Representing your Members
BECTU reps course
Everybody needs help at work sometime - this course will show you how to support and represent your fellow BECTU members effectively.
Introduction
The ability to represent members is one of the key skills of the union representative (as the name suggests). That is why it is one of the four core union reps courses organised by BECTU (the others being 'Communicating', 'Organising' and 'Negotiating').
The idea behind this course is that you will learn about how the relationships between workers/employees and employers are regulated by legislation and regulation. More importantly you will get some insight and practice into how to make use of the legislation to help you ensure that BECTU members are treated fairly at work and are able to raise issues and grievances effectively with your support.
Attendance on this course earns accreditation to accompany workers at hearings. This is required by The Advice Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) - and means that BECTU deems you competent to able to represent or support a member at a formal hearing. This does not mean that you, as a volunteer, are compelled in some way to represent someone - just that you are able to do so. Always ask and take advice!
Key Learning outcomes
On completion of this course, you will:
- Understand more about union recognition and the law
- Be more clear about the rights and responsibilities of reps and activists
- Be able to critically assess recognition agreements
- Understand grievance procedures
- Understand discipline Procedures
- Understand the right to be accompanied
- be better able to involve members and improve union organisation
Please note that there is a separate but equivalent course for BBC Branch Officers that covers the subjects above but with special reference to BBC procedures
Resources
Course flyer 
Application form
Letter to employer
Course reader
Links
Other ACAS Code of practice on Disciplinary procedures, grievance procedures and the right to be accompanied
Next course
The current timetable of courses can be found here