Materials for union learning reps

Union Professional Development Programme 2011
Now in its seventh year, the union professional development programme has been updated by TUC tutors for 2011. And there are new courses in the core and bespoke programme available to support the professional development of union staff.
Download a copy of Union professional development programme 2011 (pdf 602kb)

Gearing up for Change
This booklet of easy to read, short case studies highlights the variety of ways the Skills: Recession and Recovery project has made an impact.
Gearing up for Change tells eight stories from around England with different views on how the unionlearn's Skills: Recession and Recovery project has engaged with trade unions and
other stakeholders.
Download a copy of Gearing up for Change (pdf 1596kb)

Unions and Sector Skills Councils
A series of case studies of social partnership good practice. This booklet details just some of the ways in which unions and SSCs* already work together and is a follow-up to the highly successful seminar on the subject earlier in the year.
Download a copy of Unions and Sector Skills Councils (pdf 567kb

The Learning Rep Magazine - Spring 2011
In this issue: Adult Learners' Week; Learning At Work Day; Skills: Recession and Recovery; Apprenticeships; Interview with Terry Jones; World Book Day; Learning Centres; ULR* Profile; Interview with Mark Serwotka; TUC Education Round-up; Resources ...and more.
Download a copy of The Learning Rep magazine - Spring 2011 (pdf 3405kb)

Training for Trade Union Workplace Reps
This guide is for employers who receive requests from trade union representatives for time off work to take part in union training. It outlines the responsibilities of employers and unions over training for representatives, and gives practical advice about how the benefits can be shared.
Download a copy of Training for Trade Union Workplace Reps (pdf 380kb)

Online Learning with TUC Education
Over the past five years, thousands of trade union representatives have taken part in and benefited from TUC Education's online learning
programme. This guide gives the details of our comprehensive range of courses and offers a convenient and effective solution to reps looking to develop their knowledge and skills.
Download a copy of Online learning with TUC Education 2010 (pdf 603kb)

Unions and Skills Utilisation
This authoritative paper sets out the need for greater policy focus on the utilisation of skills and how it is linked with High Involvement Work Practices (HIWPs). The report makes recommendations on how unions can get more involved in skills utilisation strategies and negotiate new organisational practices and fair shares of productive gains.
Download a copy of Paper 11- Unions and Skills Utilisation (pdf 2581kb)

Higher Education Case Studies
This document contains a series of case studies ULRs will find useful. From an introduction to higher learning to tailor-made higher learning; the OU through to Foundation degrees; and the role of trade unions and more. Eleven case studies in total from Unite, FBU, PCS, UNISON, ATL, POA and CWU.
Download a copy of Higher education case studies [PDF]

Making Learning Affordable - Setting up Collective Learning Funds, A toolkit for trade unions
This toolkit is a resource for union reps and ULRs to help them establish collective learning funds in their workplace. It includes a booklet that explains what CLFs are and their benefits to unions and learners, a booklet containing six case studies, and factsheets that provide practical help on how to establish a CLF.
Download a copy from http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/publications/index.cfm?frmPubID=187

An engagement checklist for higher education providers
This will help HE* providers and union representatives and members to continue to engage successfully. It will be useful to providers embarking on new initiatives, and as a ‘health check’ for existing arrangements
Download a copy of An engagement checklist for higher education providers (pdf 258kb)

Cancer in the Workplace - A Workbook for Union Representatives
TUC Education has developed this workbook in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide information, guidance and support for union reps who may have members who have been diagnosed with cancer or who are or become carers for someone with cancer.

Download a copy of Cancer in the Workplace (pdf 1531kb)

Higher education at work: Making the case to employers
As a union rep you have a key role to play in negotiating with employers about learning in the workplace. If you are a union learning rep (ULR) you may be working with other reps to carry out this aspect of your role and to create and maintain a learning agreement with your employer. This guide is for all reps working with all learners who wish to progress in their learning or their career.

Download a copy of Higher education at work: Making the case to employers (pdf 1870kb)

Apprenticeships* Toolkit
Orders a limited to a maximum of 10 toolkits per order.
The toolkit is a resource for union reps and ULRs who are negotiating with employers on Apprenticeships or who are approaching an employer to discuss the possibility of taking on apprentices. The factsheets provide concise information on a range of topics related to Apprenticeships.

Download a copy of Apprenticeships Toolkit (pdf 1905kb)

Six Book Challenge at work - Unions and libraries promote readingThis booklet is for employers, trade unions and union learning reps (ULRs) and shows how you can use the Six Book Challenge to make a real impact in your workplace.

Download a copy of Six Book Challenge at work (pdf 1000kb)

Making a difference – The impact of trade union education on Britain’s workplaces
This is the report of the 2009 TUC Education survey of union representatives attending TUC courses. It is the largest survey of trade union education ever conducted and the first to solely use online data collection methods.

Download a copy of Making a difference - The impact of trade union (pdf 1276kb)

Your rights as an apprentice
This is an essential advice leaflet for apprentices on their rights at work, training opportunities and advice on joining a trade union.

Download a copy of Your rights as an apprentice (pdf 197kb)

Apprenticeships are Union Business
This guide is for union negotiators and reps. Its purpose is to help full-time officers and union reps get apprenticeships on the bargaining agenda. The publication details what apprenticeships are, what makes a good one, and how to organise around them.

Download a copy of Apprenticeships are Union Business (pdf 1907kb)

Supporting learners – guides for union reps
This updated pack is a must for ULRs. It contains an excellent guide for union reps, as well as guides on: Why and how union reps should support learners;
Sources of help for union reps; Role and skills of the union rep; and Useful extras for union reps.
Download a copy of Supporting Learners - Guides for union reps (pdf 3935kb) or use the order from below to request your copy.

Right to Request Time off for Training: A Guide for Trade Unions and Union Representatives
From 6 April 2010, the right to request time to train can be exercised by employees in organisations with 250 employees and over.This guidance has been written for trade union representatives to promote use of the right and to help members use it to the best effect. Whilst it is anticipated that union learning reps will play a major role in supporting take-up of the right, this guidance also recognises that in many workplaces other union reps will be involved in negotiating directly with employers.

Download a copy of Learning representative initiatives in the UK and New Zealand, (pdf 255kb)

FSA Redundancy Handbook
This handbook produced by Financial Service Authority (FSA) is a useful information resource for those whose job is under threat of redundancy. The handbook covers questions from dealing with job worries and redundancy rights to managing money and the entitlements you can claim.

View the content for FSA Redundancy Handbook

New Open University Leaflet
Could you be entitled to financial support from The Open University? This leaflet will explain the three ways in which you may get help with your study fees

The National Extension College leaflet
Thanks to an agreement between NEC and unionlearn, all trade unionists now receive a 10 per cent discount on the cost of any NEC home study course. Order your lefalet for more information about the NEC.