2024 was a very successful year for us in terms of activist training, with a 15% increase in stewards trained to ERA accreditation level, training for health and safety reps rising by over one third, and training for new union learning reps up by 82%. That represents thousands of new activists trained and ready to help build their branches.
Member learning also continues to be a popular way to raise UNISON’s profile in the workplace and to empower and enthuse members who have yet to become active.
As we approach the busy AGM season, UNISON College is keen to make sure that training for our activists and learning for our members remains high on the agenda. If you’d like a template presentation introducing UNISON College and the learning and training opportunities for members and activists, please let us know.
Advanced Employment Law training
Our 2025 programme of advanced employment law training is now online. Aimed at experienced reps who carry out complex casework, this suite of courses equips you to identify and argue for members’ legal rights in the workplace. Over the last few years we have expanded the discrimination law training to cover the full range of protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act 2010 and increase reps’ confidence to deal with illegal discrimination.
This year’s programme includes:
- Contracts, Redundancy and TUPE, 10-13 March
- Gender Identity Discrimination Law, 31 March
- Sexual Orientation Discrimination Law, 13 May
- Disability Discrimination Law, 20-22 May
- Sexual Harassment Law, 3 July
- Race Discrimination Law, 17 September
- Religion and Belief Discrimination Law, 24 September
- Age Discrimination Law, 13 November
- Sex Discrimination Law, 18 November
You can find more details and apply for any of these courses on the UNISON College events page: https://learning.unison.org.uk/events/tag/advanced-employment-law/
Negotiating Skills course (1-3 April, Quayside House, Leeds)
Anticipating negotiations with employers in your branch? Our popular Stage 1 Negotiating course is running again this spring. Open to you and to reps in your branch, it will help delegates to:
- Understand the stages of negotiating;
- Prepare a claim and negotiate it;
- Be a more effective team negotiator through practice;
- Be familiar with different styles of negotiating;
There is no charge to individual members; however, there is a charge to the branch of £500 per delegate for the residential course, which includes accommodation, meals and refreshments. For delegates attending the training but not staying overnight the charge to the branch is £250.
For more information and to apply, visit https://learning.unison.org.uk/events/stage-1-negotiating-course-april-2025/