Unite signed a learning agreement with Strathclyde Partnership
for Transport (SPT) in August 2008. SPT is a public transport
partnership that covers the Glasgow underground, as well as rail
and bus services in the city.
The agreement enables staff to access new opportunities for
learning and training, both within SPT and with outside training
providers. This comes at a crucial time for the rail sector in the
West of Scotland: with growing pressure on public transport due to
rising fuel prices and the need to cut carbon emissions, as well as
the expansion of the network due to demand from the 2014
Commonwealth Games, there is a need now more than ever for highly
skilled and motivated staff.
Strathclyde famously has one of the most integrated public
transport systems in the UK, with a network of overland and
underground trains, buses and ferries supplying the region’s
transport needs. In addition, the missing piece in the public
transport puzzle is scheduled to be filled with the Crossrail
Project, a new rail link that will open more routes and harmonise
travel across the city of Glasgow.
The learning programme provides all staff at SPT with
opportunities to gain new skills and to begin a lifelong learning
journey. The agreement was reached due to the hard work of Mr Lyn
Turner, Unite learning coordinator, Brian Stewart, ULR, and Ian
Findlay, Unite convenor, working together with SPT management, with
the support of the full time officer Eddy Duffy.
At the signing of the agreement, ULR Brian Stewart said: “We are
very pleased to have reached this agreement which will allow SPT
staff to become all they can be.”
SPT Chief Executive Ron Culley said, “I am delighted to announce
that today we signed a Learning Agreement with Unison and Unite.
Our future rests with our collective ability to deliver quality
products and services – and the secret to this is to ensure that
people are trained appropriately.”
Unite surveyed the workforce in November 2008 to determine
learning needs. The survey showed that a sizable majority of SPT
staff are eager to learn new skills, particularly in the fields of
computing, languages and communication. In addition, staff showed a
willingness to learn in the new SPT learning centre, and reported
that time, cost and shift work were the biggest obstacles to
learning.
In December, Unite met with colleges to develop a learning
programme based on the survey results. The partnerships we have
with colleges mean courses are free of charge to all staff, and
delivered in the workplace at shift friendly times. The bespoke
courses are designed in consultation with the union, based on the
responses to the learning survey.
In January 2009, the first courses started at the Broomloan
depot, and by May, 60% of staff on site had attended a
union-organised course. The following courses have been run this
year: Union Learning Reps, four Using Computers courses (including
one delivered at night for nightshift workers), Spanish, and four
City & Guilds 17th Edition of IEE Wiring Regulations Handbooks
courses.
The 17th Edition course has proved especially popular as it
allows members to develop their vocational qualifications. Over the
next few months, Stage 2 Computer courses are planned, as well as
courses in Spanish, Sign Language and 17th Edition Regs.
The courses were delivered by Stow College and Reid Kerr
College. The partnership between Stow and Unite to deliver
workplace learning reached the regional finals of the National
Training Awards in 2009, in recognition of the groundbreaking work
being done by the union and college to bring learning to the
workplace.
We expect the partnership agreement and lifelong learning
programme to deliver important new opportunities over the next few
years, including Investors in People status for SPT, which has
committed itself to providing quality development opportunities for
staff. We also expect the partnership approach to help change the
organisation into a proactive learning and training environment,
with a grassroots demand for skills development and excellence.
Learning organiser Pat McIlvogue said, “The learning reps at SPT
have achieved the goal of making learning part of the collective
bargaining process. They have incorporated learning into core trade
union business. The learning agenda on site is well structured and
well received by members. We have now expanded the project even
further and commenced negotiations with the employer to provide
Adult Apprenticeships to our semi-skilled members.”
