David Ratnik Union Learning Rep (ULR) at Morrisons Rathbones in Wakefield, he is a lifelong Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) member and has been working with the employer to support learning across the workplace.

David, along with the support from his union colleagues on site, especially Sean Molloy the Branch Secretary, BFAWU Learning Services Project Worker Kamran Ali and the Senior Management Team at Rathbones have for the past couple of years been actively promoting learning.

Up until March’s lockdown this year there have been two functional skills English classes running on site. The union had organised an English Tutor on site twice a week from 5pm till 7pm and, with the support of managers, been using the Board Room as the classroom.

To ensure that as many workers as possible could benefit from these learning opportunities A + B Shifts & C + D Shifts were teamed up to make the two classes.

Due to the pandemic, David had been shielding at home since March, having returned to work in August he was involved in the Joint Committee meeting with the Company Management Team and the BFAWU negotiation team along with their Union Full Time official Lizzie Dinning. As part of the meeting they discussed learning as one of the main agenda items.

HR Manager with Morrisons Rathbones, Laura Carr, has arranged telephone meetings with David and Kamran, from the Union Learning Funded BFAWU Learning Services Project, to explore options and find a way to continue with providing employees the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications and upskill both personally and professionally.

One of the options is to have virtual or online classes, this would mitigate risks of the virus potentially spreading. The company has offered use of some laptops to aid in their employees joining online classes, like Functional Skills English.

David said :

This has been a difficult time but I have been encouraging employees in Morrisons Rathbones in Wakefield to keep an eye on Union notice boards, this is because as soon as we agree the best, and safest way and method forward, I will advertise the news via the notice boards.”

Staff have also been able to ask any of the onsite BFAWU Union Reps for updates.