TSSA Learning

While TSSA successfully attracted £328,297 of Government money for our learning strategy in 2010-2011 from the Union Learning Fund, with a further £371,079 due in 2011-2012 this rather depends on Government strategy. And obviously the work that ULRs will be able to do on the ground will also depend absolutely on the new Con-Dem priorities for adult education.

At unionlearn’s conference on July 12th, John Hayes MP (Conservative) Minister of State (Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning), Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) stated for the record that he (and the Government) recognised union learning as a tremendous success and that learning should be supported not only in bringing immediate careers benefit but for the long-term.

Similarly Vince Cable MP (LibDem), Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills also publicly commended the valuable work of ULRs and stated for the record that he has a deep feeling for adult learning. While he clearly believes that the Right to Train legislation is, at the very least, going to be thoroughly reviewed as part of the Con-Dem negotiations on priorities he did set out clear statements on the fact that the skills agenda is fundamental to growth and a sustainable economic model in Britain. He talked about the need to enhance skills of existing workers and not just new employees, and that he saw the BIS Government Department as an advocate for skills investment. While we await the details of compromises and cuts in the coming months in the lead up to the October Budget we will continue to report on any news in the area of funding and strategy. We’d also suggest ULRs should check out the TUC cuts blog on a regular basis.

ULRs find time to talk at learning event
(click to view)

"Learning in Union" film (click to view)

Union Learning Reps (ULRs) are a new sort of workplace rep focused on building employees’ confidence through developing courses & learning opportunities and recruiting new members as a result. ULRs are now a vital part of the Union and workforce structure, with nearly 20,000 in the UK across all unions. The TSSA Learning Team is actively recruiting and developing TSSA ULRs whilst building the union at the same time - you could be part of that team!

ULRs give advice and provide individual support; analyse training opportunities and needs; negotiate with the employer around resources and workforce development; and set up tailor made learning, often in partnership with the employer, following discussions with TSSA members and colleagues -

setting up lunchtime workshops with speakers from relevant professional associations
developing customised qualification programmes with local or other specialist education providers on site, through e-learning etc
helping brush up maths skills (to assist people newly charged with budget management, or simply around getting the best mortgage or credit card deals)
increasing career opportunities
identifying what financial support might be around to do a part-time post graduate course
or simply setting up some training so colleagues can shine with the digital camera they were given but can’t yet fully use

In every company where we have recognition, TSSA aims to negotiate a whole range of personal and vocational development opportunities for members, and potential members. To find out more about what is happening on learning in your company or to discuss becoming a TSSA Learning Rep yourself, contact your local Industrial Rep, Branch Secretary, the Helpline or contact TSSA Learning on learning@tssa.org.uk and download a leaflet here which gives a bit more information about the role of a ULR.

ULRs

Resources for ULRs - click here to go to the ULR resource page

Lead ULRs in Companies

We currently have some contact details for "Lead" or "Co-ordinating" ULRs who are formally recognised as this by their company. To see the list, click here. We are negotiating in more companies to roll this out but in the meantime if you want to know more about ULRs in your company, contact TSSA Learning.

Events Page

To see what’s on the learning calendar - click here

News of Learning in Companies

North of England
South of England

TSSA Learning Team

Sal Morawetz Senior Learning Organiser As Senior Learning Organiser, Sal heads up the learning team in England and advises around the strategy for learning and organising across the rest of UK & Ireland for the Association. Read more
George Woods Learning Organiser for the South of England - Southern and South East George will join the TSSA Learning team towards the end of August 2010. He has worked for the TSSA in other roles for two years, is GMB branch secretary for staff working in TSSA,RMT and ASLEF and before that, he was a National Executive Committee member of the NUS. Read more
Yue Ting Cheng Monitoring, Outreach and Admin Worker Yue Ting joined TSSA Learning as the new Monitoring, Outreach and Admin Worker in June 2008. Read more
Mel Taylor Learning Organiser South (London and West) Mel is the TSSA Learning Organiser South (London and West). She has been a student and trade union activist for twenty years and has previously worked as an Organiser with Community and PCS. Read more
Adèle Potten-Price Learning Organiser for the North of England Adèle Potten-Price is the learning organiser for the North of England – which means the Midlands, the North East, including Yorkshire and Humberside, and the North West. Read more
Mark Wilkinson Learning Organiser for Northern Ireland (Translink) Mark has recently taken up the post of Learning Organiser (Translink) on a two year secondment basis. His role will include the introduction of a Learning Programme for colleagues, the recruitment of Learning Reps and the establishment of a Learning Agreement. Read more
Craig Edwards Learning Organiser for Scotland (Vertex) My name is Craig Edward and I am the new Learning Organiser for Scotland (Vertex). I am based in Dingwall in the Highlands. I am a Customer Service Advisor and, as required, a trainer within the Learning and Development Department. Read more

TSSA Reps Education and Organising Programme

Learning News

Cyber challenge: The UK’s first national hunt for future cyber security professionals has been launched. The Cyber Security Challenge is a series of online and face-to-face competitions designed by leading security, education and government organisations.
TSSA Learning Team: Adèle Potten-Price: Adèle Potten-Price is the learning organiser for the North of England – which means the Midlands, the North East, including Yorkshire and Humberside, and the North West.
Company News - North of England: Details of TSSA Learning events happening in different companies
Annual TSSA ULR Event 23rd February 2010: TSSA ULRs from across the UK and Ireland attended the 2010 event.
Appointment of new TSSA Learning Organiser for Scotland (Vertex): Craig Edward has very recently been appointed as the new Learning Organiser in Dingwall for the Union. He will build on the previous exploratory work done by Lynn Horsford.
Annual Union Learning Event Launches three TSSA-wide Initiatives: Today, Tuesday 23 February 2010, sees TSSA hold the premiers for three major learning initiatives.
Belfast learners receive just reward for commitment to learning: On Thursday 4 February 2010, the awards ceremony took place for the first of the NI ULF TSSA Learning project courses, British Sign Language (BSL). The ceremony took place in Belfast at 10am. People in attendance included Learning Organiser and project manager Mark Wilkinson, Translink’s Director of Human Resources Mr Gordon Milligan, TSSA ULR Learning team and members of Belfast’s Deaf Community and of course the most important people the recipients themselves.
2010 TUC Learning Rep Award: The TUC wants to demonstrate and acknowledge the range of work currently undertaken by lay union representatives on behalf of their members and the community. For the third year, the TUC will be making an award to the trade unionist who represents the most positive aspects of being a learning representative.
Taking up your role as a new Union Learning Representative: You should already have received your welcome letter from the Association as you start your role as one of our Union Learning Representatives [ULRs]. TSSA Learning would also like to tell you how pleased we are that you are joining the team.
Invensys Rail: Become a Learning Rep
TSSA Learning Team - Craig Edward: My name is Craig Edward and I am the new Learning Organiser for Scotland (Vertex). I am based in Dingwall in the Highlands. I am a Customer Service Advisor and, as required, a trainer within the Learning and Development Department.
TSSA women’s course: We have organised a training course/seminar on Equal Pay for women.
History Opportunity at London University: TSSA Learning has been advised about a bursary which is available for ten of their “My East End” History course modules and asked to pass on this information. Could you please disseminate this information out into your work colleagues.
Company news: South of England: Details of TSSA Learning events happening in different companies in the South of England
Reps vacancies in National Express East Coast: TSSA currently has a number of vacancies throughout National Express East Coast for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.
Reps vacancies in Northern Rail: TSSA currently has a number of vacancies throughout the Northern Rail network for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.
London Midland open Union Learning Centre at Birmingham New Street: April the 17th sees the official opening of the London Midland Union Learning Centre at Birmingham New Street station. The centre will provide a dedicated resource for all staff working in and around the station.
Surviving the economic downturn: Turn on any TV channel or pick up any newspaper and you are bound to hear or see some bad news about the economic climate and the likely impact on workers in Britain. The recession is now hitting companies and individuals hard, so it’s important that we act now and educate ourselves about what we can do to work together to fight back, protect our jobs and reduce the impact of the credit crunch on us all.
2009 National Union Learning Seminar – “The ULR in TSSA”
TSSA Secondment opportunity: Learning Organiser, Northern Ireland Translink: Due to the current post holder going on maternity leave, the opportunity is available for a TSSA member employed by Translink to be seconded to the position of TSSA Learning Organiser in Translink. The secondment will be from April 2009 until at least 31st March 2010, and possibly until 31 March 2011, dependent on funding.
Union Learning Reps vacancies in EWS: TSSA currently has vacancies throughout the EWS network for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.
Union Learning Reps vacancies in London Midland: TSSA currently has vacancies throughout the London Midland network for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.
Union Learning Reps vacancies in East Midlands Trains: TSSA currently has vacancies throughout the East Midlands Trains network for Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.
Invitation to Apply for New Training Course Effective Working with Education Providers and Funding Bodies: A course is happening very early in the New Year which we would thoroughly encourage you to attend: “Effective working with Education Providers and Funding Bodies”. The course will run for 2 days over 2 weeks on the 12th and 19th of January next year.
South 0f England: News update including Launch of London ULR Network, A good read at South West Trains, Cornwall gets cash for learning and Eurostar
TSSA Learning Team : Mark Wilkinson: Mark took up the part-time post of Learning Organiser (Translink) on a two year secondment basis in April 2009. His role includes the introduction of a Learning Programme for colleagues, the recruitment of Learning Reps and the establishment of a Learning Agreement.
ULR Resource Page: As a ULR you may find a number of these TSSA materials useful; simply click on the indicated phrase to open up a copy for you to download (and save) a version on your computer. If you are not sure how to download or amend any of the documents, please contact Yue Ting Cheng, Monitoring, Outreach and Admin Worker at TSSA Learning on 020 7529 8049.
TSSA Learning Team - Vacancy: We will shortly be advertising for the new Learning Organiser North position which is now vacant.
TSSA Learning Team - Mel Taylor: Mel is the TSSA Learning Organiser South (London and West). She has been a student and trade union activist for twenty years and has previously worked as an Organiser with Community and PCS.
TSSA Learning Team - Yue Ting Cheng: As of June 2008, Yue Ting joined TSSA Learning as the new Monitoring, Outreach and Admin Worker. He says:
TSSA Learning Team: George Woods: Learning Organiser for the South of England – Southern and South East
London ULR network meeting - 11am-4pm on Monday, 13 October 2008: The first meeting of the London Network for TSSA Union Learning Reps will be held between 11am-4pm on Monday, 13 October 2008 . It will take place in the Board Room at Walkden House, the TSSA head office near Euston station. A map showing the location of the venue is enclosed.
TSSA Learning Team - Sal Morawetz: As Senior Learning Organiser, Sal heads up the learning team in England and advises around the strategy for learning and organising across the rest of UK & Ireland for the Association.
TSSA gets into learning: TSSA Learning Reps, working with colleagues from ASLEF and RMT, have played a key role in organising workplace learning events, particularly during Adult Learners’ Week (17-23 May 2008) and on Learning @ Work Day itself (22 May 2008).
TSSA Learning: TSSA leads the way with new lifelong learning project: As of 31st March 2008 Rail Union Learning is wound up and as of 1st April TSSA’s own 2 year lifelong learning project “TSSA Learning” starts.
Education and Organising: Brief for discussion around TSSA programme and TUC equivalents.
Learning Laptop Libraries: Did you know that TSSA has a laptop libraries consisting of 10-12 laptops for use in London, the South and the North and the English Travel Trade areas to help set up training at locations/times to suit colleagues in the various companies?

TSSA Learning

ULRs

Lead ULRs in Companies

Events Page

News of Learning in Companies

TSSA Learning Team

TSSA Reps Education and Organising Programme

Learning News

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Other articles on this website about Learning Reps

Other articles on this website about Rail Union Learning Project

Other articles on this website about Rep Training

Other articles on this website about Summer School

Other articles on this website about TSSA Learning

Other articles on this website about TUC Learning

Other articles on this website about Weekend Schools