When Derby print company BemroseBooth went
into receivership recently Unite The Union was quick off the mark
to offer support for those affected by setting up an “Open Day” for
members at their local office with partner organisations present to
give advice on benefits and careers as the employees were left
without pay.
With the support of the unionlearn Skills
Recession & Recovery Project and Unet (unionlearn learning
centre network) Unite set up an emergency learning centre at their
Derby office with Laptops supplied by unionlearn the union can now
offer rapid response to members in the East Midlands.
Leading on from a series of open days 40+
members were given advice on benefits, pensions and courses on
offer.
Literacy & Numeracy courses have run with
all learners getting an up to date qualification, there was also an
ICT course run to help the members brush up and learn IT skills to
be put to good use in CV Writing and job applications.
It was at Unite’s Regional office in Derby at
the ICT course when I spoke to Lakhy Mahal: Unite
Learning Organiser and the learners about the centre
and the service offered by the Union:
“This is part and parcel of what the
union is all about, offering support to all and especially to those
who need it the most, in this case members who lost their jobs
abruptly”
“Only unions can give this personalised
support because they know the members and understand what they are
going through because in many cases we have been there
ourselves”
Dave Jeffery: Education Organiser,
Unite
“This work demonstrates how Unite’s
Learning Organisers can give practical support when people have
lost their jobs; by doing it with them rather than to
them”
“It clearly demonstrates the strength
of the regional partnership that made this happen with the
Regional Officers, Learning Organisers and Education Department
working together. And, of course, we could not have done it
without the support of unionlearn”
The learners on the course had this to say
about the courses and support from their union:
“The support from the union has been
brilliant setting up these courses and any help is appreciated in
this climate”
“Good to see the courses set up and
now with the new laptops the union can be put use
immediately”
“This is a great way to brush up on
your IT, Maths and English whilst keeping in touch with your mates,
meeting up before the course starts, catching up and sharing
information about jobs!
“Anything that will help you get a
job has got to be a bonus”
“With me not being up on computers
this course will come in very handy”
