Scottish Union Learning

What is a Union Learning Representative (ULR)?

A Union Learning Representative is a union activist who is trained to find out members’ learning needs and aspirations and advise them about opportunities. ULRs add value to employers’ efforts to engage workers in learning. Union members trust their ULR with their learning interests and needs. 

ULRs liaise directly with fellow workers, employers, and training providers to identify a range of learning opportunities and make them available to the workforce. Additionally, ULRs support innovative workplace development, such as Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) projects. There are many benefits to employers in working with ULRs. Many organisations recognise the benefits of employees having the right skills to respond to changes in legislation, the business environment and other influences. Most importantly, it helps change relationships in the workplace and can help break down barriers to learning and skills development that may have previously existed.

Union and TUC Education Courses 

Through unions or TUC Education, free courses for all union reps are available. These courses are organised by each
union’s own education department or by the TUC Education Officer in Scotland. They are provided mainly on a day-release
basis through a network of further and higher education colleges located across Scotland. If you want to become a rep, contact your union regional or national office to find out how you can go about it. Once your union has accredited you, you will be able to access these courses.

The Union Learning Reps course includes training on:

• the role of the learning rep;
• the value of learning and skills in the workplace;
• identifying learning needs;
• developing strategies in the workplace;
• contacts and information networks;
• policies and programmes for learning and skills.

Everyday Skills

The term ‘Everyday Skills’ defines the language, literacy, numeracy and basic IT skills required both in the workplace and at home. Examples include understanding written and verbal job instructions, reading and understanding health and safety information, writing letters and reports, completing timesheets and rotas, working out a family budget and helping children with their homework. English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) is included in the Everyday Skills support which can be facilitated through Scottish Union Learning. In addition, Scottish Union Learning can arrange support for learners who may have dyslexia and/or other learning differences and disabilities. 

We can all benefit from improving our Everyday Skills. If we don’t use our skills regularly we risk losing them. Many people have left school with various skills and qualifications but have not used them since; their skills have, therefore, become ‘rusty’ over a period of time and brushing up on these skills would help them to become more confident in what they do at work and at home. There are also learners who left school without obtaining many of these skills. This could be due to a variety of reasons; perhaps they had health or family issues and were unable to attend school regularly; maybe they have dyslexia or other learning differences which were not recognised at school. In addition, there are many migrant workers in Scotland who need to understand important information, for example, health and safety notices, and would benefit greatly from learning and/or improving their English language skills. Giving people opportunities to learn as adults enables them to take greater control over their lives. Improved Everyday Skills can also motivate learners to take up further learning opportunities, which can lead to higher skilled and better paid jobs. 

There are many ways to access Everyday Skills opportunities across Scotland. Trade unions can make use of a range of support, including Local Authority Community Learning & Development Partnerships, further education colleges and specialist organisations such as the Workers’ Educational Association. In addition, some unions are developing their own workplace tutors.

Scottish Union Learning

Scottish Union Learning is the culmination of the STUC’s work in skills and lifelong learning over a period of nine years. The STUC and TUC Education in Scotland have come together to form the new structure, which was launched in May 2008 in the Glasgow City Chambers. Scottish Union Learning aims to produce a step-change in union-led learning by providing a high profile, strategic direction for union learning.

Scottish Union Learning is run by unions for unions. Scottish Union Learning administers the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) and the ESF Scottish Fund for Union Learning. Key areas of work also include the integration of Everyday Skills within union lifelong learning activity and supporting and stimulating lifelong learning initiatives specific to the Highlands and Islands. Funding is provided to TUC Education in Scotland to support its programme of union rep training, which develops and supports union reps in the workplace. Scottish Union Learning also aims to improve the performance of union reps in the workplace and in their role within the union.

For more information and to access additional resources, visit www.scottishunionlearning.com.