An innovative project to deliver trade union
workplace learning was shortlisted for a National Training Award
for the Scottish region at a ceremony held at Edinburgh Castle in
November 2009. National Training Awards celebrate best practice in
training across all sectors, industries and areas in the UK.
The partnership, between Unite, rail unions
represented by ASLEF, Glasgow-based further education college Stow,
and employers First ScotRail, Rolls-Royce and Remploy saw 75
different courses delivered to 760 union members between April 2008
and April 2009.
The learning is accredited, and is delivered
by the TUC-branded trade union education department at Stow
College. Stow tutors specialise in working with trade unions and
delivering shift-friendly learning in the workplace. The learning
is funded through European Structural Fund bids developed by Stow
College and the trade unions.
The courses are delivered through trade union
learning agreements with employers, which allow collective
bargaining around skills and learning at a workplace level, through
lifelong learning partnership groups. Employers grant facility time
to Union Learning Reps (ULRs) to participate in the partnership
group, and to organise learning at work. ULRs survey the members at
their workplace to determine learning needs, and organise courses
through the partnership with Stow College.
Research carried out by union learning reps
reveals a groundswell of interest in learning in the workplace. For
instance, a recent survey at UKAEA and Rolls-Royce Vulcan in
Dounreay, Caithness, showed a significant demand for adult
literacy, ICT, numeracy and languages learning. Key outcomes
included:
·
49% of 150 UKAEA employees surveyed stated that they wished to
upgrade their "everyday skills" (defined as presentation skills,
interpersonal skills, written communications, spelling and
numeracy).
·
"Work pressure", "Shift work", "Confidence" and "Where to start?"
were all identified as barriers to participation in learning
The focus of the partnership has
been to meet the learning demand identified through the workplace
surveys, and for this reason, the programme has been flexible and
shift friendly. In addition to this, the partnership has aimed
to:
· Upskill the
workforce
· Develop progression
routes for learners
· Increase productivity,
skills utilisation and morale at work
Julie McComasky, Head of Learning and
Development at First ScotRail said:
“Working in partnership with the trade unions
and Stow College has enabled ScotRail to successfully address all
these challenges, throughout all of our workplaces. Over 400
low-skilled workers have participated in courses, and ScotRail has
undoubtedly benefitted from the corresponding enhancement in
workers’ skills levels, as well as the significant increases in
staff motivation and morale.”
Lyn Turner, National Learning Coordinator for
Unite, said:
“We are pleased that the National Training
Awards have recognised the pioneering work being carried out by
this partnership between unions, the college and employers. We
intendto continue the good work we are doing, and to take it to
more members in more workplaces across Scotland.
“We believe we have developed a best practice
model, and we are lobbying the Scottish Government to fund this
kind of adult learning so that it can be extended to workers across
all sectors. We believe that investing in training and skills is
the best way to grow our way out of recession and create a
sustainable economy for the future. ”
