- Conference
- 2009 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 23 February 2009
- Decision
- Carried
Conference acknowledges the vital importance of investing in the training and development of our members and existing and future lay leaders at local, regional and national level as part of meeting the organising challenge. In particular, Conference applauds the introduction of the leadership development programme at national level. However, conference recognises that a consistent union-wide approach to on-going member and activist development coupled with a UNISON skills for life strategy is required to ensure the on-going development of our members and the building of strong local organisation.
Conference congratulates UNISON on the publication of U-Train, which identifies the core courses UNISON reps should undertake in order to be able to carry out their roles effectively. Conference also welcomes proposals to make U-Train available on the UNISON website. Conference believes the effectiveness of U-Train could be enhanced by encouraging a continuing development approach to learning in which activists see learning and development in their role as an on going process rather than a one off intervention when first elected. A mechanism for planning and reviewing learning would be needed to support this and an on-line inter-active model which would encourage reps to plan and review their own learning using individual development plans is proposed.
Conference recognises that many UNISON members and reps may have skills for life needs and that the current economic climate will make those with poor skills for life at higher risk of being excluded in the work environment or indeed subject to disciplinary action as a result of capability procedures. For example, members not being able to read or process information employers may be presenting, not aware of their rights during redundancies or notice periods etc. Conference acknowledges the vital role that the union plays in advocating on behalf on members with skills for life needs including the publication of the skills for life handbook.
Conference recognises that members and reps need to be confident and competent in their spoken and written communication and their numeracy skills to play a full and active part in their working lives, in the union, and in wider society. In the current economic climate debt is a problem potentially facing many of our members. According to Credit Action the average household debt in the UK is now £59,670 and one person every 4.8 minutes is declared bankrupt or insolvent. Improving skills for life is essential to regenerating, sustaining and enriching our working and social communities and building the union.
The role of union learning reps (ULRs) is well established in all regions but not yet in all branches. A skills for life strategy would further allow ULRs to promote access to learning opportunities for those that need it the most. To be effective a skills for life strategy must be embraced and embedded within the whole organisation addressing the needs of members in their workplaces as employees; activists carrying out their roles effectively; and individuals as part of membership development.
The introduction of the area and local organiser roles provides valuable support to branches in developing and encouraging new and existing activists. In addition, training and development resources are available to support branches including: strategic campaigning; mentoring; leadership development; U-Train; branch development toolkit; Pathways into UNISON (Women and Migrant Workers). The joint regional and branch assessment process provides an ideal opportunity for branches to review their current strategy for developing new and existing activists as part of their action planning.
There are examples of good practice in UNISON which have generated new activists and supported existing activists such as the ‘1 in 25’ campaign in the South West, branch secretary development programme in the North West, recruiting new stewards package piloted in the West Midlands and the passport initiative which records the training attended by reps which was first introduced in the East Midlands.
In order to ensure a consistent union-wide approach to member and activist development coupled with a UNISON skills for life strategy to support strong local organisation Conference calls on the National Executive Council to draw on existing good practice to:
1)Put in place a training and development programme for reps that includes:
a)Skills and training needs analysis linked to U-train;
b)Individual development plan which can be reviewed and updated;
c)Access to core courses supported by branch and additional training where agreed and appropriate to the role;
d)Appropriate accreditation and qualifications available to learners;
e)A mentoring support scheme available at branch level;
f)UNISON-wide branch secretary development programme;
g)Cascading the leadership development programme to regions.
2)Explore the feasibility of introducing an on-line inter-active resource linked to U-train which will allow reps to reflect on and plan their own training and development;
3)Produce a comprehensive UNISON skills for life strategy;
Conference also calls on branches to:
i)Use the skills for life handbook to raise awareness among members and reps of skills for life issues;
ii)Give consideration to any possible skills for life issues in disciplinary issues, particularly where capability is under review;
iii)Encourage the recruitment of Union Learning Reps;
iv)Use the joint regional/branch assessment action planning process as an opportunity to review the learning and development needs of reps;
v)Use the branch action planning and development tools already available to recruit new reps, build branch organisation and involve members;
vi)Actively encourage reps to use U-Train to undertake training related to their role and plan their future learning and development.