Education and Trade Unions at Work
The UNISON Scotland Response
To the Review of Education for Work and Enterprise
Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Department
Executive Summary
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One major aspect of the world of work is the
role played by trade unions
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Many private companies and most of the public
sector recognises trade unions
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Modern trade unions offer a wide range of services
to their members
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They also participate in partnership arrangements
with employers in the interests of good industrial relations.
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UNISON considers the role of trade unions could
be introduced into the Scottish school curriculum as part of
Personal and Social Education lessons, industry training courses,
etc.
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Education on the role of trade unions is a
relevant factor in learning about the world of work
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Students with such knowledge could assist enterprises
with industrial relations.
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The TUC Educational Resource for Work Experience
and Careers Education would provide an excellent basis for such
studies.
Introduction
UNISON has an interest in various aspects of education and enterprise,
through its members employment in the relevant services. Howeverour
response to the Review of Education for Work and Enterprise is based
on the benefits of introducing trade unionism and the services that
trade unions provide into the education of young people.General
Response UNISON believes it is important that young people are
prepared for the world of work and one major aspect is an appreciation
of the role trade unions play in enterprises. Most large companies
and the majority of the public and voluntary sector recognise trade
unions and acknowledge the role they play in the smooth operation
of the relevant organisation.Trade unions today offer a wide range
of services to their members. These include:
- negotiating better wages and conditions in the workplace;
- participating in partnership arrangements;
- representing individual members if they have a problem
- offering information and advice on employment law and rights
in the workplace;
- providing a network of health and safety representatives;
- promoting equal opportunities and providing support and
advice on the relevant legislation;
- encouraging involvement in work/life balance arrangements
- fighting for equal pay, and participating in campaigns,
such as the Executive's "Close the Gap" initiative
- offering education and training opportunities
- joining with employers and learning institutions to implement
the
Government's lifelong learning programme which will eventually
include the provision of a network of lifelong learning advisers
currently being developed by trade unions.
Trade unions also offer a number of other benefits to their members,
e.g. welfare benefits, legal assistance, financial services and
discounts, travel clubs, etc. UNISON, in conjunction with the National
Union of Students, runs a website called: www.troubleatwork.org.uk.
The site is aimed at young people and students and contains information
and advice on various topics relating to the workplace. The latest
figures show that 10,000 people accessed the site in November 2001,
asking questions on such issues as hours at work, rest breaks, accidents
in the workplace, etc. The high uptake on the site highlights the
lack of knowledge of this information amongst young people, and
points to the need for including it in the Scottish curriculum.
Response to Specific Questions
- Encouraging Good Practice
UNISON considers that this aspect of the world of work could be
introduced into the school curriculum, possibly through wider "citizenship"
lessons. The TUC produces an Educational Resource for Work Experience
and Careers Education which provides various activities designed
to look at the role of employees within the context of being good
citizens with a sense of social responsibility. This has recently
been rewritten to take into account the introduction of citizenship
studies into the school curriculum in England and Wales, but would
only require slight adaptations for use in Scotland.
The resource material comprises sections on:
- Trade Unions at work, showing what trade unions can do for
their members in the workplace;
- rights and responsibilities at work which includes a basic
introduction to employment law, e.g. the working time regulations,
parental responsibilities, specific rights for agency workers
and those working in call centres, part time workers, etc;
- equal opportunities, including the legal position on sexual,
racial and disability discrimination, harassment, equal pay,
etc;
- health and safety issues;
- the changing nature of work, including flexibility, managing
change, teamworking, etc.
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Importance of Trade Unionism
The importance of the knowledge of trade unionism and rights
at work can best be understood by stressing its relevance. Most
major companies and virtually the entire public sector recognise
trade unions, and all employers have to work within current employment
and discrimination law. An understanding of these issues can make
working life much easier for students entering the world of work.Again
the relevance of trade unionism can be stressed to parents who
may belong to trade unions themselves, have benefited from the
services they provide.
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Benefits to Businesses
Employees with knowledge of trade unionism and rights at work
can be an asset to businesses who need to conduct employee relations
within their enterprises, as they will be able to play a constructive
rolein workplace partnership arrangements
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Organisational Arrangements
At present the Scottish curriculum does not include citizenship
issues. However it could be possible to use the above material
in PSE or Lifeskills lessons. It should also be possible to include
a trade union perspective in the Understanding Industry courses,
available to some 5th and 6th year students. One way
for businesses to be involved in provision of such education would
be for them to involve some of their trade union representatives
in industry liaison projects carried out in schools so that the
trade union view could be presented.
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Key Recommendations
The role of trade unions and rights at work is an important subject
with which all students should be familiar. The topics covered in
the TUC Educational Resource for Work Experience and Careers Education
provide an excellent basis for such studies.
For Further Information Please Contact:
Matt Smith
Scottish Secretary
UNISONScotland
UNISON House
14, West Campbell Street,Glasgow
G2 6RX
Tel 0141-332 0006 Fax 0141 342 2835e-mail matt.smith@unison.co.uk
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