Working with Unionlearn

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Working with Unionlearn

• Vocational Progression to Higher Education,
• Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, 18 March 2008

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Dr Shaun LongThe Open University in Yorkshire2
Trevelyan SquareBoar LaneLeedsLS1 6ED

• 0113 208 6745
• S.K.Long_at_open.ac.uk

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The Concept of Union Learning

• Trade union movement has a long history of
  promoting education to members.
• Number of colleges established for working people
  in late nineteenth century.
• Workers Educational Association (WEA) founded as
  An Association to promote the Higher Education of
  Working Men in 1903 and renamed in 1905.
• Post WWII TUC Training College opened. Rep
  training spurred by employment health safety
  legislation of 1970s.

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Developments since the Advent of New Labour

• Creation of TUC Learning Services
• Promotion of
• Skills for Life
• IAG
• Training Union Learning Reps
• Union Learning Fund established 1998
• First ULRs trained and accredited in 2000
• Statutory recognition of ULRs in 2002

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Union Learning Fund (ULF)

• Key Aims
• Ensure learning skills are core activities for
  unions.
• Develop key role of ULRs in increasing demand for
  learning, especially for those with low/no PEQs.
• Help ULRs to provide quality IAG on learning
  opps.
• Assist unions to form active partnerships with
  employers develop learning agreements.
• Promote partnerships with learning providers
  secure high quality provision.

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Current ULF Key Themes

• Building and supporting the ULR network
• Skills for Life NVQ level 2 provision
• Progression professional development
• ICT e-learning
• Technical infrastructure
• Sector-based union initiatives

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What is Unionlearn?

• Established after 2005 DfES allocation of 4.5
  million.
• Aims to create and embed a body of ULRs in
  workplace settings to promote lifelong learning
  opportunities to existing and potential union
  members.
• Target of 22,000 ULRs by 2010.
• Target of recruiting 250,000 learners by 2010.
• Aims to add value to existing union educational
  activity.
• National and regional structures.
• No targets beyond 2010.

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Unionlearn Mission Statements

• "We will increase workers life chances and
  strengthen their voice at the workplace through
  high quality union learning."
• To help unions to become learning organisations,
  with programmes for union reps and regional
  officers and strategic support for national
  officers.
• To help unions broker learning opportunities for
  members, running phone and online advice
  services.
• Research union priorities on learning and skills,
  identify and share good practice, promote
  learning agreements, support members on learning
  skills bodies, and help shape sector skills
  agreements.

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The ULR Role

• Its voluntary. ULRs therefore very varied.
• To promote learning opportunities to existing and
  potential union members, from basic skills
  upwards.
• To promote union membership through highlighting
  additional educational opportunities it affords.
  Aims to arrest declining union membership via
  attracting those who previously may have been
  alienated by the militant image of traditional
  trade unionism.
• Run union learning centres.

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The ULR Role Part 2

• Promote IAG on learning opportunities to members
  via use of the Climbing Frame.
• Organise learning at work days.
• Possess statutory rights in union-recognised
  workplaces to time off for training and carrying
  out activities.

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Why work with Unionlearn?

• Unionlearn targets individuals who have
  previously missed out on educational
  opportunities, i.e. those who are more likely to
  fall into WP target groups.
• Unions promote educational opportunities for all
  employees, not just those with high-level
  qualifications who tend to be more favoured by
  company training budgets.
• Need to work in an integrated fashion to embed a
  culture of lifelong learning.

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Matters for Consideration

• Change of government could lead to withdrawal of
  ULF monies which underpin Unionlearn and its
  activities. Next general election likely to be
  2010.
• In what way(s), if any, do your objectives
  overlap with those of the union learning agenda,
  and how could you contribute to the realisation
  of Unionlearns goals?
• Are there any particular sectors which your
  institution or project could usefully contribute
  towards?
• At which level should you engage with unions
  regional or branch? Regional learning
  officers/managers, ULRs or Unionlearn personnel?

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Which Unions?

• Individual unions possess their own regional
  learning managers/officers and associated
  programmes.
• Do you have any pre-existing links/engagement
  activities with particular unions?
• Reflect upon which industries/sectors are
  strongest within your operational area and which
  unions are likely to be represented within these.

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Useful Resources

• Unionlearn homepage www.unionlearn.org.uk/
• Working for Learners a Handbook for Unions and
  their Union Learning Representatives
  www.unionlearn.org.uk/files/publications/documents
  /124.pdf

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Regional Contact Details

• Yorkshire and the Humber TUC Unionlearn33 Park
  PlaceLeeds LS1 2RY
• Telephone [phone]
• www.unionlearn.org.uk/about/regions_contacts_yandh
  .cfm