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Unite union reps receive Scottish Lifelong Learning award

21st April 2010

Unite transport sector reps from Glasgow have received this year’s Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning, awarded to union reps who promote learning in an innovative way.

It is the third time that members from Unite, the largest union in the country, have been chosen to receive the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) award, which is administered by Scottish Union Learning.

This year’s winners are a group of reps at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), a public transport partnership that runs the Glasgow subway and provides integrated support for trains, buses, ferries and other transport initiatives in the Strathclyde region.

Jim Lillis of First Glasgow received the award last year for Unite, for activities including arranging classes in the Glaswegian dialect for migrant bus drivers. In 2006, it was awarded to Helen Douglas of Remploy Clydebank.

The reps are:

• Brian Stewart:   Lead union learning rep (ULR)
• Ian Findlay:   Convener and ULR
• Harry Copland:   Convener, ULR, health & safety rep
• Sonny Singh:    Workplace rep, ULR, equality rep
• Brian Conner:   Workplace rep, ULR, health & safety rep
• John Lennon:   Workplace rep, ULR
• Gerry Hastings:   Unison ULR

In September 2008 Unite negotiated and signed a learning agreement with SPT. Unison are also signatories, representing head office admin staff.

Over the past year, more than 100 members have taken part in a total of 2,138 hours of accredited learning, in communications, languages, IT and vocational qualifications such as the City & Guilds 17th Edition Wiring Regulations.

All of this was organised by the union reps, and delivered free of charge at the workplace, with the employer giving 50 per cent time off.

The award will be presented by the first minister of the Scottish government, Alex Salmond, at the STUC in Dundee today (Wednesday).

Lead ULR Brian Stewart said: ”The pleasure is in seeing other people fulfil their potential through union-led learning, and in seeing them become more confident and more involved in the workplace is rewarding.

”To be part of the team who are the recipients of this award demonstrates that we are making a difference, and becoming a union learning rep is the first step to making that happen.”

Unite regional secretary John Quigley said: ”I am pleased to congratulate the reps at SPT who have won this important award. They have brought opportunities to our members to improve their skills and gain vocational qualifications.

”What makes their achievement particularly impressive is the way they have incorporated learning into core union business, and secured robust agreements that guarantee our members time off for learning.

”I believe that putting learning on the collective bargaining agenda is crucial to transforming our workplaces into highly skilled, well paid environments. Investing in skills is important if we want to grow our economy out of recession.”

SPT chair Jonathan Findlay said: ”We are delighted that our learning group was chosen to receive this year’s Helen Dowie Award. SPT’s learning agreement, which was reached with trades unions in 2008, enables staff to access new opportunities for lifelong learning and training both within SPT and with outside training providers.

”This excellent partnership working has so far resulted in more than 2,000 hours of union-funded learning for SPT staff, and demonstrates our commitment to nurturing a culture of learning within the workplace.’

ENDS

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS:

Most of the learning took place at Broomloan depot in Glasgow, which is where the subway trains are maintained. Learning also took place at Buchanan bus station and Consort House (HQ and admin building).

What is significant is that learning and training have been incorporated into all the collective bargaining structures, and the policy negotiated by the reps - including 50 per cent time off for learning - has been mainstreamed into company policy.

In a political environment where workers are faced with weak legislation like the newly announced right to request time off for learning (and the employers' right to refuse), Unite thinks collective bargaining is key to changing the skills landscape. It is rare to see this level of social partnership in British industrial relations.

Helen Dowie was involved in the Trade Union Movement in Fife for most of her adult life. She worked in Rosyth Dockyard for about 20 years and was active within the civil service unions. Through her union, Helen organised the yard, organised and campaigned in many initiatives, and supported many workers. She took the union into the community through the organisation of the Rosyth festival and music events to highlight campaigns for Chilean workers and other important union campaigns.

For further information:

Pat Mcilvogue, regional learning organiser07918631805, Shaun Noble, communications officer 020 740 8951 or 07768 693 940