CORE SKILLS / PASSPORT COURSES
The Organising Steward | top | calendar | apply
If you are a new steward then this is an essential course for you. This course looks at what the roles of the steward are and gives you the skills, knowledge and understanding to carry out these roles such as, recruiting members and involving them in the union and how to work with members to tackle problems at work. This courses covers:
- Recruiting members;
- Keeping members informed;
- How to raise issues in UNISON;
- Proportionality and fair representation;
- Interviewing members;
- Understanding your grievance and disciplinary procedures.
This course should be the starting point of your training. You should also consider other courses at this level (Core Skills/Passport Courses) and refer to your Steward’s Passport for more information. You might also wish to look at the Equal Opportunities and Self-organised Groups section of this programme. When you have completed this course stewards will be issued with ERA credentials.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2,3,4,5 March 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 30 January 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 13,14,15,16 July 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 12 June 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 14,15,16,17 September 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 14 August 2009 -
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12,13,14,15 October 2009 NEW!
Closing date for applications: Friday 11 September 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2,3,4,5 November 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 2 October 2009
All 4 courses include 3 nights residential and will be at Northern College, Barnsley
Note: Participants can attend on a Day Delegate basis (no accommodation) but there will
be no reduction in cost to Branches.
Cost to Branches: £100
Developing Representation Skills | top | calendar | apply
This is a two day course aimed at people who have some experience of helping to prepare a disciplinary case for members. We use a video case study to help develop the skills of advocacy and cross-examination in disciplinary hearings. This course looks at when do we and when don’t we represent members. How do we get all the information we need from a member. How do we make use of procedures. Please note: You may only attend this course if you have already done the UNISON Organising Steward course, or the TUC equivalent (stage 1). This course is suitable for those stewards who need to attend a refresher course.
- Monday, Tuesday 26,27 January 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 5 January 2009 - Monday, Tuesday 27,28 April 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 6 April 2009 - Thursday, Friday 8,9 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 14 September 2009
All 3 courses are non-residential and will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
Cost to Branches: £40
Negotiating Skills for Activists | top | calendar | apply
This course is aimed at all activists and will equip you for negotiating with managers at a local level. The course looks at:
- Understanding the process of negotiating;
- Becoming familiar with different styles of negotiating;
- Working effectively as part of a negotiating team;
- Understanding how to prepare, present and negotiate on an issue;
- Developing and practising negotiating skills.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 16,17,18,19 March 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 13 February 2009
Please note:You may only attend this course if you have already done the Organising Steward course, the Introduction to Health and Safety course, the UNISON Learning Reps Course, or the TUC equivalent (stage 1)
Cost to Branches: £100
Negotiating a Learning Agreement | top | calendar | apply
Although this course covers the same issues as the “Negotiating Skills for Activists” it is aimed at Branch Education Co-ordinators, Lifelong Learning Co-ordinators, ULR’s or any activist who wishes to negotiate a learning agreement with their employer.
The course looks at:
- Understanding the process of negotiating;
- Becoming familiar with different styles of negotiating;
- Working effectively as part of a negotiating team;
- Understanding how to prepare, present and negotiate on an issue;
- Developing and practising negotiating skills.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 19,20,21,22 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 18 September 2009
This course includes 3 nights residential and will be at Northern College, Barnsley
Note: Participants can attend on a Day Delegate basis (no accommodation) but there will
be no reduction in cost to Branches.
Please note: You may only attend this course if you have already done the Organising Steward course, the Introduction to Health and Safety course, the UNISON Learning Representative course or the TUC equivalent (stage 1)
Cost to Branches: £100
Confidence Skills for Activists | top | calendar | apply
This course is aimed at Stewards, ULR’s and Health & Safety reps. It will help you develop the communication skills you need to do your job as an activist.
- Do you worry about speaking to managers?
- Are you sometimes lost for words at a meeting?
- Don’t know how to face an angry member or manager?
- Don’t know the most effective way to put your thoughts into words?
This course is aimed to reverse this situation and you should go away with the skills you need to become a more confident person and activist. You should be able to represent yourself and members more effectively.
- Thursday 23 April 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 30 March 2009 - Monday 23 November 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 2 November 2009
These courses are non-residential and will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds.
Cost to Branches: £20
Introduction to Health and Safety | top | calendar | apply
This course is essential for new Health and Safety representatives or for those Health and Safety representatives who have more experience but who haven’t yet had the chance to go on this course.
This is a three-day course, which will give you the knowledge and confidence to look at:-
- What is the job of a health and safety representative?
- What rights do you have as a health and safety representative?
- How do you interview a member?
- How do you start to prepare a case?
- How do you go about dealing with Health and Safety problems?
- How do you carry out a Health and Safety inspection?
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 23,24,25 February 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 23 January 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8,9,10 June 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 8 May 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 28,29,30 September 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 28 August 2009 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2,3,4 December 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 30 October 2009
All 4 courses include 2 nights residential and will be at Northern College, Barnsley
Note: Participants can attend on a Day Delegate basis (no accommodation) but there will be no reduction in cost to branches.
Cost to Branches: £75
Understanding Women’s Health & Safety | top | calendar | apply
This course is aimed at all health and safety representatives (men and women), as it will help them to know more about the specific health and safety implications for women in the workplace.
It will help you:-
- Be clear about health and safety issues and their effect on women in the workplace;
- Have greater awareness of women’s specific health and safety issues;
- Be able to complete risk assessments for pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace;
- Have more confidence in negotiating with management for specific workplace improvements/policies. .
- Thursday, Friday 10,11 September 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 7 August 2009
This course includes 1 night residential and will be at Northern College, Barnsley
Note: Participants can attend on a Day Delegate basis (no accommodation) but there will be no reduction in cost to branches.
Cost to Branches: £50
Please note: You may only attend this course if you have already done the Introduction to Health and Safety course, or the TUC equivalent (stage 1).
UNISON Learning Representative | top | calendar | apply
3 Day Open College Accredited Course.
This course is intended to provide training in the role of the Union Learning Rep. Are you interested in encouraging learning in your workplace? If yes, you could be a Union Learning Rep and help to change people’s lives. Once you have been nominated as a Learning Rep by your Branch, the next step is to attend a Learning Rep’s course.
The role of the Learning Rep is to promote UNISON’S Lifelong Learning Agenda and to encourage non-traditional learners in the workplace to enter into learning opportunities both in the workplace and wider community. The Employment Act 2002 gave Union Learning Reps paid release to train and carry out duties in the same way as Stewards and Health & Safety representatives. If you would like to find out more, talk to your Branch Education Co-ordinator, or Regional Learning and Development Officer.
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4,5,6 March 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 9 February 2009 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 28,29,30 September 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 4 September 2009
Both courses are non-residential and held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds. There is currently national funding available for the above courses, therefore there will be no cost to Branches.
2nd stage training for trained Learning Reps | top | calendar | apply
There are five 2 day Open College Accredited Courses on offer to trained Learning Reps.
Dyslexia in the Workplace
This will assist you in your role by providing an improved understanding of dyslexia and how it affects people in the workplace.
Learning in the Local Government Sector
This is aimed at all ULR’s covered by the NJC agreement, and covers building a learning branch around the national agreement on workforce development.
Skills for Life in the Workplace
This will assist you in your role and will give you a greater understanding of the skills in promoting Skills for Life (language, literacy and numeracy) in the workplace and how to help members access opportunities to improve these skills.
Learning in the NHS and the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)
This course is for Learner Reps employed in the NHS only and will complement other activist training courses on the KSF which aim to enable branches to plan their response to the KSF and to enable Learning Reps and members to participate effectively in the development review process.
Information, Advice and Guidance
This will assist you in building on the skills gained on the UNISON Learning Representative course by focusing on the delivery of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) in the workplace.
Skills for Life in the Workplace
This year we will be running the above course on :-
- Wednesday, Thursday, 8, 9 July 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 15 June 2009
There are no fixed dates for Learning in the NHS and the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF), Information, Advice and Guidance,Dyslexia in the Workplace and Learning in the Local Government Sector courses, however, if you are interested in any of these courses please contact Sultan Mahmood, the Regional Learning and Development Organiser on 0113 218 2339 or email s.mahmood@unison.co.uk
All courses are non-residential and will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
There is national funding available for these courses therefore there will be no cost to Branches.
RUNNING THE BRANCH
These courses are designed for Branch Officials and Committee Members who have taken on responsibilities at Branch level (as compared with the workplace responsibilities of stewards and safety reps). The courses will help develop the knowledge and skills needed for different Branch roles, and will put them in the context of the organising approach. These courses are run jointly with the Northern Region and this year the courses will all be held in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
Branch Officer Courses | top | calendar | apply
Branch Secretary
Aimed at new Branch Secretaries or those who haven’t attended training for some time. This course will help with the organising and administration part of the job. It will focus on building the Branch around the organising model.
Branch Treasurer
This course is for all new Branch Treasurers – to help with the ‘technical’ side of the job, i.e. financial returns, book keeping, cash control, etc., all essential skills if the money is to be there to work for the Branch.
Equalities in your Branch
Open to all Branch Equalities Officers and Branch Officers for Self Organised Groups, this course will look at the role of the Equalities Officer, how to organise for equalities in Branches. It will also look at equalities as a bargaining and campaigning issue.
Branch Education Co-ordinator
Good education within the Branch is vital for making local organisation work. This course is for Branch Education Officers and will look at how to identify your Branch education needs, how to budget for education and how to encourage and support representatives in training.
Chairing Meetings
The course is aimed at anyone who has to chair a formal trade union meeting, whether it be Branch meeting, Branch committee, Working Group or Self Organised Group. Find out how to practise the skills needed to run a meeting so as to be fair to all participants. This is
suitable for all activists but especially Branch Chairs.
Health and Safety Officer
This course covers the strategic role of organising Health and Safety reps and members around health and safety issues. It is not suitable for Health and Safety representatives who have no training or have just been trained. The course will look at the role of safety reps and
the Branch, investigating hazards and members’ complaints, agreements with the employer and future planning.
Communications Officer
This course is mainly for those Branch activists who are already, or who wish to become involved in Branch publicity, producing leaflets, newsletters and Branch magazines. The coursewill be practical-based drawing on the skills of UNISON’S publicity department. It will cover
writing copy, headlines and captions, using photographs and cartoons and how to use layout to the best effect to produce finished newsletters using computers and modern technology.
Labour Link Officer
This course is intended to equip Labour Link Officers with the tools they need to undertake their role. The aims of the course are:
To understand why politics are important in the branch;
To develop skills to encourage interest in political activity in the branch;
To understand and respond to issues about Labour Link;
To understand Labour Link procedures;
To develop effective skills around campaigning.
Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator
This course will give Branch Lifelong Learning Co-ordinators the skills they need to carry out their role. The course will focus on:
How to organise around learning;
How to co-ordinate the activities of ULR’s within the branch;
How to ensure learning is linked into the branch’s organising, bargaining and equalities work.
Branch International Officer
This course will examine in detail the role and function of Branch International Officers and how we can make “international solidarity” a reality not just a slogan. The course will look at UNISON’s international priorities, the effect of globalisation on developing countries and how
branch-based activities can make a difference.
All the above Branch Officer courses will take place on the following date:
- Saturday, Sunday 9,10 May 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 10 April 2009
Branch Officer courses are 1 night residential and will be held at the Leeds Marriott Hotel. NOTE: Please write the specific Course Title on your application form
(eg. Branch Chair)
Cost to Branches: £75
Welfare Officers
Branch Welfare Officer Training will be run on a cross-regional basis in 2009. Course dates will be advertised in e-focus and InFocus and on the UNISON Welfare webpages http://www.unison.org.uk/welfare/. You should apply for these courses in the same way as you apply for a national course.
Team Building | top | calendar | apply
This course is a second part, follow-up to the Branch Officers course and will examine teamwork in the Branch. The aim of the course, which will include a number of practical sessions, is to look at:-
- Working together on union problems and policies;
- Finding out about the roles of other Branch Officers;
- Practising working with other Branch Officers;
- Reviewing Branch arrangements for effective working.
Date and venue to be advised (probably in November 2009 and at a hotel in Leeds.).
Cost to Branches: £75
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SELF ORGANISATION (including Women Only courses)
Training is available for all Self Organised Groups which is arranged through the Lead Officer
Women only:
Women’s Assertiveness | top | calendar | apply
Assertiveness training offers a means of learning an invaluable set of communication skills, which helps us to express our opinions, needs and feelings, honestly and directly. The
philosophy behind assertiveness training is expressly non-competitive and great care is taken to enable each participant to strengthen their self-esteem and prevent themselves being manipulated or exploited.
The course covers:
Assertive skills
Dealing with anger
Body language
Making/Refusing requests
Learning to say No
Constructive criticism
This is a fun and practical weekend, which will increase your self-esteem; this then allows you to deal with problems both at work and in your private life.
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday 27,28,29 March 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 6 March 2009 - Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11,12,13 December 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 20 November 2009
These courses include 2 nights residential in Leeds and the
courses will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
Cost to Branches: £100
Women only:
Building Confidence in Women | top | calendar | apply
This course is open to ordinary women members who want to increase their confidence. This is a fun and practical course with very little written work. Working in small informal groups and pairs women look at the things which help them build confidence. We also look at barriers which get in the way of building confidence and develop a strategy for overcoming these barriers.
This course is designed as a starting point for women who have attended little or no UNISON training before. It is aimed at ordinary women members in the branches. After doing this course women may choose to attend Women’s Assertiveness or Public Speaking with Confidence courses. Some women go on to become Stewards and Learning Representatives.
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday 20,21,22 November 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 30 October 2009
This course includes 2 nights residential in Leeds and the course will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
Cost to Branches: £100
Women only:
Women's Day (initially refered to as Women’s Health Day) | top | calendar | apply
The day was originally titled Women's Health Day in the Regional Education Programme but it has been decided that the day should cover some other topics which are broadly aimed at increasing women's participation in UNISON.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
1. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
2. Promoting a positive female image in UNISON.
3. Poverty and pensions.
4. Black Women’s Services.
DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM and the FLYER
- Saturday 3 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 11 September 2009
Cost to Branches: £10 (Originally £25)
Venue: CONFERENCE SUITE, UNISON REGIONAL OFFICE, COMMERCE HOUSE, WADE LANE, LEEDS, LS2 8NJ..
NEGOTIATING WITH YOUR EMPLOYERS AND CASEWORK SKILLS
Employment Law Courses | top | calendar | apply
These courses are aimed at stewards or branch officials and will give an overview of specific areas of employment law. They will look at what the law actually says and how it may be applied. There are 5 one day courses – you can either do all 5 days or pick the day or days to suit your interest.
- Introduction to Employment Law
- Introduction to Contracts of Employment
- Introduction to Work Life Balance
- Introduction to Disability Discrimination Act
- Introduction to Race & Sex Discrimination
These courses will give a basic grounding in those areas of employment law and will help you to identify possible legal cases, which may be run in conjunction with the region.
- Introduction to Employment Law: Monday 12 January 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 19 December 2008 - Introduction to Contracts of Employment: Tuesday 13 January 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 19 December 2008 - Introduction to Work Life Balance: Monday 5 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 11 September 2009 - Introduction to Disability Discrimination Act: Tuesday 6 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 11 September 2009 - Introduction to Race & Sex Discrimination: Monday 16 November 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 23 October 2009
All courses are non-residential and will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
Cost to Branches: £20 per course
National Employment Law Courses | top | calendar | apply
There are a number of Employment Law courses run by National Learning and Organising Services which are held in Central London.
- Maternity and Parental Rights
12 February 2009* (provisional date, to be confirmed)
Closing date for applications: 5 January 2009 - Disability Discrimination Law
6, 7 May 2009
Closing date for applications 25 March 2009
4, 5 November 2009
Closing date for applications 23 September 2009 - Contracts, Redundancy and TUPE
20, 21, 22, 23, 24 April 2009
Closing date for applications 9 March 2009
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 July 2009
Closing date for applications 25 May 2009
23, 24, 25, 26, 27 November 2009
Closing date for applications 12 October 2009 - Unfair Dismissals and Employment Tribunals
11, 12, 13, 14, 15 May 2009
Closing date for applications 30 March 2009
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 October 2009
Closing date for applications 24 August 2009 - Race and Sex Discrimination Law
9, 10, 11, 12, 13 November 2009
Closing date for applications 28 September 2009 - Introduction to Worklife Balance
20 October 2009
Closing date for applications 8 September 2009
The in depth employment law courses supplement the range of training offered at regional level. They are aimed at experienced activists and this is taken into account when allocating places on these courses.
For further details or to request an application form please contact: UNISON Learning and Organising Services, 1 Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9AJ
Tel: 0207 551 1116
Fax: 0207 551 1758
Email: learning&organisingenquiries@unison.co.uk
Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace | top | calendar | apply
This course is for stewards and activists who wish to be able to identify possible cases of bullying and harassment within the workplace. The course will cover how to identify cases, how to deal with them in the workplace, how to negotiate with your employer around this issue, what are the key aspects of effective policies and procedures for dealing with this issue.
This course is not designed to examine or deal with individual cases of bullying or harassment which members may have experienced.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12, 13, 14 October 2009
Closing date for applications: Friday 11 September 2009
This course includes 2 nights residential and will be at Northern College, Barnsley
Note: Participants can attend on a Day Delegate basis (no accommodation) but there will
be no reduction in cost to Branches.
Cost to Branches: £75
DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS
Public Speaking with Confidence | top | calendar | apply
This course is aimed at anyone who will have to speak to groups of people whether they be small or large groups and whether they be in the workplace, in the Branch or at larger meetings. There are many occasions in UNISON when these skills may be needed. This course aims to give you the chance to develop and practise these skills in a friendly supportive atmosphere.
- Speaking in a trade union context;
- Preparing a talk or speech;
- How to deliver a speech;
- Ways to control nerves;
- How to deliver a speech confidently.
- Thursday, Friday 26,27 November 2009
Closing date for applications: Monday 2 October 2009
This course is non-residential and will be held at UNISON Regional Centre, Commerce House, Leeds
Cost to Branches: £40
Be a UNISON Lay Tutor Stage 1 | top | calendar | apply
The UNISON tutor training programme is open to all UNISON members. You don’t have to have any educational qualifications, but you do need to be enthusiastic about new methods for getting members involved and organised in your Branch. If you want to be, or are already involved and organising and tutoring on trade union education courses at Branch or Regional level then this is the course for you.
The course will look at understanding and using various educational methods, organising workshops and courses, writing and using various educational activities and planning and designing a one day workshop. Prior experience of tutoring or running groups can be helpful. This is an accredited course that will involve some assessment work. All UNISON lay tutors are required to attend an Equalities Awareness course which will be arranged separately.
Date: To be arranged (probably in November 2009). If you are interested in attending this course please submit an authorised application form to the Regional Education Administrator (address is given on the application Form) and further details will be sent to you when the course is arranged.
This course includes 4 nights residential and will be held at a venue to be confirmed.
Cost to Branches: £200 (this course is run jointly with the North West Region)
Pre-Conference Training | top | calendar | apply
This half-day briefing is a must for new or inexperienced delegates to National Delegate Conference. You will learn how to deal with the Conference agenda papers, the fringe meetings and how to get there. This briefing will give you a chance to meet with other new delegates and it will be run by Cliff Williams, Regional Secretary; the Regional Convenor and a member of the Conference Team.
Applications are NOT via the Education Administrator but all new delegates will be contacted directly and invited to attend once their registration has been processed by the region.
