The Apprenticeship in Trade Union Officials is a new standard that unions have been developing – and on Friday TSSA became the first union to sign up to the Unionlearn Apprenticeship Charter.

During 2019 the trade unions worked extremely hard to produce an apprenticeship standard for trade union organisers.    The standard which was recently approved by the Institute for Apprentices and Technical Education is called the Apprenticeship for Trade Union Officials and is open to all Trade Unions and other organisations such as Staff Associations and Professional/Trade Associations covering a broad range of industries and sectors.

The standard includes key skills elements some of which are communication, research, organising and negotiation skills.  These skills will enable a trade union official to support working people, along with identifying and dealing with issues and disputes.

Unionlearn are delighted to announce the Transport Salaried Staff’s Association (TSSA) will become the very first trade union in the country to officially sign the Unionlearn Apprenticeship Charter.

Signing on behalf of the TSSA and its members Manuel Cortes General Secretary of TSSA says

This charter demonstrates that as a trade union we are committed to ensuring TSSA apprentices are highly skilled individuals who can serve our members for years to come”.

He added meeting the challenge of ensuring that the trade union officials of the future are highly skilled in a wide variety of areas is a major concern for many trade unions. 

We aim to meet that challenge by providing a safe, strong, supportive place to hone those skills.

Matt Pointon Unionlearn Project Officer commented

Working on the standard with the TSSA and others was a real privilege and TSSA certainly are leading the way in driving up skills standards within the trade union movement”.   

In developing the standard all the Trade Unions involved were quick to understand the true value of quality apprenticeships. Particularly in terms of pay, terms and conditions, health and safety and access to quality training for all apprentices in a workplace.

Paul Nowak Deputy General Secretary of the TUC stated

I am delighted to sign the Charter on behalf of the TUC and unionlearn. I congratulate TSSA on its proactive approach to apprenticeship skills”

Signing the unionlearn Apprenticeship Charter sets the standard for others to follow, and I look forward to more trade unions pledging their support to quality apprenticeships within their own organisations.

Unionlearn and the TUC’s unions will continue to strive to ensure every apprentice is a quality apprenticeship, and I hope the unionlearn Apprenticeship Charter will make a real difference to thousands of working people’s lives."

You can see a short video of the Charter Signing below.