- Conference
- 2010 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 23 February 2010
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that apprentice expansion and the Future Jobs Fund are two key government measures to bring the UK economy out of recession.
Conference welcomes the continued expansion of apprenticeships in public services across the UK; believes UNISON is the best union for apprentices; and congratulates UNISON stewards who have been negotiating apprentice schemes and recruiting. As a result of the attractive £10 a year UNISON membership rate, at least 340 new apprentices joined UNISON taking our total apprentice membership to 760 in December 2009.
Conference notes that the best apprenticeship schemes, which provide high quality training, fair pay, job guarantees and trade union involvement have completion rates close to 100%. The national average completion rate is only 68% and many of these schemes pay only the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) recommended minimum of £95 per week in England, and lesser amounts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many apprentices are vulnerable to exploitation and a gender pay gap also exists for apprentices.
Conference welcomes the government decision to end the apprentice exemption to the National Minimum Wage and looks forward to the Low Pay Commission pay recommendation for October 2010.
Conference welcomes the continuing funding from Government for the training and support of Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) who are ideally placed to support the learning of apprentices. Conference notes the emphasis on apprenticeships in the current round of the Union Learning Fund and UNISON’s successful bid in this round.
The Future Jobs Fund has been a UK scheme to offer work and training to the unemployed 18-24 year olds and has a counterpart scheme to provide 50,000 social care training posts for young workers. Many public service employers and colleges have had successful bids.
Conference believes that the union must guard against these worthwhile initiatives being used as substitutes for regular jobs. Furthermore, adult apprenticeships should continue to be expanded to help older workers wishing to re-train or gain credit for their skills.
Conference instructs the National Executive Council to:
1)Continue to update the UNISON negotiating advice and to campaign for a proper “rate for the job” for apprentices;
2)Publicise the £10 apprentice and Future Jobs Fund membership rate;
3)Assist Union Learning Reps to promote apprenticeships and the learning of apprentices;
4)Work with branches, regions and service groups who are negotiating apprenticeship schemes;
5)Work with service groups on issuing negotiating advice on the Future Jobs Fund.