The Benefits of Partnership Working Airsprung Beds

Migrant workers - SW Region

Many businesses in the region have recruited large numbers of migrant workers to fill vacancies that otherwise would not have been filled, but English language barriers often mean that employers are unable to get the full value out of their migrant workforce.

Wiltshire employer, Airsprung Beds have greatly increased the skills of their migrant workforce and boosted their productivity through a learning agreement with the union GMB to organise English provision.

Around 30% of Airsprung's 409 employees are migrant workers, mainly from Poland, but also from Slovakia and Albania as well. Originally very few spoke good English and therefore could not be trained to take on new areas of work. There were often tensions with UK-born employees which the company needed to step in to resolve, sometimes leading to costly disciplinaries.

In February 2008 the GMB trade union negotiated a learning agreement with Airsprung to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL*) and literacy provision to the company's workers. Since then, the learning agreement has been extended for the whole of Airsprung Furniture Group and will cover all four sites from now on.

Although a recognition agreement already existed, there wasn't a history of close cooperation between the firm and the union. However, Airsprung's management was impressed by the success of two taster courses in ESOL arranged by the GMB the previous autumn and were concerned about their own capacity to organise ESOL on their own.

Under the agreement six union learning reps (ULRS) were elected (three of whom were Polish) who have been given 3 hours a week to fulfil their duties and arrange courses. A Learning Needs Survey was carried out to discover which learning areas were in demand from both UK-born and migrant workers. As a result both ESOL and Literacy by IT courses were organised.

ESOL is provided for workers within the workplace by Wiltshire College. The course is tailored to the work environment and questions are related to work issues such as health and safety. The taster ESOL courses had been free but since then government funding changes had meant that students at Wiltshire College needed to pay a fee of £120 per head, of which Airsprung contributed £50 for each worker. Currently entry Level 2 ESOL training is provided but this could be extended to entry level 3, with sufficient demand.

A successful Literacy by IT course was also organised, which reassured UK-born workers that it wasn't just migrant workers who were receiving training. The Literacy by IT course was provided free by the college (as it is everywhere in the country) but a Mobile Learning Unit was brought in to deliver it on site, with Airsprung paying part of the expenses.

The ESOL course has brought major benefits to the company. Productivity has increased by 20% over the last 6 months as the course has enabled the multi-skilling of migrant employees who previously could not undertake certain training courses due to their limited English. Migrant workers are now employed in almost every job at every skill level including high skilled areas such as wood making. Before the agreement there had been only two migrant employees working as Tape Edgers, now there are many more.

Migrant workers have a greatly improved knowledge of health and safety as a result of the course and are able to work better now that instructions do not need to take so long. The induction process for new workers has been strengthened and the time spent on training has declined considerably. Migrant workers are now much more able to socialise with their UK-born colleagues and the number of disciplinaries as a result of tensions has significantly declined. Average team bonuses have also gone up due to the increased willingness to work among both migrant and UK-born workers.

The agreement has also helped to develop the relationship between Airsprung and the GMB union - making future joint initiatives more likely.

Helen Cole, Regional Manager of unionlearn South West said:

'This is a great example of the GMB's successful work with migrant workers in the South West, which not only helps the workers, but also adds to the success and reputation of the company. This is a model of building learning sustainability in the workplace.'

Case studies and projects (800 words) issued 17 May 2010

Bargaining for Skills with unionlearn
29 June 2011

Life long learning agreed at Glatfelter Lydney Paper Mill
11 February 2011

Derby College sign learning agreement
6 October 2010

unionlearn
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3LS

Telephone 020 7079 6920
Fax 020 7079 6921
Email ulweb@tuc.org.uk

Further contacts | About us