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:

Courses coming up in May

There is still availability in some UNISON courses coming up – ERA Refresher, Organising Stewards, Mental Health at Work and Writing and Editing Skills. If you are interested, see more here and contact your branch to apply.

ERA Refresher – Glasgow (residential) – 6 – 8 May 2016
This course is for any stewards/branch officers who have not undertaken any training in the last 5 years. It is not suitable for new and inexperienced reps. It updates participants on new developments in UNISON and relevant legal updates. Participants will reflect on their role as trade union activists and update their knowledge and skills on organising and representation.

Courses coming up with places available

The courses are open to all members and  activists and are at no cost to the Branch  in addition UNISON staff and Branch Staff are free to apply also but priority will be given to members.

• Your Skills, Your Future – 1 day Course 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow -  3rd March 9.30am to 4pm 
• Making the Most of the Internet – 1 day course-  Douglas House, Belford Road, Edinburgh –  10^th March 9.30am to 4pm

Courses coming up with places available!

Please find below a list of upcoming training courses where we still have availability. For more details of the courses below see http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/
education/index.html . Contact your branch to apply for any of these courses.

Organising for Health & Safety (Residential) – Glasgow – Part 1 on 5-7 February & Part 2 on 11-13 March

Covers the role and rights of the safety rep using legislation, building H&S organisations, developing strategies for H&S and risk assessments

·        Organising Stewards – Edinburgh – Part 1 on 23-24 February & Part 2 on 8-10 March

5 day course which must be completed in full. Develop skill knowledge and confidence to enable you to carry out your steward role. Covers organising union in public services, importance of equalities, tackling issues in workplace, working with members, understanding procedures, handling grievances and disciplinaries and the world UNISON works in

·        Organising for Health & Safety – Edinburgh – Part 1 on 2-4 March & Part 2 on 12-13 April

Covers the role and rights of the safety rep using legislation, building H&S organisations, developing strategies for H&S and risk assessments

·        Organising for the Media (Residential) – Glasgow – 4-6 March

Aims to give participants skills, knowledge and understanding of relevant methods to improve level of branch media contact effectively. Covers various media, press, radio and TV and interview exercises

New 2016 Course Programme Launched

Following a review of last year's UNISON Scotland training and a survey of local branch requirements for 2016, the Learning and Organising committee has designed a comprehensive and professional development and training programme to meet the needs and demands of our newly elected stewards, workplace representatives and union activists. See full details and download course programmes here

This year's programme has been adapted to take account of a request for more flexibility on the days on which courses are run and has prioritised the courses that our members and activists have identified as their primary priorities.

Places available on TU courses coming up

Apply now via your branch for the following courses that still have places.

· Organising Stewards – Dundee – 25-26 August (part 1) and 13-15 October (part 2)

· Union Learning Reps (ULR) – Glasgow – 31 August – 2 September

· Developing Representation Skills – Edinburgh – 2-3 September
Applicants must have completed Organising Stewards and Further Representation Skills to be eligible to attend this course, which was formerly named Advanced Representation.

· Absence Management & Capability – Edinburgh – 8-9 September

· Equality Reps – Glasgow (residential) – 11-13 September (delegates can attend as a day delegate if they wish)

· Regulatory & Fitness to Practice Cases – Glasgow – 15 September
This event will take the form of 2 briefings. In the morning Sam Oestreicher from the Professional Registration Representation Unit at UNISON Centre will present information on UNISON’s internal protocols for cases such as those going to NMC/SSSC and other regulatory bodies. In the afternoon Thompsons Solicitors will explain their role in taking such cases in Scotland. This is an essential briefing for all Branches with members subject to Regulatory bodies and is open to branch officers and experienced stewards.

· Branch Leadership Module 3, Organising & Bargaining – Edinburgh – 15-16 September
Attendance at one of the key Branch Officer Weekend courses (marked * on pages 15 and 16 of the course programme) is required to be eligible to attend this next stage of the leadership programme.

Further information regarding these courses asnd details on how to apply can be found on the course programme http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/education/courses.html

UNISON courses coming up

There are still places available on the following courses. To apply, get an application form here and contact your branch for approval.

Organising Stewards – Glasgow – 30 June-1 July (part 1); 4-6 August (part 2) – 2 spaces available

Discussion Leaders (residential) – Edinburgh – 3-5 July
This is the first course in the tutor training programme and covers the basics of facilitating discussions together with an introduction to various education methods. The course is open to branch officers and experienced stewards. Although this is a weekend residential course, applicants can attend as a day delegate.

Branch Leadership Module 2, Managing the Branch – Edinburgh – 8 – 9 July. Attendance at one of the key Branch Officer courses (Branch Secretary, Chair, Treasurer, Education Coordinator, Equality Officer, Communications Officer) is required to be eligible to attend this course.

Negotiating Skills – Glasgow – 14-15 July

Further Representation Skills – Glasgow – 22-23 July
This course was formerly Representing Members and is the second course in the new stewards training path (completion of Organising Stewards is required to be eligible to attend). 

ERA Refresher – Edinburgh – 28-29 July
If you have any stewards/branch officers who have not attended any training in the last 5 years, this particular course or Developing Representation Skills or Negotiating Skills are essential to gain reaccreditation under the ERA.

Further information regarding these courses can be found on the course programme http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/education/courses.html

New 2015 Course Programme Launched

Welcome to UNISON Scotland's Education Programme for 2015. Our courses continue to prove very popular, particularly for new UNISON Stewards. We offer training to ensure new Stewards are accredited by law and, more importantly, feel confident in their role. Click here for full details on the website

All our regional courses are held in large cities/towns and, with the exception of specialised courses, they are tutored by specially trained UNISON staff or fully qualified Lay Tutors who are activists themselves.

We also offer Refresher training for more experienced activists and a number of specific courses where people can develop their skills in Representation, Negotiation etc. Our short Employment Law courses are as popular as ever and are delivered by our partners Thompsons Solicitors.

New Course Programme for 2011

UNISON Scotland's Learning and Organising Committee has published a new course programme from April to December. See http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/education/courses.html for details.