Building a Powerful Workplace Union

Wednesday Workshops

2 hour workshops for any existing, new or potential activist who wants to start building Unison power in the workplace.

All the workshops take place over Zoom and at these times 11:00pm – 1:00pm and 3:00pm – 5:00pm

8^th September, 6^th October and 3^rd November

Workshop One – Building a Powerful Workplace Union

What is the ‘Union’ and how do we organise it?

This workshop will explore key aspects of a union organised workplace and the role you can play in raising Unison’s profile to build a stronger union.

15^th September, 13^th October and 10^th November

Workshop Two – Understanding your workplace union

Identifying the issues that matter to you and your workmates!

The starting point for building power is having information about your workplace. We will discuss techniques and good practice in assessing

the strengths and weaknesses of your workplace union and the role of collective issues in building a powerful workplace union.

22^nd September, 20^th October and 17^th November

Workshop Three - One to One Conversations

The path to power!

The best way of convincing people to join or become more active in Unison is to have one to one conversations. The workshop will show you techniques in how to conduct these discussions successfully.

29^th September, 27^th October and 24^th November

Workshop Four - Running a Campaign

Campaigning to win!

Unions should be about achieving change in the workplace, this workshop will you how to run a successful campaign and demonstrate union power!

To register Email [email protected]

For more details contact Bob kelly [email protected]

BUILDING A POWERFUL WORKPLACE UNION 

Online Workshops for Workplace Contacts

To invigorate the role of Workplace Contacts we are holding workshops for existing, new and potential contacts. Stewards and branch officers interested in recruiting and developing contacts are also welcome to join the sessions.

What is a Workplace Contact?

A 2 hour online (Zoom) workshop for Workplace Contacts to explore their role and development.

Friday 30^th July

11:00am – 1:00pm

Monday 2^nd August

3:00pm – 5:00pm

Thursday 5^th August 

11:00am - 1:00pm

Schools Contacts Workshops

Contacts in schools play a vital role in keeping members in touch with their branches. We have workshops to explore their role and the contribution they can make in building a powerful Unison in schools.

Wednesday 1^st September

10:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Thursday 2^nd September

9:00am - 11:00am and 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Friday 3^rd September

11:00am – 1:00pm

BUILDING A POWERFUL WORKPLACE UNION 

Online Workshops for Workplace Contacts

To invigorate the role of Workplace Contacts we are holding workshops for existing, new and potential contacts. Stewards and branch officers interested in recruiting and developing contacts are also welcome to join the sessions.

What is a Workplace Contact?

A 2 hour workshop for Workplace Contacts to explore their role and development.

Friday 30^th July

11:00am – 1:00pm

Monday 2^nd August

3:00pm – 5:00pm

Thursday 5^th August 

11:00am - 1:00pm

Building the Union Workshops

 Open to any Steward, H&S Rep, ULR, Contact or Branch Officer

Promoting Unison 

A 2 hour workshop on communicating with members and raising the profile of Unison in the workplace

Tuesday 6th July 

11:00am - 1:00pm

Thursday 8th July

3:00pm - 5:00pm

Knowing your members 

A 2 hour workshop on finding and mapping members in your workplace

Tuesday 13th July 

11:00am - 1:00pm

Thursday 15th July

3:00pm - 5:00pm

One to One Conversations

A 2 hour workshop on learning how to have successful conversations with potential members or activists

Tuesday 20th July

11:00am -1:00pm

Thursday 22nd July

3:00pm - 5:00pm

To register email [email protected]

If you need any further information or support please contact Bob Kelly [email protected]

Hi all,

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

 Due to the current crisis we have cancelled all our courses until at least the end of May.

If you have new stewards or if you are a new steward, there are online courses available please follow this link: https://www.tuceducation.org.uk/

The TUC will be offering online stewards course, with the next online course due to start on 20^th April, and the TUC are looking to offer a further online course in May or June depending on demand. 

Unison has recently started a Women's Lives course in Kirkby

“Keep the courses going, they are brilliant!”

A group of 10 UNISON members came together last Friday to take part in our workshop 'Power to be You' which looks at members' perceptions of confidence and strategies to appear and feel more confident in a range of scenarios.

All feedback from members was very positive. Members included a new ULR and a new steward, alongside existing members looking to gain new skills to help both in the workplace and in the union.

Further workshops in the region include: a Power to be You taster workshop organised by Bolton women's committee; a Power to be You workshop for employees of Sodexo at South Manchester General Hospital; and a Your skills Your Future workshop organised by Central Lancashire Health branch. Contact Tom at the regional office for further details.

Wirral Lifelong Services, in partnership with Wirral UNISON, celebrated the achievements of thousands of adult learners who have taken part in courses and developed skills for the workplace, for potential future careers, or simply for the fun of learning. Awards were given to nominated people including all of our own UNISON learners who have taken part in courses organised by the union.

The day was organised by UNISON lifelong learning coordinator Dave Hardcastle with support from his colleagues in lifelong learning services and the UNISON branch. Cakes and refreshments were supplied courtesy of the Inclusive Learning Project  (Union Learning Fund) which supports lifelong learning through the unions.

Our UNISON courses have helped to develop potential new activists in the union, in particular through development as union learning reps who help to advocate and shape learning in the workplace. New learner rep Carol Munns received a lifetime achievement award for her efforts to progress from a book club attendee through to her appointment in Wirral libraries where she now runs the book groups as a part of her wider role. Carol completed learning rep training alongside 9 other new reps back in March.

Photographs courtesy of Paul Wiggins

UNISON rep Dave Hardcastle receives an award from the mayor for all his work supporting learners

UNISON learning organiser Tom talks about how UNISON supports lifelong learning

UNISON officer Paul Wiggins

Some of the learners receiving their awards

Members from the Manchester and Liverpool areas celebrated their successful completion of 'Return to Learn' with awards presented by UNISON Regional Secretary Kevan Nelson.

Kevan shared a unique story of a Stockport based member who, ten years ago, completed the Return to Learn course which was the start of a learning journey which culminated in her election as an MP. Kevan explained how delighted we are as a union to offer this course in partnership with the WEA and that it's great if members wish to end their journey here. But it also opens up new opportunities to explore further study with lifelong learning services, local colleges and universities.

And, in the case of new UNISON learning reps June and Linda, further possibilities for active union membership. June completed Return to Learn and the stage 1 and 2 ULR course and now plans to go to national conference and become active in the various lay bodies of UNISON.

"I enjoyed Return to Learn from start to finish: all the women in the group bonded and were supportive of each other, particularly early on during a personal descriptive writing session", says June.

To promote Return to Learn in your branch, please let Tom Jenkins at the Regional Centre know and we can discuss promotion of the course.