Unions North Issue 21: October 2009

TUC AnnualCongressYour update of the key eventsfrom the 2009 Congress

Future JobsFundInvesting in the workforce andemployers of tomorrow

A Revolutionin LearningThe national campaign topromote learning gets underway

New Directorof unionlearnTom Wilson pays a visit to theNorthern Region

unionsnorth

Issue : 21

October 2009

The Magazine of the Northern TUC

As always the TUCAnnual Congress

gives rise to a wealthof stories and

important decisions

Issue 21 unionsnorth

Goodbye Barney!

03

Ed Miliband chose the TUC Congress toannounce the awaited boost for the ‘greenmanufacturing revolution in the North East’.

Among other key measures, companiesseeking to invest in manufacturing offshorewind turbines are set to receive significantgovernment support to develop the technologyand expertise that could see the North Eastas the international lead in this area as wellas benefiting from thousands of jobs. Clipper,a US wind turbine blade manufacturer, are setto gain the most support and this could leaddirectly to around 1000 jobs within a fewmonths.

The government investment supports thedevelopment of the new Britannia OffshoreTurbines. Ed Miliband commented, “… I dobelieve there is a big future for us both inonshore and offshore wind. Today we areannouncing resources for Clipper. Clipper willbe building a factory in the North East ofEngland to make the largest offshore windblade in the world, each weighing 30tonnes.That is a sign of our commitment togreen jobs and we are willing to invest another£120m to make us the centre for the offshorewind industry.”

Commenting on the Prime Minister's speechto Congress, TUC General SecretaryBrendan Barber said: 'This was a jobs versuscuts speech, and he chose jobs.

'The Prime Minister's warning against earlycuts in spending and the strong emphasis oncreating and sustaining jobs - particularly forthe young - went down well with delegates.

'The Prime Minister understands that deepcuts would choke off what is still a precariousrecovery and would threaten a deeperrecession that could repeat the social divisionsof the 1980s. The dividing lines for the nextelection got that bit clearer today.

'Unions are naturally concerned about thebest way to tackle the deficit once we havereal recovery. But again the Prime Ministermade clear that there will be a real choice atthe next election. His emphasis on growth,to get tax income flowing again, and supportfor measures to make the rich bear a fairershare of the tax burden chime not just withunion concerns, but public opinion too.'

Michael Hunt is a GMB member who set upa branch of the union within npower.

His recruitment efforts have seen membershipleap from 50 to 1,000 in the past 18 months.The branch has a diverse membership andan excellent relationship with management.Michael spends most of his time on unionduties and is based in a call centre in Thornaby,Stockton on Tees.

By any stretch of the imagination this is a

tremendous recruitment and organisingachievement and bodes well for the GMB inthe Northern Region.

Congratulations to Michael from the TUC.

One of the most entertaining meetings onthe fringe of Congress was the meetingfocusing on young workers and trade unions.

Chaired by Deputy General Secretary, FrancesO’Grady, the meeting heard from NUJ, PCSand CWU about their effective organisingstrategies that are reaching young workersand benefiting from enabling them to have astrong voice in the union.

Frances encouraged the trade union movementto ‘take risks’ and listen to what young workersare telling us.

The thing that set this fringe meeting asidewas the presentation of the winners of theTUC’s ‘60 seconds challenge’ competition inwhich people were asked to design andproduce a 60 second video blog whichpresented a positive message about tradeunions. The winning videos were incredible,and have to be seen to be believed. You cancheck them out at: www.strongerunions.orgor on You Tube.

Reports from Congress 2009, including alldecisions made and the complete text ofspeeches are available at tuc.org.uk

The Government kick-starts the GreenManufacturingRevolution in the NorthEast at TUC Congress

While Gordon Brown triesto balance jobs, publicservices and publicspending…

Organising Rep of theYear - Michael Hunt,GMB, npower

Unions are for youngworkers!

2009 TUC AnnualCongress Report

Michael Hunt receiving his award from Gordon Brown watched by Brendan Barber.

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04

unionsnorth Issue 21

Almost a quarter ofunions have achievednegotiation successfor migrant workers’

equality

If you have to, or think you might have to,recruit staff from outside the EEA due to ashortage of skilled workers, why not meetwith the Migration Advisory Committee(MAC); you could help to bring about achange.

The MAC is an independent Committee whichprovides clear advice to the Government,based on robust evidence, on where shortagesof skilled labour exist that can sensibly befilled by migration. If the Government agrees

to designate a particular occupation as ashortage occupation, employers are able tobring migrants to the UK to fill posts quickly.This is done through the ‘shortage occupationlist’ route of tier 2 of the Points Based Systemfor migration.

Occupations for the shortage occupation listhave to be skilled to at least NVQ level 3 orequivalent, there must be clear evidence thata national shortage exists, and the shortageoccupation list needs to be a sensible

mechanism for alleviating shortages.

The MAC is planning to visit Newcastle inmid-November. All employers who have aninterest in these issues are invited to attend.You will have an opportunity to learn moreabout who we are, what we do and how youcan work with us.

For information about the venue and timing,please email: [email protected]

Do you have problems recruiting staff?

Progress in equality atwork highlights demandfor flexible workingThe biennial TUC Equality Audits reveal theenormous spread and depth of work doneby TUC affiliates in their attempts to providereal equality for all categories of worker.

The 2009 TUC Equality Audit is no exception.Unions have issued guidance in hundreds ofdetailed areas across all 12 broad equalitiesareas covered by this audit, and in the majorityof areas there is evidence that this work hasborne some fruit in terms of real results inthe workplace.

The figures for this 2009 TUC Equality Auditgive an indication of which topics unions havefelt it most useful to advise their negotiatorson, and also in which areas they are mostlikely to have achieved success in terms ofcollective bargaining with employers in thelast four years. Many unions have issuedgeneral equality policies or guidance for theirnegotiators, including materials to raiseawareness of and build the case for equality,advice on the overall legal framework, andguidance on negotiating around time off andfacilities for representatives dealing withequalities issues.

The other top issue for the provision ofguidance is flexible working and work-life

balance, which covers the standard range offlexible working options but also the aim ofextending the right to request to all workersand tackling the long-hours culture. Flexibleworking and work-life balance is also an areawhere a relatively high amount has beenachieved through collective bargaining, with44% of unions saying they have achievedresults on this topic.

A large proportion of unions (63%) haveissued materials to negotiators on women'spay and employment, which was also citedas the clear top equalities bargaining priorityfor unions over the last two years. However,

fewer than a third of unions (30%) say theyhave achieved bargaining success withemployers in this area.The area where most unions report that theyhave actually struck deals with employerssince 2005 is working parents, parents-to-be and carers. Just over half of all unions(51%) have been successful in this area.While the law has been substantially improvedin this area over the past four years, it seemsthis has stimulated negotiators to improveupon the statutory minimum arrangementsrather than relying on them.

An indication of unions' acceptance to takeon an ever-widening range of equalities issuesis provided by the fact that more than one inthree unions have issued negotiating guidanceor policy on issues around trans workers,and the same proportion have done so in thearea of migrant workers.

Indeed almost a quarter of unions haveachieved negotiating successes for migrantworkers' equality in areas such as provisionof time off for English language training,recognition of foreign qualifications, preventionof unreasonable deductions from wages andrecognition agreements with agenciessupplying migrant workers.

As the depth andscale of the downturn

surprises everyonethe TUC outlines the

stark choices


Warning of double-quick,double-dip recession

05

A year ago the TUC warned in our economicstatement for Congress that we were on thebrink of a downturn, but I think evidencesuggests that everyone has been takenaback by the scale of the recession.

It could of course have been even worse. Ifthe banking system had been left to collapsethen the results could have been catastrophic.

At this year’s Congress the TUC published anew economic statement which emphasisedthat the economy is still in a very precariousposition. Of course, any sign of recovery isvery welcome, but much of what has beentaken as evidence of recovery is the result ofgovernment intervention and bank action.It is clear that even with these actionsunemployment will almost certainly risethroughout next year.

This is no time to rein back on public sectorinvestment. Cut the stimulus off and theeconomy would go into decline again. It isastonishing that there are the calls to cut thepublic sector deficit as the top urgentpriority. This would simply be a further severeblow to the economy, especially in theNorthern Region.

That is why the TUC have issued the warningthat public spending cuts will provoke adouble-quick double-dip recession.Unemployment could well exceed four millionnationally and it would take many years beforethere was any chance of returning to anythinglike full employment. That would scar for lifea whole generation of young people.

Deficits are an inevitable symptom ofrecession. When the economy shrinks,governments need to spend more on benefitsbut get less in tax income - and there hasbeen a spectacular collapse in tax income inthis recession. But you can't fight recessionwithout making the short-term deficit bigger.

When consumers and businesses stopspending, the state must take up the slack.Otherwise unemployment gets bigger, andthe tax take falls again. So the only real choiceis whether you have a deficit caused byeffective investment to hasten recovery - orone caused by making the recession deeperand longer.

Spending cuts will hit both public and privatesectors leading to prolonged massunemployment that would not just doeconomic damage, but have terrible socialeffects, on social cohesion, family break-upand the nation's health.

It may not look that bad from the City ofLondon where bankers are telling us that alonger recession would be good for us, butit would take us back to the days of a deepNorth South divide and once again hollowout whole areas of the economy. Going forrecovery is the best way to tackle the deficitin the long term. But that does not mean thatwe can ignore it when the economy hasrecovered.

But voters do not want cuts in spending onpublic services. They know that if politicianssingle out areas that will be immune it will

just make cuts much deeper elsewhere. Andnow the Institute of Directors have told uswhat public spending cuts would need to looklike. Freezing pensions is not a politicallyviable option so therefore tax increases aretherefore inevitable. The question is 'whoshould pay them?’

The TUC has led the way in exposing justhow little tax the super-rich pay and how thereal middle Britain - people on middle earningsfailed to share in the boom even though theyare suffering in the bust. There is a strongcase for a real national debate about whoshould pay more tax. Should they be paid byordinary people, through for example VATincreases, or will they be borne by those whocan most afford to pay extra?

And there is another way to increase the taxtake. That is to pay people more. In the tenyears to 1976, 60% of GDP went to wages.In the ten years to 2006, this had fallen to54%. Putting more money into the hands ofordinary workers - the poor and the averageearners whose wages have not kept up withthe wealthy - as our society has becomemore unequal will stabilise the economy.

This recession has been tough. It could geteven worse. We have been hit by eventsoutside our control. But the country has realchoices about what we do next. The TUC willcontinue to make the case for the choicesthat will benefit the great bulk of the Britishpeople, whether they work in the private orpublic sectors.

06


In its eighth year, the Northern TUC Learningfor All Fund (a fund managed by TradeUnions, trusted by ULRs and driven bylearner demand) continues to complementthe role of the ULRs through offering tradeunion funding to support high qualityworkplace learning projects.

The fund is 16 months into a two and a halfyear ESF co-financed contract. As a directresults of ULR activity projects have achievedthe following within that time:

Over 50% of learners engaged through theprogramme have no previous qualifications.This really demonstrates that through unionled projects ULRs are making learningaccessible to underrepresented groups whomay not have had the opportunity orconfidence to participate in learning before.Enhancing an individual’s skills increases life,social and employment prospects, all of whichare core to what unionlearn and trade unionsare about.

Undoubtedly the success of the Fund isattributed to the commitment of trade unionsin the region to the learning agenda and thehighly motivated ULRs brokering andpromoting learning in the workplace.

Access for AllUnionlearn is committed to supporting,practicing and promoting equality ofopportunity in every aspect of our work.

Projects are required to outline how equal

opportunities will be built in to the project,both in terms of managing the project andensuring that individuals are assisted inovercoming the obstacles that prevent themfrom participating in learning. At least oneULR from each project will participate in the‘TUC equalities training for ULRs’ which willbe delivered later in the year.

As part of the LfAF training programme ‘projectmanagement’ and ‘managementinformation’ sessions were delivered in the

shape of a two-day course in June, whichlooked at using simple project managementtools to help plan project activity. A new LfAFproject toolkit has been designed to helpprojects and each lead ULR received a copyof the toolkit on the day.

A case study workshop held in August 2009was attended by 30 ULRs and aimed toprovide them with the skills and the ability toidentify and write case studies and articlesabout both activities and learners within theirworkplace learning project. The intention wasto promote all of the fantastic work unions

and ULRs do on the learning agenda.

This workshop was delivered through populardemand - case studies and articles are oneof the best ways to illustrate the diverse workof initiatives like the LfAF and the practicaldifferences they make for all involved.

Projects are encouraged to produce one ortwo case studies/articles each quarter.Encouragingly, feedback from all workshopswas positive, some comments made by ULRs:

Other comments included...

It was good to take time out and concentrate on planning activity

Well presented, useful information

Good resource packs

Good explanation of ESF evidence requirements

Well structured workshops, allowed opportunity to share ideas and networkwith other ULRS, very helpful

This will help me promote the project”

The flagship fund thatsails from strength tostrength...

Individuals Achieving Outcome

Over 1,300 Adults have participated in non-accredited learning activity

233 ULRs have completed the introductory five week course

Over 600 Adults have gained a literacy qualification

742 Adults have completed a numeracy qualification

394 Level 2 completions

30 Level 3 completions

NO

RTH

E RN

TUC LEARNINGFO

RA

LL

I feel more confident towrite now I know how toconstruct an article or acase study

A new Governmenthelpline will benefit

workers andemployers across

the UK


07

Securing a better deal forworkers and employers

Commenting on the launch of theGovernment’s new Pay and Work Rightshelpline, TUC General Secretary BrendanBarber said:

“This vital new helpline was a keyrecommendation of the TUC’s Commissionon Vulnerable Employment final report lastyear.

“It will ensure workers at risk of mistreatmentby their employers not only have a phonenumber that they can call to find out abouttheir rights to the minimum wage, excessiveworking hours and agency standards, butthey can also ask for help in enforcing theserights.

“The helpline should also enable increasedco-ordination between the nationalenforcement agencies, ensuring more effectiveenforcement of the law, anotherrecommendation of the TUC’s Commission.

“The helpline and enforcement agencies willchampion the rights of vulnerable workers,

and ensure that rogue employers who floutthe law do not get away with it.

“This will not only benefit workers acrossthe UK, but will also help employers bypromoting fair competition and preventinggood employers from being undercut by badones using unlawful practices.

“Everyone has the right to work in a safe andharmonious workplace and the easiest wayto secure a better deal at work is joining aunion. Union members are better paid, lesslikely to have an accident at work and aremore likely to be offered the chance to developprofessionally.”

Good jobs all round!‘

The Northern TUC will be marking 'WorldDay for Decent Work' (WDDW) with aseminar event at the new City Library inNewcastle.

WDDW is a global event organised by theInternational Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

The basic idea around this day is that everyperson should be able to have a job thatenables them to live a good life in which theirbasic needs are met.

Every year, on the 7th of October, WDDWhighlights the issues such as low pay,migration, discrimination, forced labour, thefreedom to organise and the informaleconomy.

At the seminar, we shall be highlighting someof the work we have done with vulnerableworkers across the region over the last yearas well as discussing some of the issuesassociated with the idea of "decent work".

In particular, this year we will be highlightingthe ‘lost skills’ of new migrants and refugeesin the UK and looking at how we can addressthese issues as trade unions.

WORLD DAY FORDECENT WORK

07.10.09

You can contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on: 0800 917 2368

You can get further information about World Day for Decent Work

at: www.wddw.org

09unionsnorth issue 21

New director smokes outthe real success story

Unionlearn Director - Tom Wilson

Northern Region Visit

When Tom Wilson, newlyappointed unionlearnDirector, asked for a visitto the Northern Regionoffice and also to attend aunion led learning centre,he got a little more thanhe bargained for.

Back Row( l-r): Malcolm Orr (Morpeth Learning Delivery Worker), Julia Watson ( Unet Support Officer), TomWilson (new Unionlearn Director), Barney McGill, Adrian Slassor (National Finance Manager) Front Row (l-r):Kieran Brennan (FBU Branch Secretary), Claire Wealleans (Learning Centre Manager), Lara Hindhaugh (NationalAdministrative Officer/Learning Support Worker), Jean Reid (Morpeth Learning Support Worker).

While at the Newcastle office, Tom

participated in a full scale walkout of

the staff, not because of any dispute,

but down to an electrical lighting fault,

filling the conference room with smoke

and fumes. We are relieved to say that

the Tyne and Wear Rescue Service were

quickly on the scene. One of the fire

fighters attending, Lisa Charlton, was

also in fact a Northumberland trained

Union Learning Representative - we

couldn’t have planned that better if we

had tried!

It was fitting that the learning centre

that had been included in Tom’s visit

was in fact the well known, long

established FBU Learning Centre at

Morpeth in Northumberland. The FBU

project at Morpeth began a decade ago

when Fire Officer Trainer Adrian Slassor

attended the very first ULR course in

the northern region.

During the past ten years the

Northumberland project, with Adrian

Slassor leading, has continued to

develop with help from the Union

Learning Fund and regional Learning

for All Funding, resulting in a very

efficient learning centre.

The Northumberland project has

provided huge educational support to

trade union members, their families

and indeed the community. IAG support

is given and the centre provides Skills

for Life and further education courses

including courses in IT.

The Morpeth FBU project was chosen

for Tom’s visit as it emerged that he

was in fact born in Alnwick and lived

there until he was fourteen. Tom visited

the union office and met the FBU

Secretary Kieran Brennan and Senior

Officer Mike Brewer, a former ULR,

before visiting the learning centre

training facility and learning garden.

At the centre Tom met all of the staff

including ULR Claire Wealleans, Centre

Manager, and Julia Watson, unionlearn

Support Officer.

Tom was impressed by the projects’

sustained ten years progress and

development and by the high quality

support provided for the members. He

was delighted to be in the region

meeting unionlearn staff and of course

visiting the well established FBU project

in Northumberland; the flag ship for

the FBU regional and national projects.

A chance conversation with a nanny

encouraged Kris to take an NVQ as a

classroom assistant. Kris had

reservations about the task, but tackled

the requirements and achieved a Level

3 award in 2004. This provided her with

confidence, a start to adult education

along with a full time classroom

assistant post.

She enrolled on distance learning

courses and this new found method

and style of learning fitted with her

working commitments; suited her

lifestyle and enabled her to progress

at her own pace.

Kris returned to work in residential care,

but without relevant qualifications.

Another chance conversation, this time

with her friend Lorraine Sidney, a ULR

(Sunderland City Council) changed this.

Lorraine encouraged and enabled Kris

to participate in equality and

diversity training and continued to give

information and advice which helped

Kris gain numerous qualifications

including a Level 4 S.A.C. Diploma

(Social Work with Children and Families)

and a team leader’s certificate. She is

now undertaking a Level 3 NVQ in

Health and Social Care.

Today Kris spends her time between

her homes in Sunderland and the small

mountain village of Yakapinar near

Izmir, Turkey. Although she is the only

non Muslim woman in the village she

has been fully accepted and adopted

by the community and is fondly know

as “The English Woman”. Having

recently gained a TEFL Teaching English

as a Foreign Language qualification

she is also now learning Turkish.

Whist in Turkey, she gives free English

lessons to the local children which

came about when she discovered the

Turkish “English” teacher at the school

didn’t speak English very well and that

the children were mispronouncing

words and not making progress.

Kris is at her happiest when she is

helping others, something she has

done all her working life. Her recent

learning journey has not only helped

her career here in the UK but also

helped her establish a great life

overseas.

Kris acknowledges the huge part

Lorraine and her colleagues at work

played in her achievements and that

the support and encouragement gave

her the confidence and drive to carry

on with her education.

10 unionsnorth issue 21

Career Progression

The ‘English Woman’ travelsfrom Sunderland to Turkey

From Care Working - to Teaching

Some of this year’s Learning at Work Day activities

Kristina Gardiner startedher career as a residentialcare worker 28 years agobut she did all she couldto avoid learning anddevelopment for a varietyof reasons including lackof confidence, time, financial resources andbecause she suffered fromdyslexia.

Kristina Gardiner and Lorraine Sidney

With £20million being set aside in a

‘Transformation Fund’ to fund informal

adult learning, opportunities for unions

to offer a wider range of learning

experiences to their members have

never been better.

At the launch of the paper, the

Government said “Learning in all its

many forms improves our quality of life,

our happiness and our personal

wellbeing. This initiative sows the seeds

for a new movement for informal

learning and how we want to help it

grow. We want to build new

partnerships, open up access to

resources, and find exciting ways of

getting people learning”.

Trade unions will be getting on board

straight away by participating in the

Government’s Learning Revolution

Festival in October. Across the country,

trade unions will be joining in

celebrations with museums, libraries,

the BBC, community groups, employers

and education providers to celebrate

informal adult learning.

The focus of the Learning Revolution

Festival will be on fun ways to learn

new activities, represented through

three key themes:

Arts, culture and heritage

Sports, health and wellbeing

Nature and the environment

The festival also coincides with several

other national initiatives, including

Black History Month, National Poetry

Day, World Day for Decent Work and

Get Online Day.

During the summer, Unions across the

North East and Cumbria were invited

to bid to unionlearn to run informal

learning events which would be made

available in the workplace and to adults

in local communities. With the finishing

touches currently being put to the range

of events, plans are shaping up to run

an exciting programme of activities

during October including:

Designing and building birds and

bees boxes

Kite making

Salsa & Tai Chi

Bagpipe taster sessions

(don’t forget your ear defenders!)

Healthy eating and fair trade

produce

Whether its’ healthy eating cookery

courses, singing in a choir, yoga or

going on a ramble, Unions will be

showcasing opportunities for enjoyable

learning and community development,

highlighting the real benefits that

informal learning bring.

So watch out for an event coming soon

to your local community, and you may

learn about more than the habitats of

the birds and the bees!!!

For more information on theTransformation Fund and organisationshosting activities in the LearningRevolution Festival go to:http://learningrevolution.direct.gov.ukor the unionlearn website at:www.unionlearn.org.uk/northern

11unionsnorth issue 21

Learning Revolution Festival

Learning about the birdsand bees and other festivities

Promoting Learning - National Campaign

When the Governmentpresented the White Paper‘The Learning Revolution’earlier this year, the visionfor promoting informaladult learning amongst ourcommunities was set out,starting with a ‘festival oflearning’ in the autumn.

RE OLUTIONLEARNING

FESTIVALTrade Unions at the HEART of the Community

12 unionsnorth issue 21

Learning : Higher Level Skills

Taking learningto the next level

The Next Generation - of Leaders and Managers

It is fair to say that the focus has largely

been around the needs of lower skilled,

lower paid workers, supporting them

to achieve skills for life or first Level 2

qualification. We know that unionshave had huge successes in thisarea, and our own evidence showsthat last year over 50% of learnersthrough the LFAF workplace projectsachieved a SfL or Level 2qualification, proving that unionsreally are helping those membersmost in need.

In 2007 we identified that the next

challenge for us as a movement was to

help our members take their learning

to the next level and access higher level

learning opportunities. From this

objective, Unionlearn’s North East

Higher Level Skills project was

born. Working in partnership with the

North East Higher Level Skills Network,

the TUC employed two Project Workers

to focus their energies on finding out

about what higher level learning offers

are available from the FE & HE providers

in the region, sharing that information

with ULRs, and signposting learners to

those opportunities. The project quickly

gathered momentum, and so far nearly

150 union members have embarked

upon a foundation degree or similar. We

were so enthused by the appetite for

this activity from ULRs and their

members, that we asked Ekosgen

Consultants to carry out an

independent evaluation into the

success of the project. Whilst the report

is still in draft form at the time of going

to press, a number of early findings

give a flavour for the breadth of success

of this initiative:

Over 200 adults have received

IAG relating to Higher Education

Of these adults, nearly 150 have

gone on to enrol on an HE course

Over 100 employers have taken

an interest in the initiative, many

of them offering financial support

or support ‘in kind’ to their

employees

During the course of the evaluation,

Ekosgen also discovered a number of

wider benefits of unionlearn Project

Worker activity in promoting Higher

Level Skills across the region:

They successfully secured

discounted course fees with a

number of providers (up to 50%

in some cases), and secured free

taster courses on a Leadership

and Management foundation

degree

Securing discounted rates proved

an incentive for encouraging some

employers to contribute the

remaining fees

Main barriers to higher level

learning were overcome (largely

cost, time, support from employer)

and in over 80% of cases learners

identified ULR support as having

made the difference to whether or

not they undertook the learning

Half of the respondents felt the

course was directly relevant to their

current role, with a third feeling that

it would help them progress in work,

and 75% felt that their performance

at work had improved following

undertaking higher level learning

On welcoming the report, Regional

Manager, Elizabeth Killoran said:

“We always knew there would be an

appetite amongst union members for

progressing in learning, and there was

a sense that they were just waiting for

the green light in terms of support being

offered by their union.

“We are thrilled that this project has

been hailed as successfully promoting

skills progression across the region,

recognising the critical role unions and

ULRs can play in encouraging and

enabling adults in the North East to up-

skill.

“This activity will have long-term

benefits for the individuals, their

employer, and the region as a whole.

“I was particularly heartened to hearthat Leadership and Managementhas been so popular, and lookforward to the next generation ofleaders and managers in the regionbeing trade union members andactivists!”

Since 1999 the TUC hasbeen supporting theregion’s trade union officersand reps in negotiating forworkplace learning andtraining and brokeringcourses for their members.

Raising motivationamongst trade unionactivists to campaign

against the threatfrom the far right


Northern Regionanti-fascist study visitto Auschwitz Birkenau

13

Trade Unions Pedalling for Charity

Trade unions take tothe road in the

Great North BikeRide in aid of

Northern CancerCare Charity

Over £2500 was raised by the TUC Northernteam cycling from Seahouses to Tynemouthin the Great North Bike Ride last month.

Members of the TUC staff, including AnneAitkenhead, Carolyn Clayton, Melanie Lowden,Ken Gyles, Graeme Rushton and Kevin Rowanwere also joined by Melanie’s husband Jim,Philip Ballard and Rob Wood from ThompsonsSolicitors and a few friends in the ride. JoeMcGuigan provided the support car.

The money was donated to the Emma GylesBursary Fund, part of a broader NorthernCancer Care Charity campaign, with a specificfocus on research into Ovarian Cancers.

The charity is hoping to raise £10,000 byDecember 2010, and currently needs £2400to hit this target

For more information or to make a donationplease visit: www.justgiving.com/kengylesTrade Unions Pedalling for Charity

This study tour has been arranged as partof the Northern TUC and Unison NorthernRegion’s ongoing Challenging Racismprogramme.

This project has been set up following a visitby four activists to the camps last Octoberas part of a joint delegation with colleaguesfrom the North West. The aim of the studytour is to politicise and motivate activists tocampaign against the far right.

We hope that the four days in Poland will notonly raise delegates’ understanding of theevents of the Holocaust but will equip themwith the confidence, knowledge and ability todevelop and implement programmes withintheir own workplaces, trade unions andcommunities.

The Northern Region tour takes place 18-22 November 2009For more information please contact Nicky Ramanandi at:

[email protected]

This month will see the first young workersbeginning employment under the ‘FutureJobs Fund’ initiative.

The Future Jobs Fund is part of theGovernment’s Young Person’s Guarantee,which aims to provide work or training foryoung people. Other elements to be rolled outwill include additional training or work as partof a Community Task Force.

The FJF is supported by a £1billioncommitment from central government andaims to provide job opportunities for youngworkers, aged 18-24 who have been out ofwork for at least 9 months. FJF seeks toprovide ‘real jobs’ not substitute employment,work of at least 25 hours per week paying atleast the National Minimum Wage and lasting

a minimum of six months. Employersparticipating in FJF are required to providesupport to these young workers during theiremployment and have a duty to seek toimprove their ‘employability’ through trainingand development.

Potential FJF employers are required to submita bid which is then evaluated by a regionalpanel, at which the TUC is represented withobserver status, which makesrecommendations to the Regional Minister.

Final approval of bids is given by the Secretaryof State. In the region so far there have beenthree rounds of bid evaluations and thesuccessful bidders include Tyne and WearCity Region (which includes the five Tyne andWear Local Authorities plus Northumberlandand Durham County Councils), HartlepoolBorough Council, Stockton Borough Council,Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and ClevelandBorough Council, Darlington Council, theSalvation Army, Gateshead College,Barnardo’s, Groundworks and the NationalHousing Federation.

Most bids are partnerships with a wide range

of employers in the public, private and thirdsector, offering a very wide range of jobopportunities for up to around 6,000 workersto date. More rounds of bidding are ongoing.Trade unions and the TUC Young MembersNetwork are working on efforts to ensure thatthese young workers have the opportunityto understand what trade unions can do tosupport them in their employment and toencourage them to join the relevant tradeunion. It is vital that these work opportunitiesprovide a real and meaningful chance foryoung workers to develop their skills and gaintransferable qualifications if they are going toreally improve their chances of futureemployment.

Trade union representatives in the workplacehave a real role to play in supporting andmentoring these young workers and ensuringthey are treated properly by their employers.

For more information about the Future JobsFund use any of the links below:Kevin Rowan: [email protected] Clayton on: [email protected]/campaigns/futurejobsfund

Future Jobs; benefittingyoung workers, and tradeunions alike

14


The Regional Development Association (RDA)has been gathering evidence to inform thenext strategy, which will include Transportmeasures for the first time.

The TUC has been invited to engage with thedevelopment of the strategy and there will bea meeting of the Regional Policy Forum onFriday 13 November, which will take the lead

in shaping the TUC’s input. into the strategy.

The TUC is also participating in some researchwork commissioned by the RDA to investigatekey sectors for the regional economy movingforward. This work will inform the developmentof the Regional Strategy and also influencethe review of European Structural Fundingframeworks.

The process toestablish the new

single RegionalStrategy has begun

Regional StrategyRegional Strategy

The Future Jobs Fundinvesting in the

workers of tomorrowthrough work and

training today


15

You are invited to attend a useful andinformative half-day training and networkingsession in Newcastle.

This is an event specifically for reps in theregion, particularly those registered onwww.unionreps.org.uk. This is a greatopportunity for you to meet each other offlineand to get an update on the latest news fromthe TUC.

OutlineWhat’s happening in the Northern region? Kevin Rowan, TUC Regional SecretaryRevised Code of Practice - time

off for trade union duties and activities. Bill Moore, ACASWhat next for online campaigning?Eric Lee, LabourstartOrganising and the activist academy.Anna Burton, TUCLunch and networking and an opportunity to register for www.unionreps.org,uk

To register for a place e-mail:[email protected]

If you would like furtherinformation, contact:[email protected]

Date: Monday, 12th October 2009

Time: 10.30-12.30pm

Location: TUC, 5th Floor,Commercial Union House,39 Pilgrim Street,Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.NE1 6QE

Details: FREE Half day training andnetworking session

Lunch: Provided at 12.30pm

Union Reps...Meet offline in Newcastle!

During the course of the European electionsthousands of people from across the countrystood up and took action to stop the BNP.Together we delivered millions of leafletsand I'm certain that we made a realdifference.

But we had a problem - organisationalcapacity. We’re keenly aware that if we're

going to stop the BNP in the future, we needto invest in a national infrastructure - but onethat is rooted in local communities.

Hope not hate are running 12 OrganisersAcademies throughout the UK. The sessionswill last for half a day - and give you the skillsand training you need to take ownership ofthe Hope not Hate campaign in your area.

You'll be joining a very special group of people- those willing to stand up and takeresponsibility for knocking back the fascistson our streets. And this really is how we'llstop them - community based campaignsthat reach out to those being sucked in bythe BNP. We have to combat the BNP's lies

and hatred with our most powerful weapon:the truth.

We're at a crucial moment in our movement- in the next few weeks we can either giveour supporters the skills and training requiredto stop the BNP. Or we can sit back, take ourfoot off the pedal and watch as the BNPcontinue to slowly spread.

What happens is up to you. This is yourchance to take a lead role in our campaign -to take ownership of our movement of hope.To find details of your nearest training eventplease click here:www.action.hopenothate.org.uk/eventsnearme

Hope to you see soon!

Celebrating modernBritain and exposing theextremism of the BNP

HOPEnot hate

Dedication above andbeyond, ensures a

successful AdultLearners Week

at npower

16


A personal story ofhow Paul Bowers

became inspired tohelp others in theirquest for learning

Learning changed mylife...and now I’mhelping othersI joined Darlington Borough Council in 1994as a refuse collector and quickly became aunion rep for Unison, a role I continueplaying today.

Becoming a Unison rep helped me developmy own skills. I have achieved several healthand safety qualifications and my “Train theTrainers” badge helping other employees atwork. I have also completed an NVQ level 3in management at Darlington College whichI am also very proud of.

As I was completing my Union LearningRepresentative’s (ULR) course I got veryinterested in dyslexia and worked closely witha work colleague who suffered from it.

My colleague went on to achieve a learningaward, this gave me confidence and a big

push into helping others to gain further lifeskills and I now also have a betterunderstanding of the learning agenda.

Taking over from Rose Gallagher as LifewiseProject Co-ordinator I hope to help others toachieve their goals and continue the goodwork Rose and Darlington Borough CouncilULRs achieved in the last two years.

I look forward to carrying out my new roleand working with our ULRs to continuedeveloping a learning culture within DarlingtonBorough Council.

Employees at Darlington Borough Council cancontact Paul at:[email protected] and at theUnison office on 01325 358 270 for adviceon learning.

I’m very pleased the LfAF projectwill continue at Darlington BoroughCouncil and I’m confident that the projectwill achieve its outcomes for the rest ofthe year with the commitment of Paul andthe ULRs. I would also like to thank Rosefor her hard work in the last two yearsand her help in a smooth transition

Ken Gyles: unionlearn Project Worker

Honeymoon’s over...early?Donna Walker (nee Couzens) is a ULR &Project Co-Coordinator with the “LearningFuel” project within npower based at theirPeterlee Contact Centre.

Donna was determined the project would getoff to a flying start and even her honeymoonwouldn’t get in the way when it clashed withAdult Learners Week! Her fellow ULRs werewell equipped to make full arrangements foran Adult Learners Week event and she cuther honeymoon short by two days to attendand it all went to plan.

Donna is also a shop steward and health andsafety rep and has actively promoted union

recruitment since she started with thecompany. She successfully recruited ninenew members at the event and a further 15this year.

73 People were engaged in learning on theday with seven taster sessions runningincluding Reiki, drum tuition, juggling, salsa& saving money.

Donna has engaged the project with the healthagenda and is embarking on a mental healthfirst aid course later this month.

She has also just completed her level 4 IAGcourse through the initiative - the first personto complete this latest stage, an excellentachievement especially as she started thecourse late and had the small matter of awedding to plan as well!

LEARNING FUEL

Andrew Simpson is Cumbrian born andbred. Brought up in Cockermouth, he leftschool and home at 16 to go to cateringcollege in Workington - if you want any tipson how to produce an excellent Christmaslunch, Andrew’s your man!

The catering industry is a 24/7 business andcan have a major impact on your home lifethrough working unsociable hours. Aftermeeting his wife Sharon, and having twochildren, Andrew felt that it was time to finda new job so he could enjoy time with hisfamily. His qualifications were in catering sohis choices were limited and he swapped thekitchen for the outdoors and spent a yearerecting marquees.

Now living in Abbeytown, Andrew got a jobat manufacturing company Innovia Films Ltdin Wigton in 1997. He became a shop flooroperator in the slitting department which againwas a totally different environment for Andrew.

He discovered a passion for health & safetyand wanted to know more.

Although the company had automated theprocesses within the plant as much aspossible, it was still a labour intensive joband staff health and safety was paramount.Andrew’s ‘life journey’ then led him to becomea GMB shop steward and Health & SafetyRepresentative in 2006. He completed the 13day GMB training course to give him the toolsto represent GMB members within theworkplace and make sure they continued towork in a safe environment.

Andrew wanted advice and guidance on hisoptions if he wanted to pursue a career inhealth & safety. An appointment with GillBaillie ULR & GMB Learning CentreCoordinator at Innovia Films Learning Centreled to ‘skills analysis’ which looked at whatqualifications and skills Andrew already hadand what he would need to further thisambition.

After looking at all the options, Andrew didan IOSH on-line course in the learning centre.Gill arranged funding and Andrew completedthe course in his own time. He passed withflying colours and then embarked on aNEBOSH course and Gill arranged for thecompany to pay for it. Andrew completed thisat the local Carlisle College again in his owntime and even took holidays to revise for theexam.

The company recognised Andrew’s passionfor health & safety especially through his roleas a GMB Health & Safety Rep and decidedto utilise his comprehensive knowledge andexperience and Andrew got a new job intraining, health and safety.

Dave Dewis, Operational Plant Managercommented: “It is one of the pleasures of myjob watching someone grow within ourorganisation and with Andrew we have asituation where he is not only able to followhis passion, he now is able to use that tobenefit of everyone here.”

The rest is history as they say - but perhapsnot? Due to Andrew’s own experience of

what a ULR’s function is within a workplaceand how individuals can benefit greatly fromit, he decided to become one himself andpass on his enthusiasm for learning.

In September, Andrew started a degree courseat Leeds University with sponsorship fromInnovia Films.

From Union Learningto Leeds University

A classic story ofhow personal

development can lead learners in the most

unexpected directions


17

We have a wealth of talentout there in our workforce andwe have a history of growingour own people into positionsof responsibility which is nowbeing helped by the ULR’s inthe workplace giving advice onwhat is available to increasethe knowledge and skills of theworkforce and highlightingtheir talentsDave Dewis: Operational Plant Manager, Innovia Films

18

What can only be described as the end ofan era occurred at the end of August whenunionlearn Regional Manager, Barney McGillMBE, retired from the TUC. Barney has beenan active trade unionist all of his workinglife, leading the AEEU in ParsonsEngineering, where he worked for 33 yearsand was convenor, through one of the mostdifficult periods in its history.

Bob Clarke, Brian Cole and Davey Hall all paidhigh praise to Barney’s industrial contributionat a very well attended retirement party at theHilton Hotel in Gateshead. Regional Minister,the Right Honourable Nick Brown MP, madea particular tribute to Barney’s discipline,honesty and hard work for the workers andcommunities in the east end of Newcastle.

Barney’s work with the TUC and unionlearn,where he spent the last 10 years of his career,was marked and appreciated by contributionsfrom former unionlearn National Director, LizSmith, and TUC Regional Secretary, KevinRowan. Both paid tribute to Barney’sleadership, professionalism and commitment.

From joining the then ‘learning services’ teamas a Project Worker in a team of three, Barneywas promoted swiftly through the ranks,Development Worker, Coordinator and finallyRegional Manager, reflecting Barney’s

undoubted ability and enthusiasm, leading ahugely successful operation that has grownand delivered consistently under Barney’sleadership.

In September Barney picked up a richlydeserved MBE awarded to him for ‘Servicesto Lifelong Learning and Trade Unions in theNorth East’ placing him firmly in the annalsof regional trade union history, exemplifyingwhy he will be greatly missed by all whoworked with him.

Barney said: “As a lifelong trade unionist,receiving the MBE was the icing on the cakegoing into retirement as it is recognition notjust of personal achievements but of thecontribution that many of my colleagues andfellow trade unionists have made to improvingour region in so many ways.”

As one door closes however, another oneopens, and unionlearn is pleased to welcomeElizabeth Killoran into the new role of RegionalManager for the northern region. Elizabethhas worked for the TUC for eight years andhas been Barney’s ‘second’ as UnionDevelopment Co-ordinator for the last threeyears. Elizabeth said: “Although we are all sadto see Barney go, never has a retirement beenmore deserved and we wish him a very longand happy one.

”It’s true that we have big shoes to fill, but Ifeel privileged to be in the position to take ourorganisation into what promises to be a brightfuture, and continue to deliver real and tangibleoutputs on the learning agenda.”

Northern TUC Regional Secretary, KevinRowan, added, “Unionlearn has been atremendous success in the Northern Region,providing great support to trade unions andtrade union members engaging in learningand skills. Much of that success has beendue to Barney and it is very fitting that hiscontribution has been formally appreciatedin the form of his recent MBE. We all wishBarney a much deserved, long and happyretirement.


Goodbye and best wishesto Barney McGill MBE

The retirement inAugust of Barney

McGill heralds the end of an era atthe Northern TUC

My time with the TUCand unionlearn has been trulyinspirational and it has been apleasure and privilege to watchas union learning hasburgeoned into a meaningfuland embedded part ofthousands of people’s workinglives.

Barney McGill : MBEIn Elizabeth, who has

worked very closely withBarney for a number of years,we have an ideal replacementto continue to develop thisexcellent area of work, addinggreat value to the region’s tradeunion organisation.


www.unionlearn.org.uk/northern • www.tuc.org.uk/northern

Copyright in this publication is held by the TUC unless otherwise stated. For further copies of this item contact Northern TUC on 0191 232 3175 or via [email protected]. This text may also be made available, on request, in accessible formats such as braille, audio tape and large print, at no extra cost.

Contacts:

Northern TUCCommercial Union House5th Floor, 39 Pilgrim Street,Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QE

Telephone 0191 232 3175or email [email protected]

eventsFor more information

on events or issuesplease contact the

Northern TUC

Kevin RowanNorthern TUC Regional [email protected]

Carolyn ClaytonRegional Policy [email protected]

Tom RossPolicy Project [email protected]

Melanie LowdenSecretary/Office [email protected]

Ben SellersVulnerable Workers Project [email protected]

Elizabeth KilloranUnionlearn Regional [email protected]

Dave StorrieRegional Development [email protected]

Ian WestRegional Education [email protected]

Anne AitkenheadUnionlearn Project [email protected]

Linda HughesRegional Development [email protected]

Beth FarhatUnion Development [email protected]

David NicholsonProject [email protected]

Pat WinterProject [email protected]

Julie RobinsonHigher Level Skills Project [email protected]

Mike TanseyProject [email protected]

Joe McGuiganProject [email protected]

Ken GylesSkills (Recession & Recovery)Development [email protected]

Graeme RushtonProject Worker, [email protected]

Helen ParryMarketing and [email protected]

Julia Watsonu-net Performance and Support [email protected]

The survey can also be completed onlineat: www.northumbria.ac.uk/cpp/tuc

Workplace Trends.Have you had your say?

We know that union reps and activists liketo be heard, so here’s your chance to haveyour say. Help us to paint a picture of whatissues matter the most to workers in theregion.

The survey, carried out on our behalf byNorthumbria University, was distributed to

workplace reps mid September, with a returndeadline of 10th October.

To encourage participation, those filling thesurvey in will be entered into a prize draw.

Learning Revolution FestivalRunning Nationally from 01-31 Oct01

October 2009 Calendar

Health and Safety Executive/TUC Seminar02

TUC Women’s Group03

Union Reps OnlineNorthern TUC Office12

Health and Safety Working Party14

Regional CouncilCentre for Life, Newcastle17

World Day for Decent WorkNewcastle City Library07

Disability ForumGateshead Civic Centre19

Health & Safety Working Party11

November 2009 Calendar

Reclaim the NightDurham City21

Health & Safety Working Party09

December 2009 Calendar

North East Equality AwardsHilton Hotel, Gateshead23

October 2009 Continued

ELSFDarlington Football Club22

TUC Women’s Group12

Documents

Unions North Issue 21: October 2009