Courses coming up

Please find below a list of upcoming training courses where we still have availability. If you have any activists who are interested in attending any of these courses please arrange for the booking form to be completed 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:-


• Employment Law Discrimination – 24 August – Glasgow
This course is open to experienced stewards and Branch Officers. Covers all aspects of potential discrimination as defined by Equality legislation.

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

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

Lay tutors essential to challenge austerity myths

#uNDC14 Mandela said that education is the most important weapon that you can use to change the world, Scotland’s Stephen Smellie said, as conference set out a plan to take forward and encourage debate, discussion and education on the causes of austerity and broader political education.

Moving Scotland’s amendment, highlighting the excellent work of lay tutors’ involvement in our education programme in Scotland, Stephen said “Our most valuable resource is ourselves, our activists. We are experienced in representing members, negotiating, organising and fighting injustice daily.

Union learning – Making a difference to people’s lives

#stuc14 The First Minister, Alex Salmond, in his speech to Congress, answered delegates’ call and promised three year funding for union learning, to make sure that trade unions can continue to develop and provide workplace learning. Congress had earlier commended the “invaluable contribution” of workplace learning for both workers and the employers and called for improved funding as well as a three year funding cycle.