June's friend publishes poetry and she often brings poems to the class, but with the original drafts and redrafts to show that when writing, you don't have to get it right first time. Guy was fascinated to see how rough drafts could be patiently worked into pieces of poetry. He wondered whether he could write poems. With support from June and colleagues, he now not only writes with more confidence, but also publishes a monthly poem in a local newsletter.

Guy is a good example of why unions want to play an enthusiastic role in basic skills. Unions are trusted in the workplace and have the confidence of members and employers. This trust has powerful potential in the area of adult learning. A growing army of over 2,000 trained union learning representatives now exists. They are active in workplaces promoting learning, working with employers and encouraging members to get back into learning. Their experiences are proving that many adults, previously switched off to learning, have been waiting for a trusted ally to encourage them.

Union learning representatives are also being trained in basic skills awareness. Some, such as a group of TGWU long distance truck drivers, are so enthusiastic about basic skills they are completing an adult basic skills teaching course (City & Guilds 9282) to support their members.

Fran, a literacy tutor, talks about John from Airbus UK Ltd. Fellow workers and line managers had experienced him as aggressive and abrasive and he was on the verge of being disciplined. John admitted to his union (AEEU) representative, Mick, how frustrated he felt because his child was about to start school and he couldn't read storybooks with her. Mick persuaded him to give workplace basic skills courses a try. John's hunger for learning, particularly reading, has ensured that he hasn't missed a session. His workmates and managers arc amazed at the change in his behaviour. The aggression has simply gone. Fran is convinced that, without a union learning representative, he wouldn't have felt able to give learning a chance.

Representatives themselves often have basic skills needs and are not only going on courses, but also taking members with them. Tommy, from Stoke, is a prime example. At his learning representatives course he 'came out' about his problems with writing and now attends a basic skills course arranged by the union, CATU, to improve literacy through using computers.- He is proud to say that he can now spell all the weekdays as well as his grandchildren's names. He visits pottery factories around Stoke to tell his story and encourage others, and speaks at major conferences.

Sue is a hospital support worker with a history of absenteeism. She loved the course arranged by UNISON and speaks of her satisfaction at being able to "write a bad letter", i.e. a complaint) to a company. In the past she would have simply been frustrated. Now she attends work regularly and is hopeful of taking "that next step on the ladder - becoming a team leader".

A GMB union learning fund project involves English for speakers of other languages and literacy. Jenny, GMB London, explains what the course has meant for a group of Gujerati-speaking cleaners in a college. At the start, they could not read simple health and safety notices. Now they can, but are also enthusiastically using computers and doing Learndirect courses. One of the women is now a GMB representative because she feels more confident about note taking and understanding key documents.

Unions are not experts in literacy - we work with those who are, such as the Basic Skills Agency, and a network of providers. Working with employers is the key. Unions know all about the impact of poor literacy on health and safety and productivity and are working with companies to find imaginative solutions.
 
 

The Union Learning Fund, administered by the Department for Education and Employment with TUC Learning Services, was introduced in 1998 to help trades unions promote learning at work. The fund, which was recently extended to 2004, is in its fourth year and already supports over 200 projects in England. For more information contact Judith Swift on 0151 236 7678 or email jswift@tuc.org.uk.

 

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