Union learning drive pays big dividends in Ayr

Workers at the Safeway/Morrisons store in Ayr are becoming IT wizards after retail union Usdaw organised a learning drive.

More than a quarter of the workforce has signed up for classes after a slow start that was nothing short of lukewarm.

When Margaret Fleming, Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project Worker, and Alison Irvine, Recruitment and Development Officer, first visited the store there was little interest in trying Lifelong Learning courses.

But Margaret and Alison kept visiting the store encouraging people to join Usdaw and think seriously about returning to education. Their persistence finally paid off when Gerry Thomas volunteered to become a Union Learning Rep.

“I have always been interested in learning so when I saw the posters in-store advertising for a union learning rep I decided to give it a go,” says Gerry.

Gerry proved to be a natural at signing up colleagues who wanted to return to education, many of whom had never set foot inside a classroom since they left school. So far Gerry and his growing team have enrolled 45 staff to take computer courses that will boost their long term career goals.

“I cannot believe the difference 12 months has made to this store,” says Alison Irvine. ”I used to find it difficult to get anyone to talk to me about the union – let alone try an IT course.”

“Once Gerry Thomas was in place the staff soon began to realise how being a part of the union can benefit them both inside and outside of work.”

“In the last year, I have seen a complete change in opinion about how the union is viewed. The union is no longer spoken of with suspicion. The members see themselves as well and truly part of the union, with everyone working together to build membership and strengthen the union’s position.”

Gerry Thomas has now moved on to a Safeway/Morrisons store in Troon, but he made sure his good work would be continued. Lisa Shimmons was one of Gerry’s first recruits to successfully complete a computer course and she agreed to take over as the store’s Union Learning Rep.

Lisa has just finished an intensive course in organising union learning courses and can’t wait to pick up where Gerry left off.

“I really enjoyed the Union Learning Reps course which has given me the confidence to talk to members,” says Lisa. “I’ve learned how to get people back into education and also to encourage them to join the union. Three people in my department have already given me back their completed membership forms.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 224 2804 or at paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.

• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.

• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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