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.
Seconding Aegis the Union’s motion,
UNISON’s Hazel Marshall told Congress
that it is no surprise that it is the
trade union movement that takes lifelong
learning more seriously than even the
most enlightened employer. As well as
helping our members to develop their skills
and capacities and to reach their full
potential, union learning also provides
a positive image for the unions, showing
people that “Our real purpose is
to make a difference to people’s
lives.”
Hazel added, “In my own area of
Lanarkshire, a partnership with Local
Authorities and the Health board delivers
a variety of courses, from IT skills to
dementia awareness.
“In the Highlands it is a union
learning programme that has helped migrant
workers to develop their English language
skills to improve their prospects in their
new home. There are similar stories the
length and breadth of the country.”
Hazel warned however, that there aren’t
enough of them and had called on the Scottish
Government to take union learning seriously.
“We need to be saying to the Scottish
Government, if you can make a commitment
to big business to cut corporation tax,
you can make a commitment to Scotland’s
workforce and Scotland’s people
to improve our skills and abilities.”
