Barry Channing, Unite ULR and Full time
Representative at GKN Aerospace in Filton, has taken on the role of
Trade Union Mentor to a group of student representatives from local
secondary schools in the Bristol area.
The students are studying for the governments
new Engineering Diploma that is being piloted this year along with
a number of other diplomas covering a range of vocational
disciplines.
The Diploma Voice project aims to promote
formal arrangements for student representation on the Diploma
courses in schools and colleges.
The project has been initiated by the TUC, in
partnership with the English Secondary Students’ Association
(ESSA), and the pilot will runs from September last year until June
2009.
Student Diploma representatives, i.e. Young
Reps, have been elected by their peers, receive training and will
be mentored by a shop steward from a local company in the same
employment sector as the Diploma.
.png "student reps")
The Student Reps Group on their visit to
GKN.
Barry agreed to accept the role and invited
the student Reps to visit the GKN site in Filton, along with
Heather Reed, Student Support Manager Kingswood Partnership and
Unite Regional Learning Organiser, Brendan Parkinson.
The students took a tour of the GKN site and
attended a meeting of the Shop Stewards Site Committee, chaired by
Senior Convenor Mark Thomas. It gave a real insight into
How a trade union like Unite supports
workers.
Barry said of his new role, “This is an
excellent project for the students, who hopefully will continue
their good work and one day join the engineering fraternity. My new
role does have challenges and fortunately I have an understanding
manager!!
The focus of my role is to mentor the lead rep
from the group on how best to Chair meetings, deal with difficult
situations and how to disseminate information to the group etc.
The project enables us as trade unionists to
interact with the students and show the work we do in a good light
and hopefully encourage them to join the trade union in their
working life.
On the day of the visit they observed our
committee meeting and witnessed at first hand how we deal with
issues. Hopefully we didn’t scare them!!!
The project is in the early stages and
hopefully it continues on to bigger and better things for the
students and for the interaction of the trade unions with local
schools.’’
.png "student reps meeting")
The student Reps discuss the finer points
of running a formal meeting with GKN Reps Barry Channing and Mark
Thomas.
It is a really positive move to get these
young people aware of the true values and benefits of trade
unionism. A vivid contrast to what they sometimes hear in the
mainstream media.
