Autumn courses
Autumn new leaves
Time to learn something new! We have great workplace reps’ courses, equalities courses for Black and Asian reps and the piece de resistance – the Unite National Women’s Week!
EQUALITIES COURSES
Black & Asian Members’ Political Weekend School
This course is open to Black and Asian Unite workplace representatives and branch officers, we positively encourage applications from Black and Asian women.
The date of the course is September 13 to 15; the venue is The View Hotel, Eastbourne.
This course will empower Black and Asian members to become more aware and get involved in Unite’s political agenda.
The course will examine Unite politics in a wider context, considering why and how our union operates on a political level.
We will also examine how specific government policies and legislation can be discriminatory and biased in their operation. We will look at how you can become involved in Unite politics, with a view to challenging racial discrimination inside and outside of the workplace and how to campaign politically.
National Women’s Week Courses
There are four courses running in the same week, please only choose one course for the duration of the week. This course is open to women who are Unite reps or branch officers to attend.
The date of the courses is August 11 to 16; the venue is Birmingham.
National Women’s Week is a national education course which covers the diversity of Unite women members’, who attend a positive learning environment to share experiences and views, listen to key speakers and learn more about issues facing women in the workplace, with the help of experienced women tutors who are also trade unionists.
Please Note! You must choose one of the courses listed below. Clearly state on your application form which course you will be attending.
Course 1 - Understanding your Union and Getting Involved
This course is designed for less experienced women representatives who want to get more involved and covers how the union works, promoting the Union in your workplace and community, and building confidence.
Course 2 - Women Organising in the Workplace
This course for women representatives looks at strategic organising in the workplace, as well as the related legal challenges and workplace organising issues. It also covers the skills for representing women at work.
Course 3 - Campaigning for Women in the Workplace
This course deals with the Unite women’s key campaigns such as Equal Pay and Union Equality Reps, as well as developing negotiating and campaigning skills to tackling workplace equality issues such as Family Friendly Rights, Women’s Health policies, Part-time working, and sexual harassment.
Course 4 - Leadership Development for Unite Women
This is an advanced course for experienced women activists who have attended other union education courses, and who now want to build on their union involvement and encourage others to get involved. It covers Leadership theories and the power dynamics of the worker-employer relationship for women, skills needed in the workplace, the Union, at conferences and in the wider community at all levels to maximise your union experience.
Childcare Facilities
To ensure that this course is as accessible as possible to those with caring responsibilities, childcare arrangements can be made and paid for by Unite as this course is taking place in school holidays. This will be in line with national Unite policy.
If you require this, please complete the childcare booking form available from the National Education Department
Email: education.education@unitetheunion.org
Disability Access The Union is committed to ensuring disability access requirements are met.
Please complete the access form together with your application form which is enclosed at the back of the brochure.
Remember Contact your Regional Women & Equalities Officer to apply for National Women’s Week before your application is countersigned by your Regional Education Officer.
WORKPLACE REPS
There are four courses running in the same week, please only choose one course for the duration of the week.
For courses running in Birmingham the dates are July 8 to 12; for courses running in Eastbourne the dates are September 2 to 6 – five consecutive days.
Dignity at Work – Challenging Workplace Harassment, Discrimination & Bullying
This course is open to all Unite workplace reps and workplace Branch Officers to attend. This course is designed for workplace reps and workplace Branch Officers and looks at the key issue of harassment, discrimination, bullying, violence, and abuse that leads to workplace stress.
The course examines ways to challenge inappropriate behaviours in the workplace by using effective strategies and methods to prevent workplace harassment and to promote Dignity at the Workplace.
We will also look at developing casework around this subject for grievances and examine how this could be raised in some disciplinary cases.
Environment
This course is designed for activists who are interested in developing their skills, knowledge and understanding of environmental issues in the workplace.
This course will help reps to develop research, inspection, and negotiation skills to engage their employers and ensure workers voices are heard at the bargaining table as we transition to a greener economy.
This course develops your understanding of the climate crisis, and its impact on work. You will learn about organising around the green agenda, workplace environmental auditing, examining supply chains as an environmental issue, equality and the environment and negotiating workplace environmental and just transition policies.
Dealing with Redundancy
Workplace reps facing redundancies or reps wanting to gain further knowledge of redundancy issues that are unable to attend their regional course will find this course useful.
On completion of the course workplace reps should be able to develop a good understanding of the law surrounding redundancy; gain confidence, skills, and knowledge, to fight redundancies and lessen the impact on members. Play a full and effective part in redundancy consultation processes. Organise effective campaigns around redundancies. Represent members going through redundancy. Support members through the redundancy process.
Pensions – Stage 2
This course is for Pension Trustee’s and for reps who have completed Pension Stage 1. The course is an advanced course, which will look at the legal framework what underpins financial decisions made by trustees, the role of actuaries, and pension fund investment strategies. You will develop your negotiating and dispute resolution skills.
