Lifelong Learning - UNISON and You!

I have been a member of NALGO and UNISON for over 15 years and a Steward for 10 of those.

I became a steward because I attended meetings where I and the Branch officials were all there was! In June 2004 I became a Life-long Learning Adviser - now called a Union Learning Rep. (ULR). My role is to encourage members and non-members alike to take up all those training opportunities out there. The Government wishes all workers to be at a certain level of skill in numeracy, literacy and ICT. Other countries in Europe are well ahead of us at the moment. Only 25% of British workers are at Basic Skill level 2, compared with over 70% in Germany and over 60% in France.

The Government has launched Learning for Life initiatives aimed at doing something about this. This is where I come in. I can find out for you where your interests (and weaknesses) lie and point you in the direction of the most appropriate training and help you with organising this training. This includes locating funding and even travelling arrangements for you. The rest is definitely up to you but if you need to negotiate time-off for the course you have chosen, then that is where the Union Learning Rep (ULR) comes in.

The Devon County Branch Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator is Rose Gander, and David Henley is the Education co-ordinator for the Branch. They can negotiate with management over any paid time you may need to take. My role is only advisory but I will do my best to help you in any way I can. I was a Teacher before I became a Science Technician, and Education is very close to my heart but I cannot do anything to help you unless you contact me. Everything will be strictly confidential, no one else will know your problems, if you have any, or why you want to pursue a course.

On another, related, note - I would ask all you members out there, 'Do you make the most of your Union subscription?'. Judging by my experiences the answer has to be 'no'. UNISON is not just there as your personal Insurance in the event of trouble at work, commendable though that is, or as the negotiator of your last pay increase. There are free courses to be had just for the asking, and these are for anyone, be you male, female, a new member or one of longstanding. UNISON will help with travel costs, crèche facilities, costs of home care for dependants, special diets and arrangements for the disabled. The booking form enables you to tailor the course to your own personal needs.

You may ask why bother to attend courses at all? The answer lies, according to the Learning and Skills Council, in the Pensions crisis. The workforce is ageing and the future pool of school leavers is set to reduce. Employers will need to help their existing employees develop, and those employees will need to update their skills to make themselves attractive to employers no matter how old they are. Get ahead of the game and let UNISON help you to gain those skills. The TUC also provides courses that can benefit those among you ready to become 'active' and help others within UNISON reach their potential. They have certainly helped me - without the benefit of the TUC computer courses I would not be as computer literate as I am, at the age of 58. UNISON has helped me and they can do the same for you.

Life is not just work, though, is it? UNISON puts on Fundays (for Women members only at the moment). You men out there put forward your ideas for Fundays of your own, and, providing they are not immoral or illegal, I'm sure that something can be arranged!

The same goes for Regional Conferences, get involved and arrange something - don't just sit and moan because UNISON appears to favour women members. I hear such moans all the time from male colleagues. Become a Steward, Health & Safety Rep, ULR, and make a difference. Don't let apathy win. Holidays and discounts, Welfare and training, UNISON has it all, just ask!

Jackie Roberts
UNISON Learning Advisor
Teignmouth Community College.