Stream: Learning through unions

John Denham hails major union boost to workplace learning

John Denham DIUS* Secretary of State will warmly welcome the increase in union learning reps (ULRs) to over 20,000 and the number of union learners up by over a third to 206,000 at the unionlearn* (the TUC's learning and skills organisation) conference in central London, today (Wednesday 18th June). Comic Lenny Henry will also take to the stage to speak about his experience of completing an Open University degree in English. In addition, leading crime writer and author of the Wire in the Blood series, Val McDermid will also be addressing the audience of leading trade unionists, union learning reps and learners.

The Secretary of State will also announce the Time to Train consultation on the proposed right to request training and praise the work of ULRs on the fifth anniversary of their gaining statutory rights. The conference will also see unionlearn expand its network of leading education partners by signing a memorandum of understanding with NIACE* (the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education), as well as making twelve new unionlearn Quality Awards to educational providers across the country. Finally, unions are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Union Learning Fund* (ULF), which supports trade union workplace learning projects.


John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: 'I welcome the news that there are now over 20,000 union learning reps across the country, which is a great boost to workplace learning. Union learning reps are people's 'friends at work', who can encourage them to re-engage with learning. In our consultation on the right to request time to train, we would like to see the role of the union learning rep strengthened, so that workplace learning and the workforce can reach their full potential.'

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said: 'Twenty thousand union learning reps and over a third more learners since last year is a great success for unionlearn, which proves exactly how important unions have become in delivering training in workplaces up and down the country. This is trade unionism at its best, making a real difference to the lives of workers and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations, which is also increasing the country's productivity and closing the skills gap.'


NOTES TO EDITORS:
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
Media enquiries:
Wanda Wyporska T: 020 7079 6950 M: 07795 844728 E: wwyporska@tuc.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 18 Jun 2008

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