Act now! Still places on branch officer courses 22-24 April

There are still places on the courses for new branch officers being held in Glasgow from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 April.

The courses are aimed at newly elected officers or those who want to understand more about a particular role.

It may also be useful for those who have not done training for a while as most of the material has been revised and updated and they can share their experience with those who are new.

All the courses offer the opportunity to look at roles, responsibilities and best organisational practice for their appropriate post.

This is a great opportunity to get updated training but also to meet and network with UNISON activists across Scotland.

For more details see the course programmes at http://www.unison-scotland.org/learning/courses/. To apply

If you are interested in attending any of these courses please arrange for the booking form to be completed via your branch and then forward to activisteducationscotland@unison.co.uk or post to Activist Education (Scotland), UNISON, 53 Shore Street, Inverness, IV1 1NF as soon as possible:

A motivating weekend

UNISON Scotland's branch officer training ends at lunchtime today with participants and tutors alike

Expert tuition from Lilian Macer, UNISON Scottish Convener,
and Stephen Smellie, Depute Convener, on the branch
secretaries course.

speaking of how the courses and the networking with each other motivates and gives new energy to go back to their branches to organise.

The number of new branch officers was encouraging and so were the more known faces who were changing role in their branch. But this is only the start and there is a host of other courses people can attend during the year. See the course planner at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/education/index.html

Course reminds us what the union stands for

Clare Sweeney from UNISON West Dunbartonshire Branch was thrown in at the deep end as communications officer last month after a branch development day. She had only been a steward since last year.

“I was encouraged by people to stand and I was delighted that the training came up so quickly”, said Clare (pictured). “The training is really interesting and I’ve been able to meet people from other branches.”

“Perhaps the most important thing I’ll take from it is to keep reminding us all what the union is, what it stands for and why we are in a union in the first place.”

Malcolm Burns presents the media training
on the communications course

She praised the keynote speech last night by Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie as “re-invigorating”, bringing her “back to the basics as to why we do this.”

It’s scary being branch secretary..

.. but the training is giving me more confidence to go back and organise in my branch, said Shirley Birrell of Scottish Borders Health Branch during a break in UNISON Scotland's branch officer training this weekend.

Shirley (on the right in the photo) became branch secretary just two months ago like Karen Merriman of Orkney Health Branch. Both had been stewards before but the big step to branch secretary was a scary one.

Shirley said she was: “interested in being branch secretary but not confident” until her regional officer encouraged her to go for it.

“The training is really helpful”, said Shirley. “It gives you lots of ideas especially showing you how to create an organising agenda in the branch.

Karen, who had been Young Members Officer previously, agreed: “The training underlines the importance of working together in the branch, making use to the skills of stewards and other officers.

“I wasn’t that confident when I came on the course but I’ll leave more enthused and motivated”, she said.

New branch officers attend training

The future of UNISON Scotland is in safe hands as 100 members attend new branch officer training in Glasgow this weekend. Run by the Scottish Learning and Organising Committee, the training concentrates on organisation and broader trade union education as well as the nuts and bolts needed to do the job.

The weekend kicked off with an inspiring contribution from UNISON Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie, before secretaries, treasurers, chairpersons, education officers, welfare officers, communications officers, equality officers and health and safety officers got down to work.