Education, Training and Development

Applications for training/seminars/conferences MUST be sent to the Branch - not directly to the provider - for verification by the Branch Education Co-ordinator or Assistant Education Co-ordinator; expenses will NOT be paid for attendance on courses which have not been approved by the Branch. Training courses should be selected closest geographically to a steward's workplace or home.

There is an Education Committee which is elected from Branch Committee. This group, along with the Education Co-ordinator and Assistant Education Co-ordinator, oversee and organise:

CALLING ALL
UNISON ACTIVITISTS – here is a training programme which has been designed especially with you in mind.
ONE STEP AHEAD

Local branch courses for new stewards and safety reps
Negotiating courses
Courses on specific issues for affected stewards

It also aims to assess activists' training needs and direct them towards other courses, for example:

National UNISON courses
Regional UNISON courses
TUC college based courses - Blackburn College, Blackpool & The Fylde College, Preston College.

Each new steward or health and safety rep is expected to attend a two or three day branch induction course and is offered a 10 week, one day a week day release college based course in two stages.

Courses exist on a range of issues including:

Basic induction
Stewards stage 1 and 2
Safety reps stage 1 and 2
Basic branch officers
Dealing with members problems
Negotiating skills
Public speaking
Assertiveness

Plus a range of courses on specific negotiating issues (e.g. TUPE, Employment Law etc).