphreys student Annabel Taylor. “The • Click here to secure a place or the presentations fitted into led the events, which modules are straightforward call the OU on 01908 659253 a very productive day.”

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 © Mark Harvey/iD8 Photography A the UnionLearning Fund (ULF). This outperformed onall thetargets set by a couple of years agoand quickly Aegon UK (pensions and investments) year. Aegis unionlearn started in overwhelming Yes voteearlierthis merged with Aegis after an make this newrole his dream job. at Skipton Building Society that really now organises for his former colleagues his job’s HQ. Skipton, there is much to love about gorgeous Yorkshire North town of for inajob. Building by learning The Skipton staff association But it’s theunion learning that he With its enviable location inthe Andrew Lambert finance union, says Project Worker staff associations to merge with the and Yorkshire Building Society Aegis helped persuade the Skipton The union learning offer from brought himall hehoped for his union Aegis has role as project worker ndrew Lambert’s new agreements that followed at Skipton. and the recognition and learning helped secure themerger agreements, it was theunion learning offer that the union earlier this year), Aegis says tion also voted overwhelmingly to join Building Society (whose staff associa- back for more.” band of happy learners who come happy learner and we have agrowing enough. There’s nothingquite like a able to helppeople. Ican’t stress that made more soby thefact that Iam is goingIcan say it is enjoyable and am very fortunate to behere,” hesays. success of theproject. working inpartnership to ensure the was achieved by Aegis and Aegon At both Skipton and the Yorkshire “When someoneasks how thejob “I would never have imagined it:I “There’s “There’s we have a for more.” learners who learner and like ahappy nothing quite quite nothing growing band come back back come of happy

THE WRITE STUFF

Lorry driver John Cook always “Sometimes these issues come felt something was wrong to light when members seem © Photofusion/Rex Features © Photofusion/Rex when he tried to set down his to struggle with paperwork thoughts on paper. or timekeeping, or even in disciplinaries,” says Barry. “In my mind I can do anything Eight per cent of the population but what I can’t do is write it is dyslexic, about 2.9 million down,” says John. At school, workers, says Barry. Dyslexia he struggled with writing and screening is a free service and the day his head teacher ripped comes with support from the up all his books because he URTU ULF education project. couldn’t read John’s handwriting was the day he gave up trying. The number who take part “I’d like to encourage averages around eight per John, who works for Biffa month, says Barry. “During people to take this great Waste in Cardiff, says it was the coming months we will be only when a family member opportunity to learn supporting groups who will be was diagnosed with dyslexia starting education courses in new skills and develop.” that things started to drop into their workplaces,” he adds. place. And while he was on an “With the aid of our ULRs and Aegis General Secretary Brian URTU union training course, workplace education providers, Linn says Aegis unionlearn has been he decided to confide in ULF we will be able to assess higher incredibly successful in a short period Project Worker Barry Marks. numbers of new learners.” of time, reaching out to people in the Barry, who has been trained finance sector who have not had the by the Dyslexia Foundation to • Click here for more information opportunities of union learning before. carry out screening, confirmed about dyslexia “Aegis has trebled in size in that John was dyslexic. 2014. I am convinced that our union learning offer has been a massive John now hopes more col- attraction to our new members and it leagues can get help through has been pivotal in creating positive Biffa’s learning zone. relationships with employers,” Barry demonstrated the he says. latest dyslexia screening Skipton Chief Human Resources tool during URTU’s learning Officer Rachel Fawcett is very excited conference in September. about the introduction of union learning within the Skipton Group. “I’d like to encourage people to take this great opportunity to learn new skills and develop,” she says. For Andrew and the union’s band of ULR colleagues in both building societies, Andrew says progress is like WEST BROM STAFF a swan’s movement – serene on the CELEBRATE SUCCESS surface but lots going on underneath. As well as a raft of courses offered Dudley College Skills Hub Director Jackie Payne presented via the traditional classroom learning, Certificate of Achievement awards to staff from the Learn the team is signposting to a range Through Us Project run by the West Bromwich Building Society of learning opportunities online. It is Staff Union. More than 200 people have signed up since the also negotiating with its employers to ULF project started last year. “It’s really inspiring to see so provide regionally assessed courses so many people who have felt able to realise their potential and that members who work in the branch to discover new talents through the opportunity this initiative network do not miss out. The team is provides,” says ULF Project Manager Sue Farmer. also looking into instant messaging to keep in contact with staff, along with video conferencing facilities to allow ULRs to keep in touch regardless of where they work.

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 Paczkowska and her team of ULRCoordinator Monika years, thanks to the hard work Castleford over the past three opportunities at DHL/Argos have taken 1,600 learning 250 Usdaw members

All photos © Mark Harvey/iD8 Photography It’s all about the team Usdaw’s Monika Paczkowska dedicates her recent ULR of the Year award to all her colleagues in DHL/Argos in Castleford. ✒ Astrid Stubbs

sdaw ULR Coordinator “If we could bottle Monika Paczkowska collected the prestigious it and distribute U TUC ULR of the Year what happens here award from TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady at Congress in we would have it September. cracked!” “It was very exciting to win but this award is for everyone at our workplace,” says the modest Monika is now carrying out a learning rep who works at DHL/ study for her union on the link Argos in Castleford. “I think this is between informal adult learning my job and what I’m supposed to and progression to functional skills be doing. I don’t think I’m doing and beyond, which will help inform anything special.” the content and organisation of Castleford DHL/Argos is a unique courses in the future. site, points out Usdaw Lifelong “Monika is approachable. People Learning Project Worker Martyn come in and see a friendly face – Warwick. “If we could bottle it and see it’s someone like them and can distribute what happens here we see what’s on offer with no barriers would have it cracked!” he says. so that everyone is treated the same “Monika makes coming to the “We are really lucky. All the site way,” says Martyn. learning zone comfortable, fun and staff are switched onto learning (the Monika moved to the UK accessible, removing any barriers site has offered 1,600 opportunities from Poland eight years ago for staff,” John says. to 250 staff in the last three years and eventually started work in “The strength of our union lies in with many coming back time and Castleford Home Delivery Store the hard work that reps like Monika time again), the learning reps (Argos warehouse) as a picker after do every day to provide first class are all very active and Monika is moving from another site. Having services for the members. I am coordinating the activity, managing left school to get a job rather than delighted that Monika’s dedication the team, looking after the reps go to university, the last thing on her to her duties has been rewarded at and making sure they follow up on mind was learning. the highest level.” tasks. And management gives really But after returning to work from As well as promoting learning good support.” maternity leave in 2011, she was to her colleagues, Monika is All of which means that Monika asked if she’d like to get involved living proof of the desire to learn and her team can offer traditional as a ULR and hasn’t looked back at the company, taking course skills such as maths and literacy; since. She moved from her ULR role after course herself. She now has but when the centre is not being to coordinator in 2012 and now her eye on an assessor course used for those courses staff can manages the nine-strong learning starting in the New Year. take paid time off for anything the rep team as well as overseeing “When I came to England I hadn’t learning centre wants to run. the move of the learning zone to thought about any kind of learning This has included Spanish a prime position but now I have done a string of as well as a timely winter car once occupied by courses: I’m thinking about what maintenance course. the HR team last else I could sign up to,” she says. After coordinating the year. “People here are the same. If they Six Book Challenge in the “We are very do a maths course, when they are workplace, Monika oversaw proud of Monika finished they want to know what a creative writing workshop for doing such an they are doing next – there’s always where the stories people incredible job for something happening and they get wrote were turned into a the members in her time off from the shop floor so they published book Walk The workplace,” says are coming to work not just to work Talk (right) presented to all General Secretary but have something else to look staff as a Christmas gift. John Hannett. forward to as well.”

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 Use it or lose it! Workplaces of all sizes up and down the country have an unprecedented opportunity to access European money to fund functional skills training. ✒ Martin Moriarty

nionlearn is backing a “Workers all over campaign by some of the country’s leading the country no U colleges and skills longer have to providers to alert British businesses that the European Social Fund has be dependent on made £50m available to fund basic having a generous- skills workplace training in English and maths. spirited boss to The National Consortium of fund the training.” Colleges and Providers (NCCP) got together to launch its campaign, For Business For Life, to alert employers they’re doing when it comes to about this opportunity since not calculating which energy company enough businesses know that the can give them the best deal.” money is there – and that it has to so there’s really no excuse,” Harvey be spent by the end of July 2015. points out. • Click here to read the BIS select “We set up our campaign to tell “Confident learners are far more committee report employers that they must grab this likely to seek promotion at work; at • Click here for more information on the campaign opportunity because this £50m pot home, they help out with the kids’ • Click here to follow the campaign of money will only be there until homework; and they know what on Twitter next year,” explains NCCP chairman Harvey Young (above). “It really would be a crime to let this money go to waste, which is why we’re so delighted to have BOOKER WINNER WRITES the might of the TUC and their NEW QUICK READ dedicated education professionals

behind us on this.” Features Swaine/Rex © Geoffrey Best-selling Irish all about creating new readers For the first time, the funding author Roddy and I’ve seen at first hand is available to businesses of all Doyle, whose how low levels of literacy have sizes – everything from fledgling first novelThe a negative effect on people’s enterprises to FTSE100 global Commitments lives: literacy is the key to corporations. became a opening doors for everyone,” And small and medium successful film and Roddy says. enterprises (SMEs) actually receive West End musical, is now the The other five titles for 2015 £800 per learner for the first three first Man Booker Prize-winner are: Paris For One by Jojo learners that complete Basic Skills to write a Quick Read. English or maths training – £400 at Moyes; Pictures the start of the training and £400 Having won the 1993 award Or It Didn’t Happen when it is completed, meaning for his Dublin childhood novel by Sophie Hannah; an SME training three or more Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, Roddy Red For Revenge employees could receive £2,400. has written Dead Man Talking by Fanny Blake; “Workers all over the country no for the 2015 set of Quick Reads, Out Of The Dark longer have to be dependent on and he hopes the story will be by Adèle Geras; having a generous-spirited boss both frightening and funny. and Street Cat Bob by to fund the training: every single “I’m delighted to be involved James Bowen. business has access to the funding, with Quick Reads as they are MOVING ON WITH MATHS

Citizen Maths is a new, free, open online resource for adults with a good grasp of the basics of numeracy who want to deepen their understanding by working at or around Level 2. You can More than 1,000 people have signed up for Citizen Maths since it went live in September, using short videos and small apps that aim to give learners the feel of a one-to-one tutorial with a count on us skilled teacher. Unions and ULRs across the country are helping their The first phase of Citizen Maths members overcome mental blocks about maths. involves five to ten hours of work on the powerful idea of proportion (e.g. ✒ Martin Moriarty mixing recipes, creating pie charts, looking for best buys). ore and more union their customers,” explains unionlearn “The quality of the teaching material learners and union Policy Officer Kirsi Kekki. allowed me to get the concept being learning reps (ULRs) The National Numeracy Challenge taught very quickly,” says one early are now promoting the aims to reduce the number of adults in M adopter. “It has replaced my fear of National Numeracy Challenge, using the UK with low levels of numeracy by maths with a love of it.” unionlearn’s online entry point or links over one million in the next five years. through their own unions. Its key tool is the Challenge Online, The UfI Charitable Trust, which has Finance union Aegis, the Society of a user-friendly interactive website funded Calderdale College and its Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP) and designed to assess and improve partners to develop the first phase of public services union UNISON have all people’s everyday maths skills in bite- the project, is currently looking into set up their own entry points to make sized steps, building their confidence backing a second phase covering four it easier for members to access the all along the way. more powerful ideas with between 25 challenge; while ATL, BFAWU, CWU, The Challenge is run by the and 50 hours of learning in total. POA, RCN, TSSA and URTU are all independent charity National “Looking at our initial assessment working hard to promote the campaign. Numeracy, which works in partnership of Citizen Maths’ impact, we are The Challenge is also working with with other organisations, including reasonably confident that our the unions with specific needs, such unions and unionlearn, to challenge approach is suitable for organisations as the Public and Commercial Services negative attitudes to everyday maths that want to give people a practical union PCS, which is keen to engage and promote effective approaches to and flexible learning opportunity in its Jobcentre Plus members around improving numeracy. maths,” says Project Director Seb everyday maths, so that they can Schmoller. better help the unemployed people • Click here to use unionlearn’s they support. dedicated entry point to the National • Click here to find out more “PCS, which is the main union in JCP, Numeracy Challenge • Click here to order your ULR guide to • Click here to follow Citizen Maths on Twitter were keen to come onboard so that becoming a Challenge Champion to keep up-to-date their members could go through the • Click here to follow National Numeracy challenge themselves before helping on Twitter to keep up-to-date

LEARNINGLEARNING REP REP AUTUMN SPRING 20142015 For example, Energy and Efficiency, the largest of the new IPs, which involves 67 employers in the sector, aims to deliver 70,000 new Take your learning opportunities (including Apprenticeships and Traineeships) INDUSTRIAL and has pledged to “fund increased training to ensure the industry has the right quantity, quality and partners diversity of new recruits”. The Energy IP has also set itself some key impact goals over the next five years, aiming to reduce skills gaps by 10 per cent; cut job vacancies by 10 per cent; boost gross added value by 5 per cent; © John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk © John and lower administrative overheads by 15 per cent. Similarly, the Science IP is com- mitted to creating more than 7,800 education and skills opportunities over the next two years, including 1,360 Apprenticeships and 240 Traineeships. The government is investing more than £100m in the new IPs, with the employers themselves matching or exceeding that investment with the he government-led “While the TUC has standard IP mix of cash and ‘in-kind’ overhaul of the skills contributions (through donation of funding system has broadly welcomed goods and/or services). T progressed with the the creation of Budgets vary significantly launch of eight new Industrial from IP to IP. Of the first five to be Partnerships, which are the new IPs, it has launched, the wealthiest, which designed to promote a strategic highlighted the covers Energy and Efficiency, approach to skills development has £115m to work with, while in key economic sectors. need for some key the Science IP has £83.6m, The new IPs cover the following safeguards.” Tech (Information Technology) sectors: Aerospace, Automotive, £53.8m, Creative Industries £37m Creative Industries, Energy and and Nuclear IP has just £8m. Efficiency, Nuclear, Science, Tech The TUC has consistently While the TUC has broadly and Tunnelling. highlighted the benefits of the welcomed the creation of the new They will all offer employers the social partnership model in other IPs, it has highlighted the need for chance to develop sector-specific European countries, notably some key safeguards: skills plans in partnership with Germany, where unions and • ensuring a proper voice for unions unions and other key stakeholders, employers work together to develop • preventing employers using using a combination of government the high-quality skills business and taxpayers’ money to fund investment and employer workers need. what they would have funded contributions. As they establish themselves, the themselves The IPs have been created as part new IPs are setting themselves key • maintaining a clear focus on of a series of skills funding reforms skills and development targets to prioritising equality and diversity that aim to: help meet the needs of their sectors • guarding against potential • channel government skills over the coming period. destabilisation of colleges and funding through employers, They are all keen to boost the providers. instead of providers, as previously numbers of Apprenticeships and • strengthen the links between Traineeships in their sectors, • Click here for the TUC’s new eNote high-quality skills provision and with some of them specifically about Industrial Partnerships government industrial strategy committing to working closely with • Click here for the new UKCES report, Growth Through People, supported by • apply lessons from partnership schools, colleges and universities to the TUC and CBI models in other countries. create improved pathways. IT PAYS TO Moving UPSKILL

Unions are especially keen to help middle-aged and on in older workers improve their skills, since people aged 55-plus with skills below Level 2 who lose their jobs mid-life are highly unlikely to find new work before they reach With the help of unionlearn, retirement age. union learning project managers And whatever our skills and learning reps are working levels, we are all likely to hard to improve the mid-life be working longer than development reviews they are previous generations, since delivering for their members. only around half of the 13.5 million jobs available in the ✒ Martin Moriarty next 10 years will be filled by school and college leavers. Supporting increased workforce participation by older workers is not only good for those riefing events delivered by “The atmosphere and individuals – it also could unionlearn staff throughout significantly boost GDP, the autumn have helped a what came out of the according to The missing B wide range of learning reps event was so positive million, a new report by from different unions, workplaces the Prince’s Initiative for and regions conduct better mid-life and productive.” Mature Enterprise (PRIME) development reviews. published in the autumn. “Mid-life development is rapidly UNISON’s Supporting Learners event “If the skills of the 50–64 moving up the agenda for unions,” in London in September, with the help age group were fully utilised explains unionlearn Supporting of the union’s own Davinder Sandhu and the employment rate Learners Development Officer Jane and Emma Lipscombe. matched that of those in Warwick, who helped deliver many of Sessions enabled participants to their 30s and 40s, UK GDP the mid-life events this autumn. use the latest unionlearn resources, could be £88.4bn higher in The events have helped participants such as the Value My Skills 2014 (equivalent to an uplift in two key ways: by setting the transferable skills card game, while of 5.6 per cent of GDP),” the review process in the wider context the Mid-life Career Review Project quiz report argues. of the workforce needs of the coming proved popular too. decades; and by offering hands-on, Feedback was massively positive. • Click here to download the interactive help with new resources “The atmosphere and what came Prime report developed specifically to help ULRs out of the event was so positive and conducting reviews with colleagues in productive,” says Hyndburn UNISON the workplace. lead ULR Louise Evans. The mid-life development agenda In addition, Britannia Staff Union allows people to talk about a number of (BSU), public and commercial UNISON learning reps get to crucial issues that are often addressed services PCS, Royal College of grips with the new mid-life separately in other contexts. Nursing (RCN), Royal College of development materials “As well as training and Midwives (RCM), Unite and road development, people want to talk transport union URTU have all about keeping their current job, organised mid-life briefing events improving their health, flexible for their ULF project managers working, better work-life balance, and ULRs; while both the financial issues and caring Midlands and the Yorkshire and responsibilities,” Jane says. The Humber unionlearn teams Alongside unionlearn Service organised regional briefings Manager Ian Borkett, Jane helped during the autumn. deliver a number of sessions at

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 13 Liz’s first-hand experience prompts new eNote

n operation for her own Work Related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULD) A was the catalyst for Herrmann © Paul Liz Salem, ULF Project Manager at the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP), to produce an eNote to help others. WRULD, formerly known as repetitive strain injury, is becoming a significant problem in podiatry, says Liz. “We had taken action through the Society’s Health and Safety Panel through surveys and media and producing guidance highlighting what people can do to prevent it,” she explains. But after many years in podiatry and working for long periods of time at a computer, she developed a WRULD problem in both wrists, which needed surgery. Liz researched the condition and stages of development, co-opting “The ULF team and I had one of treatments available, gathered the colleagues in the process: it really those light bulb moments: an eNote latest health data and statistics, was a team effort!” she adds. might be the answer. I was able looked at various assessment tools “We hope the incidence of to use a small amount of the ULF and contacted colleagues in the WRULD will fall as a consequence. budget to fund a WRULD eNote as SCP and the other health unions for This is a great online resource for it would benefit both our members case studies. all union members to access not and those of the other health “And I asked an occupational just those in the health sector,” unions and ultimately the wider therapist friend for information on Liz says. union community,” says Liz. daily living equipment that can help Along with Graham Pirie, SCP minimise the incidence of WRULD. • Click here to register for/access to Employment Relations Officer and We proofread the different versions the WRULD eNote Health and Safety Panel member, of the script and eNote in various

In 2011–2012, 1.2 million due to domestic violence experiencing such abuse. DOMESTIC women were estimated through their lifetime and The eNote looks at why it VIOLENCE to have experienced it’s estimated that about is a workplace issue and domestic violence, with 2 per cent of women will it’s hoped it will increase eNOTE 90 per cent of people actually lose their job as a awareness of the issue experiencing four or more direct result of the abuse as well as support Domestic violence affects incidents of domestic that they receive from a a rep if a colleague one in four women in their violence being women. partner or former partner. raises the issue. lifetime, while two women a week are killed by Some 20 per cent of Now a new eNote on the • Click here to register/access their partners or former employed women will issue is helping reps to all TUC Education eNotes partners because of it. have to take time off work safeguard colleagues TIME TO “In the representation GET ON GOODBYE TO of working people Getting on at Work provides there isn’t more a framework for learning and PETE AND PETE accreditation in the workplace, important work than recognising that for many a that of the workplace flexible approach that enables them to undertake meaningful, union rep.” smaller ‘chunks’ of learning is most appropriate. Materials have been developed by unionlearn and its partners Pete Try (above), AND HELLO TO with a focus on helping adults REO for the West back into work. The units have Midlands Region, ADE AND TONY been used in projects working has retired after 11 with unemployed adults and in years with TUC Education. courses that support learners Pete was apprenticed as a tool- New Midlands REO Ade who are returning to the work maker to Lucas Industries, making Toomey (right) has been a environment. machine tools to manufacture trade unionist since his components for the car industry. first ‘proper job’ in 1983, The qualifications can During this time he studied for an OU as a temp with Reckitt support the needs of a range degree followed by an MA in Industrial & Colman. “I joined of learners, including those Relations at Warwick University. the union from day one, who want to develop skills He took redundancy in the 1980s and slowly developed into for progressing at work, people and volunteered to teach adult somebody other temps would facing change at work including literacy. He was appointed as trade come to with issues,” he says. redeployment and learners who union studies tutor at Sandwell Ade changed jobs in the 1990s want to get back into work. College and appointed as Midlands and became an active member of Getting on at Work supports REO in 2003. UCATT, holding the roles of shop learners through a number of Pete underwent a heart bypass in steward, safety rep, ULR and member pathways, including units on September but is now recovering well of the regional JBSO. Following a adapting to change, equality and and driving again. tribunal finding of unfair dismissal, diversity, financial capability at “I’ll always argue the case that in Ade used the opportunity to access work and progressing at work. the representation of working people HE as a full-time student and (using there isn’t more important work than credits gained from TUC Education) • Click here to find out more and that of the workplace union rep and graduated in 2001. download the materials there isn’t a more important task While at university he maintained than the education and training close links with the local TU Ed of the union rep,” Pete says. unit that had developed him North West REO Pete as a rep. He started as a Holland (right) worked part-time hourly tutor with Regional Union Development for Crawfords Biscuits East Riding College Trade Coordinator with unionlearn in the and Otis Elevators in the Union Studies Centre, North West eight years ago. 1970s before attending eventually becoming “I am looking forward to taking Ruskin College in 1979. He course coordinator. up the role of REO for the North then studied sociology at New North West REO Tony West. There are challenging times Liverpool University. He followed Saunders (far right) first became ahead but with the team of excellent this up with a postgraduate teaching involved in trade union education and highly committed tutors and certificate and started teaching at courses in 1992 as a lay tutor coordinators across the region I Liverpool Community College. delivering North West courses for am sure we will continue to deliver He did some part-time trade reps in Nalgo (now part of UNISON). a brilliant service, providing high- union education teaching and He took up his first part-time quality training to reps from all eventually headed up the unit role with TUC Education in 1996, unions across the at Bolton in the 1990s before delivering an ICT course for the region,” he becoming REO 13 years ago. Halton (now Riverside) College TUC says. Education Unit and moved on to deliver the same programme for Wirral Metropolitan College. In 1998 he was appointed as a TUC Education lecturer in Wirral Metropolitan College, becoming

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 © Joan Russell Photography Joan ©

Courses for horses Established stable staff are supporting young people on Traineeships with the help of their union and unionlearn. ✒ Martin Moriarty

he National Association “This is an ideal fit employers were concerned at the high of Stable Staff (NASS) is drop-out rate on the Apprenticeship extending its Union Learning for people who have – which is why NASS and unionlearn T Fund (ULF) project by already taken courses got together to design a six-week offering mentoring and team leading Traineeship programme to help the qualifications to members supporting in English, maths and young people cross the bridge between young people on Traineeships. basic IT.” the diploma and the Apprenticeship. “This is very good for the NASS, “The Traineeship will give the young because their ULF project has been people the chance to undertake work looking to create a progression route at a special event in the new year at experience at a stables, living in and for members who have taken the Malton, North Yorkshire, when the getting a feel for the work before functional skills courses they have union and employers hope to identify they commit to the Apprenticeship,” been concentrating on up to now,” potential mentors in as many yards Graham explains. explains unionlearn officer Graham as possible: the aim is to ensure each With data from the British Horse Randle. yard has a nominated person who Racing Authority showing fewer young “This is an ideal fit for people who will oversee the Traineeship and help people entering the industry, NASS have already taken courses in English, each learner progress through the believes that by working with young maths and basic IT, and they will programme. people and the employers it can help come out of the courses with an NCFE But the professional development train and then retain people within the qualification in mentoring and an ILM on offer through the new qualifications racing industry. qualification in team leading.” will also significantly benefit the young “We are very excited at the prospect The new qualifications will be of trainees who are supported by the new of linking up with the Northern Racing huge benefit to NASS members, mentors. College to provide a coordinated especially because many of them For some time, the Northern approach to the Traineeships of the struggle to find work when they leave Racing College (NRC) has been young recruits to British racing,” says the industry after a career that typically offering a diploma in work-based NASS Chief Executive George McGrath. lasts 15–20 years. race horse care for young people Racehorse Trainer Malcolm Jefferson “The people who come forward interested in becoming apprentices; also supports the new programme. “As to become mentors will give them a when they complete the 12-week employers, we appreciate that people transferable qualification that will programme, they start an intermediate progress at different rates and feel that help them if and when they leave the Apprenticeship at a stable, which also the Traineeships will enable young industry,” Graham explains. provides them with bed and board. people to develop at their own pace The qualifications will be launched However, both the NRC and the and become valued employees.”

LEARNING REP SPRING 2015 16