Union Learning Representatives Welcome Pack

Contents

Pages

  1. Contents
  1. Welcome Letter

3 – 4.Frequently Asked Questions

5– 6.The Union Learning Rep and the Branch

7.Bursary Scheme Information

8ULR Role Description

9.ULR Resignation and New Appointment Process

10.Learner Details Record with E & D

Additional documents

ULR Update

ULR A5 Flyer

Initial Interview Form Pad

Learning Memo Pad

9th May 2013

Dear ,

Congratulations on becoming a Union Learning Representative (ULR). This is an exciting role in which you will help your colleagues to take advantage of learning opportunities.

You are now one of many ULRs in the RMT and I hope that you will soon have the opportunity to take part in networking events so that you can learn from each other.

Please make every effort to get involved in your branch, you will find their support invaluable.

RMT Learning

RMT Learning is a two year project currently running until the end of March 2015. We are here to support branches in appointing ULRs, supporting Regional Officers in gaining Learning Agreements with employers, and in generally promoting the learning agenda within the union.

What happens next?

Your employer will be advised that you have been elected. This is required in order for you to be recognised as a ULR and to be entitled to your statutory rights, which include your right to paid release to carry out your role.

You will need to have your initial five days training within six months of your appointment. You may be placed on a course at the RMT Education Centre in Doncaster on the next available course or on a course run more locally. You can also look at the Unionlearn website click on ‘Courses’ to see if there is a course nearby and sooner that would suit you.

Please let Lindsay Rutland (, 020 7529 8820) know when you complete any ULR training so that she can keep our records up to date.

I wish you every success in your new role.

Yours sincerely,

Teresa Williams

PROJECT MANAGER

RMT LEARNING

RMT Learning FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

What is this learning stuff all about anyway?

  1. What is the Union Learning Fund (ULF) and where does the money come from?

The Union Learning Fund was set up in 1998 and the money comes from the Government. The aim in creating the Union Learning Fund was to promote activity by trade unions in support of creating a learning culture in the workplace and in society. RMT Learning is funded by the ULF.

  1. Why has the Government set up the ULF and where did the ULR role come from?
  • The Government in the late nineties, commissioned the Moser Report to see if the UK workforce was on track to compete with other countries in skills and the business needs of the future.
  • One in five adults, it stated, are functionally illiterate - that is, if given the Yellow Pages they couldn’t find the page for plumbers. Also it stated that one in three adults is functionally innumerate, that is, if buying three things, they could not work out the change from £5.00
  • The Moser report recommended developing a new union role (Union Learning Representative) that would support and encourage people into learning.
  1. How has the RMT been involved?

The RMT has been bidding successfully for ULF funding since 2004 as a part of Rail Union Learning. More recently the RMT has formed its own project called RMT Learning and has secured ULF funding until March 31st 2015.

  1. Why has the RMT been involved?

The RMT takes education very seriously, from the training of our representatives to the professional and personal development of all our members. We know how education empowers people to become activists, to move on in their careers and take control in their personal lives. We know how important it is to have the knowledge about how to find help when you need it by contacting your local rep.

  1. What does RMT Learning do?

RMT Learning aims to:

  • promote the ULR role and learning opportunities to members
  • work with Regional Organisers to sign off Learning Agreements with companies
  • to provide information and research that shows the need for Learning Agreements to include; the number of ULRs, time off, facilities, and paid time off for learners who need help with their English and maths
  • work with branches to create a clear process in recruiting ULRs
  • ensure ULRs are properly trained
  • work with all RMT representatives on the learning agenda
  • set up sustainable projects and networks for ULRs and learners
  1. What rights do ULRs have?

ULRs have got statutory recognition under the Employment Act 2002. This means they have the equivalent status to Health and Safety representatives, which includes a legal right to paid time off to carry out their duties.

  1. How do you become a ULR?
  • Check with your branch to see if there are any vacancies.
  • Check to see if your company has a Learning Agreement. If they have, check to see how many RMT ULRs have been agreed.
  • If there is a vacancy, contact RMT Learning on 020 7529 8820 or email and request the ULR Application Form which you will need to get stamped by the branch once they have appointed you.
  • If your company does not have a Learning Agreement in place yet, please contact Lindsay Rutland who will get your Development Worker to contact you.
  1. How long is the ‘term of office’ for a ULR?
  • This varies from branch to branch and is the same as for other reps in your branch. Some branches elect their reps annually, some every three years.
  1. Is there a role description for the position?
  • Yes, and it is available from your Development Worker (and in this pack)
  1. What is an RMT Learning Development Worker?
  • There are seven Development Workers employed by RMT Learning to encourage members to become ULRs and support branches in their recruitment;to train and support ULRs, and to assist the Regional Organisers in negotiating Learning Agreements

Want to know more? Please do not hesitate to contact Lindsay on the email address and phone number above. She will then direct your query to the most appropriate person.

The Union Learning Rep and the Branch

The branchis the cornerstone of the RMT’s structure and the link between an individual member and the rest of the union. The active people in your branch help members to find their way through the union’s structures and bureaucracy. They also provide assistance, advice and the opportunity to participate in the union at all levels.

As a ULR you are an integral part of the branch structure, you have rights and responsibilities defined within legislation – just as a Health and Safety Rep does. Therefore, it is important that you make contact with your branch as soon as you can.

The following is the minimum you should initially aim to find out about your branch:

  • Who is the Branch Secretary and where can you contact them?
  • Does the branch have any other ULRs?

Your branch will be part of your support network therefore it is important that they know who you are, and what you are doing.

One of the best ways to get to know the people in your branch is to go to a branch meeting. Attendance at branch meetings will help you stay updated with events happening within the RMT locally, regionally and nationally. It will also help you to stay in touch with what is happening within your workplace, and allow you to keep everyone updated with your activity.

Most branches meet monthly, if you do not know when or where your branch meets, contact your Branch Secretary, your regional office, or the membership department – Tel: 020 7387 4771.

At branch meetings you will be able to let people know what you are doing and what events or activities you have planned. You will also be able to tap into the valuable knowledge and experience of others.

Below is a list of practical things that your branch might be able to help you with:

  • Identifying who your Lead ULR is (if your company has one)
  • Identifying any current Learning Agreements
  • Identifying any existing learning opportunities such as Learning Centres
  • Identifying the best people in the workplace to contact should you want to set up a learning event.

Should your branch be unable to help – they can put you in touch with your regional

office,which should have the information you need.

If you do not feel confident enough yet to attend a branch meeting – then you should be in regular contact with your Branch Secretary, and it would be good practice to send regular written reports to the branch outlining your activities. Your Branch Secretary will let you know how to do this, and where to send your reports.

All of the advice above will help you work in conjunction with your branch, and help to eliminate any unintentional clashes i.e. you agreeing something with a manager that undermines local industrial relations.

Below is a list of websites you may find useful

RMT can get to the learning pages by following the education, then learning links.

Unionlearn site has a further list of very helpful websites including an explanation of each website’s content. It is also considered to be one of the most informative websites for Union Learning Reps.

NIACE (National Institute for Adult Continuing Education)

This is a non-governmental organisation concerned with adult learning – NIACE currently run the campaign for Adult Learners’ Week.

BBC Skillswise site contains lots of learning materials; there are games, quizzes, factsheets and worksheets. These materials are generally designed to support levels 1 and 2 in literacy and numeracy.

Move On site has information about national testing at levels 1 and 2 – there is also the facility to do practice tests and get a feel for your strengths and areas for improvement.

Online Basics this site is a really useful tool for anyone who needs to start right at the beginning. There are useful tutorials on how to properly use a mouse and keyboard and loads of other information too. Anyone who signs up to this site can be counted by RMT Learning as an outcome. The centre number we use is 3453732.

ED/027/13

Circular No. NP/052/13

25th February 2013

To: All Branches, Regional Councils, Regional Organisers and Head Office Officers and Staff.

Dear Colleagues,

APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL BURSARYS, GRANTS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION / TRAINING COURSES.

Members will be aware for several years that the RMT has been able to offer financial support for education and training courses that members may wish to undertake in a personal capacity. These applications if agreed according to the ‘rules’ governing them were financed from funds separate from the RMT general fund and this finite fund has now been exhausted.

Naturally the union is keen to continue to support members in education or training opportunities where it can and where the financial support can be justified.

In future any members seeking financial support for any education or training course should submit their application in writing to their Branch Secretary for the consideration of their Branch Committee. The member applying should set out the following information:

1.Name, contact details and RMT Membership number.

2.The course title, the course provider, as well as the expected qualification upon completion (if any).

3.Also the date (s) and duration of the course.

4.The overall cost of the course and the exact amount being requested from the RMT, as well as any funding from other sources for the course being received.

If the application is endorsed by the Branch Committee then it is the responsibility of the Branch Secretary to submit the application to the General Secretary for consideration of the Council of Executives.

If agreed by the Council of Executives, funding will only be released upon provision of a valid receipt, invoice or proof of enrolment.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

UNION LEARNING REPRESENTATIVE (ULR) ROLE DESCRIPTION

Depending on the workplace situation ULRs are likely to undertake the following sorts of activities:

Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) will make every effort to:

  1. Talk to all the employees in their constituency about their learning interests and needs including, for example, carrying out learning surveys
  1. Publicise and promote the benefits of learning with drop-in days or surgeries, posters, newsletters, articles etc.
  1. Signpost any individual employees to more specialist learning advice givers and providers as required
  1. Negotiate possible external and internal company funding for learning (for example bursaries, employer contributions, special rates with providers etc.)
  1. Keep up to date with RMT, Government, TUC and company learning initiatives through attending conferences, seminars, training events etc.
  1. Support employees who are apprehensive about engaging in learning or training and mentor them through the process
  1. Contact and build links with local learning providers and any funding providers
  1. Help employees to negotiate with their employers to meet their learning needs e.g. agreeing shift rearrangement so a learner can attend a course regularly
  1. Help to build a learning culture in their companies and in the RMT
  1. Regularly attend their branch meetings and give reports on activity
  1. Try to organise at least one course or learning event in the workplace per year
  2. Network with other ULRs in their company and work jointly where possible
  3. Keep their employers and Lear ULR informed of activity
  4. Keep RMT Learning advised of all learning activities in their company

This list is not exclusive and does not prevent good practice that currently exists that does not fall into any of the above categories. The RMT Learning Team will support ULRs in achieving the above objectives.

Learner Details Record

ULR / Company / Contact no. / Email
First Name / Surname / Course / Start Date / End date / Provider / Level
Surname / Trade Union / Gender / Age / Ethnicity / English = first language / Previous Qualifications
Enter one from list:
RMT, ASLEF, TSSA,
Other, None / Enter one from list:
Male/Female / Enter one from list:
16-24, 25-49,
50+ / Enter one from list:
African/Caribbean, African,
Asian, Other BME, White, Other
/ Enter one from list:
Yes, No / Enter one from list:
None, Below level 1, level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, level 5, Other

Even if it is one learner, please send this to your development worker, or RMT Learning, FREEPOST NW3706, London, NW1 3YD