Usdaw's award winning Check
Out Learning campaign has rightly been praised for its success in
adding new Union Learning Reps (ULRs) to the reps team. But, as our
recent organising report showed, Lifelong Learning helps to inspire
members in all sectors to take on a whole range of other
representative roles in the Union.
Look at Tracy Himlin's
journey from learner to Branch Secretary via ULR, Shop Steward and
Health and Safety Rep roles. Tracy, from the Tesco Express in
Strensall, started as a learner on a course with another member of
staff and was encouraged to become the store ULR. "I followed up
with other courses in Maths and English and took all the Usdaw home
study courses", she says, "and they gave me confidence in myself
and helped me to be comfortable when dealing with all sorts of
other people and situations".
Tracy's Area Organiser,
Sharon Hargrave, says, "Tracy has developed into a good
'all-rounder' since taking up the ULR role. Her confidence has
rocketed and her store membership is at an all-time high. Her
consistent approach to tasks and issues has made her into a great
branch official."
Tony Bird was also
encouraged into a Shop Steward role at DHL Distribution in
Castleford through learning. Having started an NVQ course in
warehousing and following it with a Skills for Life course, Tony
says, "I signed up for the courses because I wanted to learn new
skills and improve myself, I have gained qualifications, new skills
and abilities and this proves it's never too late for learning".
Tony has now completed the Learning and Organising course with the
whole rep team and says, "For me, Usdaw's Lifelong Learning
campaign gives me the opportunity to make up for lost time".
Learning also provided the
inspiration for Dex Miller from the Tesco Irvine store to get
involved in Usdaw's campaigns around young members. Dex became a
Shop Steward through the store Check Out Learning campaign and then
undertook the Usdaw Home Study course on the recommendation of the
store's ULR. He is now an active member of Usdaw's Young Members
Committee. A more recent learning event in-store saw another two
Shop Stewards recruited - one to cover a vacancy across the day
shift and one to cover the night shift.
And over in the Tesco
Haydock store, Tracy Mangan, an active ULR of more than two years,
has recently been elected as a Shop Steward. Tracy has also become
involved in Usdaw's Equalities work, has registered as one of the
Division's Equalities Activists and attended several weekend
schools. "Learning was the driving force behind my Union activism",
states Tracy, "and I know I wouldn't have had the confidence to
become involved without gaining experience from my ULR role".