Attention: Industrial, education, careers and business correspondents

Unions leading the way in e-learning

The face of workplace learning is changing dramatically to meet the demands of the 21^st century, according to a new report released today (Tuesday) by the TUC. The ‘Logging onto learning’ report reveals that unions are setting up specific training centres in workplaces or in union buildings working with employers to allow workers to learn new skills.

The majority of these courses are being run electronically, allowing a whole new generation of employees to embrace e-learning*. At the forefront of the new approach, says the report, are trade unions. Union members are being trained as union learning representatives to identify and tailor the training needs of their workmates, many of whom may have had bad experiences in the formal education system.

‘Logging onto learning’ shows how unions and bosses are using the internet to train workers from firefighters in Morpeth to construction workers in Canary Wharf. The report also shows that the union learning representatives are far more successful at encouraging employees to take up training than employers.

Launching the report at the sixth annual Union Learning Fund* Conference at Congress House today, TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, said: 'The establishment of the union learning representatives is one of the most significant developments in the union movement for years. Their impact in creating a learning culture at work has been the bedrock for the thousands of workers that have made huge strides at work thanks to new skills they have learnt.'

'We need to build on the successful partnership between unions and employers to ensure that thousands more workers can enjoy the benefits of essential skills and the subsequent rewards of promotion and social mobility. For this to really succeed we need more employers to take their training responsibilities seriously and for the Government to give workplace learning a boost by changing the law to allow paid time off so workers can log onto learning.'

There are currently 6,000 union members on courses at one of the 70 union learning centres delivering learndirect* courses around the country, compared to just 324 in 2002. The centres are funded from the Union Learning Fund.

TUC Deputy General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, will open the Union Learning Fund Conference at Congress House on Tuesday at 10:30am. The Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke MP is speaking at 10:40am. TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber is speaking at 11:00am. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown MP, is speaking at 3:00pm.

Notes to Editors:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access

pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- The case studies are available on the learning services website at www.learningservices.org.uk/tuhub

Contacts:

Media enquiries : Dan Ashley 020 7467 1248 or 07932 680 329 or email dashley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (500 words) issued 6 Jul 2004

Online Learning Centre
31 October 2007

Face of education changed for millions as unionlearn launches Online Learning Centre at TUC Congress
10 September 2007

ICT and workplace learning report and guides
16 June 2006

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