Research into union learning

A qualitative study of workplace learning agreements by Emma Wallis and Mark Stuart Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change; Leeds University Business School.

This paper traces the history of union involvement in training from the neo-corporatism of the 1960/70s, through the voluntarism of the 1980s/90s, to the present "post-voluntary" era, as described by Gordon Brown when Chancellor of the Exchequer. It concludes that, although that there has been significant capacity building in unions under New Labour, the lack of significant collective bargaining over training limits delivering the broad union learning agenda at the workplace.

This report highlights a series of issues related to the question of qualifications and the recognition of skills. The experience of migrants in the UK varies in relation to their different communities, histories and ethnic and cultural dimensions and this report is but a snapshot of some of the issues and initiatives emerging in relation to skills-related issues.

This report presents the views of both ULRs and managers on the impact ULRs have had on the levels of employee participation in training. It also identifies the factors that are associated with the ability of ULRs to influence participation in training.

This authoritative paper by Francis Green sets out the need for greater policy focus on the utilisation of skills and how it is linked with High Involvement Work Practices (HIWPs)

Collective Learning Funds (CLFs) are union-led initiatives to stimulate co-investment in the personal development of the workforce to make such learning affordable. They have been piloted by unionlearn to test different models in different contexts. The pilots involved increasing funding and in-kind contributions from employers and providers, obtaining greater support from unions and enhancing employee commitment.

Unionlearn has commissioned research on learning agreements and analysed  281 learning agreements and surveyed  415 employers. The research found that the content of learning agreements covers statement of principles, commitments to partnerships, creating a learning culture and setting out the employer, ULR and union roles. Learning committees were another essential part of learning agreements with around three quarters making a reference to establishing one.