Rolls-Royce Inchinnan Unite Union Learning

Rep Project 2006-2011

Unite Scotland Learning Strategy

CollectiveBargaining Around

LearningSustainable

Workplace Structures around Learning

Utilise Members existing Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Give them accreditation

Support members in taking learning as far

as they wish.

Bring Learning to Workplace at times that suits members.

Offer Progression Paths

to Members in learning that they

wish & need!.

Union Learning Rep Trained

and returns to workplace

Steering Group Established ULR’s, Convenors, Management Reps, Learning Organiser

Negotiations start on Learning Agreement& Discussions start on workforce survey

Learning Agreement established & signed off.

Workforce survey agreed and distributed

http://www.surveymonkey.net/MySurveys.aspx

Survey results collated, provider asked to continually attendSteering Group, Courses & qualifications levels agreed

Progression path offered by provider & courses offered to other learners

Courses identified with possible dates of courses to start. Service Level Agreement drafted &

signed between Provider, Employer & Union

Agreement incorporates roles, responsibilities & facilities that are available

(IT equipment, rooms, security, company policies etc)

Course starts, provider gives report

to Steering Group

Last mapping exercise-completed time off agreed,

confirmation of course dates & number to start course all agreed

Unite Scotland

Workplace

Union Learning Rep

Structure

4Project History• Started negotiations with employer, March 2006

• Joint Steering Group/Company Partnership/Learning Organisers Support!

• Signed Learning Agreement May 2006

• ULR Trained May 2006: 1 per shift per business; 16 in total.

• Surveyed Workforce June 2006

•  Learning Open Day August 2006 • Workplace Mapping of 10 different shift patterns

• Courses Commenced Oct 2006: Basic Computing, P.C. Passport, ECDL, ECDL Advanced, Spanish, Pensions Courses, Literacy & Innumeracy, Progression paths in learning

• Summer 2007 repeat of Survey, Open Days & Mapping

• Paid time off for PC Passport Sept 2007; 50/50 split in time

Project History Continued

• September 2007: Rep on site receives TUC Union Learning Rep of the Year Award for work done on site. Site recognised as UK best practice in work based learning.

• Surveyed membership July 2008

• Courses August 2008: 2 Basic Computing classes, 40 ECDL, 33 Open University, 1 Sign Language Course. 1 Online Course

• Courses 2009: ECDL, Spanish, Sign Language, Open University

• January 2010: Survey of membership repeated.

• February 2010 Open University Degree course commencement.

• 2010: Open University Beng , Pensions Course, Rolls-Royce My Learning, European Computer Driving Licence.

• 2011: Open Uni Degree 2nd Cohort, Rolls-Royce My Learning, Pensions Awareness Courses, German Course,

• Over 400 members put through accredited learning on site since project commencement.

6

Learning Success

Rolls - Royce

7Quote From Les Carey

Manufacturing Manager Stators/Rotors Plant

• Rolls-Royce plc took the decision to invest £85 million in the new facility at Inchinnan because of the skill and commitment of our people. The development of our people is seen as the foundation for future success and the ULR process is a critical enabler in the overall employee engagement and development of our site.

We see the ULRs as key facilitators within this journey. The global aerospace market is a highly competitive market and our competitors use similar machine tools and methods of manufacture, therefore our differentiator in the market place is our employees. For our business to remain competitive it is essential that we fully develop and grow our team members."

8Rolls Royce

Steering Group

Support

Facilities

Paid Time Off Work

Funding

9

Learning Success

Unite the Union

Rolls - Royce

10Unite the Union

John Quigley,

Former Unite Regional Secretary

“Lifelong learning is very important for the trade union movement. You can equate it to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, when I was a shop steward. At first, it wasn’t taken seriously, and a lot of people didn’t think it was important compared to the other pressing industrial relations issues at the time. Over time, though, the people who made a real difference to the health and safety landscape were the reps.”

11Trade Union• ULR: Friendly face members are comfortable & confident with• Trade Union Structure of Shop Stewards Committees help with

ULR constituency numbers• Learning part of Core Trade Union business & a Collective

Bargaining issue for Trade Union on site• Up-skilling of membership• Project running over 4 years, over 400 members been involved

in one form of learning or another.• Project now moved on to securing off the job time for learning.• Role of ULR incorporated into Trade Union Constitution on site. • Project recognised as best practice by Unite and TUC.• ULR on site awarded TUC ULR of year.• Project has increased Trade Union activism.

12

Learning SuccessEmployees/ Members

Unite the Union

Rolls - Royce

13

Members Learning Requests 2010/11

• Total Interested in Computing: 119• Total Interest In Languages: 113• Budgeting Course: 16• Core Skills: 18 • Pensions 67• Sign Language 19• SVQ 9• 17th Ed IEE Wiring 35• C.A.D 45• Trade Union Course 54• Rolls-Royce My Learning 82• Open University 47• Total 624

14Numbers Interested in Learning 2008• Total Interested in Computing: 85• Total Interest In Languages: 55• Home Budgeting Course 22• Innumeracy: 10 • Brush up Your Skills 12• Pensions Course 25• Online Course 17• Literacy 1• Sign Language 17• Trade Union Courses 33• Open University 33• Total 310

Unite the Union

Workplace Learner

John Malone

John Malone Learning Progression Path 2007-2011

• Skilled worker but, no learning undertaken since apprenticeship 30 years ago.

• Introduced back into learning through Social Learning (Spanish)

• Basic ICT Courses Stages 1 & 2• Progressed to PC Passport & ECDL• Open University BEng programme with On-site

supports. • Passes 1st year Exam & TMA with average 80%• All courses delivered within workplace at Shift

friendly times

“The Life Long Learning agenda is possibly the key to the door in breaking down diversity issues within workplaces! Trade Unions have been described as “Pale, Male & Stale” I undertook learning in the workplace, wanted to help others as I was helped by Unite the Union, so I became a Shop Steward & Union Learning Rep and have been successful in encouraging others into learning.”

Edith Kidd Unite the Union Learning Rep

18Members/ Employees/

Response to Surveys & Open Days

Learning in familiar environment

Learning with people they are comfortable with.

Courses delivered in a collective manner

Shift friendly delivery of courses on site

Willingness to learn

19

Learning Success

Employees/Members

Unite the Union

Rolls - Royce

Funding

20Funding

STUC

Unite

ILA

SULF

European Social Fund

Rolls-Royce

21

Learning Success

Employees/Members

Providers

Unite the Union

Rolls - Royce

Funding

22Providers

Stow College: (Service Level Agreement with Site)Open UniversityUnite the UnionReid Kerr College University of West of Scotland

23Summary•Demographics of Students: Would not have gone back into learning. 

•Up skilling of workforce & direct business benefit for the employer.Helps with training the workforce for Self Directing Teams tasks & hits Investors In People & workforce development criteria.

•Life Long Learning in the workplace demonstrates to members that the Trade Union can effectively organise around issues that the members are interested in.

•ULR: trusted by workforce, enables members back into learning, self-promoting, self-generating, creates activism amongst Reps & members. Trade Union seen as Proactive rather than Reactive!

•Learning incorporated into Trade Union constitution on site, part of everyday Trade Union Business.