Over 200 Learning Reps
across the country met to update their knowledge, share ideas and
develop good practice in a series of Divisional Union Learning Reps
(ULR) Forums run over February and March.
This is the first set of
what will become a regular date in ULR calendars. “We have had
informal ULR get-togethers in many divisions and they have been
very popular,” says Ann Murphy, Usdaw’s National Co-ordinator for
Lifelong Learning “so we decided to make them a permanent feature
of our work.”
Most Forums were a mix of
discussion, activity and speakers – from within Usdaw and outside.
“The overall idea is to give ULRs a chance to recharge their
batteries, find out what their colleagues are up to and get a steer
on Usdaw’s priorities over the next year” says Ann. “And it’s a
great chance for us to find out what more we can do to support our
ULRs and what they think we should be doing to promote learning
within the division and the Union as a whole.”
In Eastern Division,
Divisional Project Worker, Phil Gander assembled an impressive
range of events including external speakers from Unionlearn and
North Herts College and ULRs, Mick Power and Mandy Lloyd. Mick ran
a very lively session on Maths and how ULRs could best promote it
and engage members, whilst Mandy talked about ways to progress
Lifelong Learning by linking the workplace and the community by
working through the Tesco Community Champion.
Phil also made a
presentation to Kas Harris and Sally Gallagher, Union Learning
Co-ordinators at Tesco Fenny Lock Distribution Centre, to thank
them for their hard work and devotion to learning. The Distribution
Centre is being relocated to Daventry and both Kas and Sally have
decided not to move. All the ULRs at the Forum wished them all the
best for the future.
In the North East Division,
Martyn Warwick broke the Forum into a mixture of talks and
activities. In the morning there was a session aimed at the 10
brand new ULRs attending the Forum where established ULRs answered
their questions and then gave their top tips. This was followed by
an activity on the ULRs responsibilities for collecting data around
learning. “I know it’s not the most creative and popular activity
for ULRs”, says Martyn “but it is vital to show our funders and our
colleagues just how popular learning is and we can’t do that
without the figures.”
After lunch there were two
guest speakers. Heather Cowen ran two workshops on health and
wellbeing and how Reps can deal with stress and the emotional
wellbeing of their members. Local author, Ian Clayton ran two
Creative Writing Workshops exploring writing and storytelling.
In the Southern Division the
Forum was chaired by Sue Merrell, the Deputy Divisional Officer. “I
liked the idea of a ULR Forum and was keen to be involved” said
Sue. ULRs heard from Peter Chalklin on new developments in the
division and Adrian Ryan from Unionlearn updated them on work that
the TUC was doing around learning as well as sharing information
and ideas amongst themselves. Sue herself ran an activity-linking
learning to Usdaw’s campaigning work in the division.
Experienced and new ULRs
alike voted the Forums a big success. Liz Skidmore, a new ULR from
Morrisons in Rothwell said “I found the Forum interesting and
helpful, the workshops were great, I could have listened to Ian
Clayton all afternoon he was brilliant”, whilst Dave McFarlane from
Tesco said “I have just started my work as a ULR and it’s given me
some ideas about using my role as Federation Chair to get the
Federations more involved in Lifelong Learning”.
More experienced ULRs were
also enthusiastic. “It was great for so many of us to get together”
said Amy Murphy, from the Tesco Crowborough store, “it makes you
realise you’re not on your own”, whilst for Helen King, a Mobile
ULR in the Eastern Division, “The day was truly eventful, full of
advice, information and guidance. It was great for networking and
an opportunity to connect with other ULRs and their experiences in
the workplace.”
The next Forums will be
taking place early in 2012 so keep your eyes open for advance
news.