What is a Union Learning Rep?
Union learning Reps are a recent innovation and one of the most popular and effective trade union initiative for years. Here we explain a bit more about what they are, answer some of your questions and explain how to become one.
What are they?
Union Learning Reps (ULRs) are local BECTU members who have volunteered to carry out the role and have the support of their local union branch or workplace group (sometimes called a 'shop').
So, to become a ULR you must:
- Be a paid up BECTU member
- Have an interest in trade unions and people
- Have an interest in education and training
- Be elected or appointed by a local BECTU branch
- Let us know at BECTU Education & Training so we can begin supporting you
What do they do?
As with most 'simple' ideas the reality is a little more complicated and will depend on how supportive your employers are and how supportive your members and fellow reps are. Your role will also depend on one very important factor- you! You will have to decide how much you want to do and how much time you want to spend as a ULR.
Some of the things you might do as a BECTU ULR include:
- Carrying out small surveys of your colleagues at work to see if there are any learning needs that you can satisfy by getting somebody to deliver education and training (this could be your own employer, a local college or an online resource)
- Advising individual colleagues about learning opportunities by 'signposting' them to places they might get training or professional advice (possibly using this website to help)
- Setting up relationships with local colleges through a key contact person (we can help with this). To get you started, here are lists of all the colleges and universities in the UK
- Making sure that all local reps and branch officers are informed of union courses. Training is essential, so here is info about union courses by BECTU, the TUC and GFTU
- Making sure that learning and skills are on the agendas of union meetings.
Need an answer to a question? then contact a member of the Education & Training team at BECTU head office at Clapham in London.
Here is some more information about the sort of things ULRs might do:
ACAS Code of Practice on Duties and Activities, including ULRs
An extract from the ACAS Code and from the BECTU Model Learning Agreement
These are the National Occupational Standards for ULRs. They are an exhaustive list of all the different things a ULR can do - in reality it is too comprehensive but there are plenty of good ideas in there!
Stll want more? then find out in more detail in our own section called what ULRs do or listen to learning reps and learners talking about the union learning agenda.