Crosby MP sees firefighters blazing the trail with union learning
Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas visited Crosby Fire Station (Friday 13th March) in Liverpool to see for herself the impact trade unions are having on helping firefighters improve their skills. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), with the support of unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS)have embarked on a Learning and Skills for All Fund* (LSFAF) based project ensuring staff across Merseyside access a diverse range of learning opportunities
L-R: Dave Elliott Crosby Fire Station Manager, Cllr. Jack Colbert Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority member and learning champion, Trevor Shanahan FBU ULF National Maager, Claire Curtis-Thomas MP for Crosby and Dave Eva unionlearn Regional Manager.
The MP met union learning reps (ULRs) and management as well as hearing from staff about their learning experiences and witnessing the impact of the GMB sponsored learning bus that is helping promote learning to Merseyside firefighters and service staff.
The visit follows a number of milestone successes for the FBU and MFRS, including signing up to the Skills Pledge*, a Government initiative supporting a public commitment by a company or organisation to assist all its employees to develop their basic skills. MFRS is also in the process of being assessed as part of the local government Get On programme and has appointed two learning champions including Cllr Sharon Sullivan.
Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP for Crosby said: 'This is a great example of how working in partnership can benefit all. Particular praise should be given to the FBU and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for their success in developing a learning culture at this and other stations across Merseyside. Thanks to the dedication of the FBU union learning reps, management and unionlearn support, staff here are getting the chance to access learning.'
FBU Union Learning Fund* National Manager, Trevor Shanahan said: 'The FBU sees this visit as further recognition of the hard work staff and learners continue to put in to make projects such as this successful. Unionlearn support and funding has given us the opportunity to build on the success we have had and we are particularly pleased further funding has been secured through unionlearn ensuring a further 12 months support for this local initiative'
Dave Eva, unionlearn Regional Manager , said: 'I am delighted Claire Curtis Thomas has taken the opportunity to visit Crosby Fire Station to see for herself the positive impact ULRs and trade unions such as the FBU are having in the workplace. With the support of Merseyside Fire Service the initiative has achieved more than we could have hoped for. This is one of the reasons we are pleased to announce today further funding through the unionlearn LSFAF that will help build on the great work being done. In addition to staff here improving their skills, their life chances and their prospects, working in partnership has brought many clear benefits to the organisation and the community.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
unionlearn is t he TUC's learning and skills organisation, which works together with unions and employers to offer training in the workplace. Last year through a network of over 20,000 union learning reps over 200,000 individuals accessed education.
Media enquiries: Keith Lewis T: 0151 243 2557 M: 07825177280 E: klewis@tuc.org.uk
