Developing our committment to apprentices

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Conference
2009 National Delegate Conference
Date
13 February 2009
Decision
Carried

Conference believes that the success of the government’s plan for a substantial expansion of apprenticeship schemes and places is dependent on schemes being introduced on a negotiated basis which provide high-quality training, with decent apprenticeship pay, and which do not seek to substitute for existing jobs.

Conference also believes that such schemes offer the opportunity to encourage more young people from disadvantaged groups into public service work, and also to assist in breaking down gender/job stereotyping in the workplace.

Conference notes the government’s plans will see a significant increase across the public sector in local government in particular and in the NHS as alluded to in the reviews Leitch and Darzi. Conference especially welcomes full involvement of health service trade unions through the Apprenticeship Steering Group. Other service groups will see introductions or expansions of apprenticeship schemes.

Conference notes the success in local government of the well-regarded North Yorkshire County Council scheme, and:

1)The role of the local branch in negotiating its introduction.

2)The virtually zero ‘drop-out’ rate amongst the scheme’s apprentices;

3)A 100% success rate for apprentices completing their apprenticeship at NVQ level 2;

4)The importance the organisers have attached to listening to young people in developing the scheme;

5)The publicity already given to the scheme in UNISON publications.

Conference also welcomes the launch of the bargaining guide produced to assist branches in negotiating decent apprenticeship schemes, and the new application form for apprentices which flags up the £10 UNISON membership rate.

Conference believes that branches should use these materials to recruit and organise apprentices, with particular emphasis on encouraging participation in branch activity and developing new UNISON activists.

Conference calls on the National Executive Council to use appropriate channels to:

a) Raise the North Yorkshire apprenticeship scheme with the government as an example of a positively successful scheme, noting the role of UNISON and the scheme’s properly-negotiated introduction;

b)Seek to identify and promote model schemes in other service groups;

c)Publicise the bargaining guide to branches and encourage active recruitment of apprentices;

d)Call on branches to consider how apprentice members can be supported and given effective representation and a voice in branch decision-making;

e) Continue to advance the call for apprentices to come within the scope of the National Minimum Wage legislation for all hours worked.