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 Essex and Herts unionlearn forum Unions and Employers helping to build Working Communities  |
TUC Education UpdateSummer 2010 Issue Welcome to the July edition of TUC Education Update, which is mailed three times a year to union education officers, TUC course co-ordinators and tutors, and everyone with an interest in union education and training, with news and views from TUC Education. The Update is also available as an e-bulletin, register via the TUC unionlearn website at www.unionlearn.org.uk/register or www.unionlearn.org.uk/changedetails Over 7,500 people have subscribed to the Update, receiving up to date news as soon as it is published.
Trade union studies successful IAG matrix awardLewisham College Trade Union Studies section has, for the third time, successfully achieved matrix quality standard for information advice and guidance services. Trade Union Studies at Lewisham College is based in the Deptford Campus. The centre delivers the TUC Education programme accredited by the NOCN* in the QCF and includes online provision. The catchment area is mainly South East London and Kent and courses are held at the Deptford Campus, in workplaces or in union/employer learning Centres. Some 80% of the courses are held off site. The centre is staffed by a Head of School and six other staff: the Learning Partnership Co-ordinator, an administrator and four lecturers. TUS is also supported by a number of sessional/contractor lecturers supporting learners in the learning centres and the workplace. The report says: Cancer in the workplaceHow do you tell your line manager that you have cancer? What is the best way to break your news to your colleagues? How will you feel about coping with the side effects of the treatment, such as tiredness and hair loss? What are your employment rights while you are having treatment? Who can help you in the workplace? The answer is that your union rep can help up with all these issues. TUC Education has launched a campaign, course and workbook with the charity Macmillan Cancer Support to help reps support their colleagues who have cancer. It also helps them to work with HR departments to put in place fair policies to help those suffering with cancer and to raise awareness among staff.
Each year in the UK, 90,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer. The HR department of a large employer will see more new cancer diagnoses in a year than a GP. There are currently 774,000 people of working age living with a cancer diagnosis. Many will continue to work after, or even through, their treatment for cancer.
Your trained rep will be able to help up by:
To find out more about the course contact the TUC Regional Education Officer (details below). U-Net in SouthamptonA BRAND new facility, which will make learning accessible to any union member, was launched in March. The Trade Unions Studies U-Net Learning Centre, based at Southampton City College, will provide online learning for any member of any union, as well as their close family. The U-Net centre is the only one set in a college in the south of England, and will offer qualifications in subjects such as IT, English and maths. Union members can be referred by a union learning representative from their place of work or contact the centre and arrange to attend a course by themselves. Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, John Denham, praised the centre at its launch conference at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton. He said: Tom Wilson, Director of Unionlearn, said: Fred Stanley, Director of Corporate Services at City College, added: Both were key note speakers at the launch event, which was attended by union members, learning representatives and college staff. The day, which took the form of a conference, also featured the latest information on funding, apprenticeships and union learning.
The U-Net centre is based at City College's Trade Union Studies department and has Skills for Life* and ICT* tutors, who work with learners on a one-to-one basis. Union members can learn at the centre, which is equipped with nine computers, or they can opt to learn online from home or their workplace. Tutors from the Unet centre visit these learners at the workplace and help them with their studies. To find out more visit www.southampton-city.ac.uk and click on 'adult learning', send an email to unetcentre@southampton-city.ac.uk or call 02380 577 497. Get onOver the past five years thousands of trade union representatives have taken advantage of TUC Education's online learning programme. It offers a way for reps to develop their skills and knowledge but with the added convenience and flexibility that online learning brings. If you think that online learning would be useful for you then places are now available for courses beginning in September/October.
Right to request time to trainDuring April unionlearn the Right to request time to train project at Congress House with a seminar attended by 80 participants. Key messages were that the right, albeit limited, represented a 'step forward' in terms of workers' right to training. The legislation is a 'foot in the door' for ULRs and other representatives who can guide and support union members in exercising the right and use it as leverage to seek to negotiate more collective arrangements for training. Several issues and actions were discussed at the launch and are being progressed:
Much of the launch was filmed including the speeches, question and answer sessions and interviews of participants. The film will be used for information and representative training purposes. Two unionlearn publications were launched at the seminar - The right to request time to train; A guide for trade union representatives and a report entitled Right to Training. What's new?Cancer in the workplace workbook and courses Look out forUnion Learning Rep Stage 1 course - a new course for union learning reps. Pilot courses are currently underway. and Union Learning Rep Stage 2 course - a new follow on course for union learning reps. Pilot courses are currently underway. New look regional course publicity brochures
Who to contactRegional Harry Cunningham - REO in Scotland t 0141 404 1746 e hcunningham@tuc.org.uk Pete Holland - REO in the North West t 0151 236 7678 e pholland@tuc.org.uk Julie Cook - REO in Wales t 02920 347010 e jcook@tuc.org.uk Marie Hughes - REO in the South West t 0117 947 0521 e mhughes@tuc.org.uk Trevor Sargison - REO in Yorks & Humber t 0113 242 9296 e tsargison@tuc.org.uk Ian West - REO in Northern region t 0191 232 3175 e iwest@tuc.org.uk Pete Try - REO in East & West Midlands Rob Hancock - REO in Southern & Eastern Angela Perry - REO in Southern & Eastern t 020 7467 1238 e aperry@tuc.org.uk Clare Moore - Northern Ireland ICTU Education & Training Officer t 02890 247940 e clare.moore@ictuni.org National Liz Rees - National Trade Union Education Manager Jackie Williams - Education & Training Officer Martin Hegarty - Education & Training Officer Craig Hawkins - Online Learning Officer t 020 7079 6947 e chawkins@tuc.org.uk Newsletter (1,800 words) issued 14 Jul 2010  Occupational Health and Wellbeing in the workplace Trade Union Education in Preston Provided by Manchester College Union rep courses Scotland – January to June 2012 |
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