Unite Education
What can I expect... ...from a Unite national course?
Why not take a look at what we’ve got to offer?
So you’ve clicked on this Unite Extra Education Special and are wondering is this for me? If you’re a Unite rep and fancy learning something new you’ve come to the right place See our handy Q&A below
What it’s like on a Unite National Education course?
Well, you’ll join around 15 Unite reps from different companies. Your course will be led by a qualified tutor who is an experienced Unite activist and understands Unite.
The course will be five consecutive days long and generally begins at 3pm on a Monday and run till 12 noon on a Friday – all with regular breaks.
You’ll participate in group work, guided by the tutor, and drawing on the experiences of each rep, learn how to develop your knowledge, skills and confidence to represent your members at work.
And don’t worry, Unite education is nothing like school. You’ll work in small groups discussing issues, feeding back into the larger class with your own ideas and experience, all guided by your tutor.
Sounds good. How do I apply for a course?
You can apply online at unitetheunion.org/education, through the links in this uniteEXTRA, or contact your regional education team to discuss which course would be best for you, and to apply in person.
You should be given paid release by your employer to attend a course, and you will be paid reasonable travel expenses to attend.
But what if my employer refuses to give me paid release?
If your employer refuses to give you paid release to attend, your Unite regional officer can raise this with your employer as you are legally entitled to reasonable paid time off for trade union education. This will be set out in the Unite recognition agreement with your employer.
Who is my tutor?
Unite tutors are experienced reps who have followed Unite education to become a qualified tutor.
Will I get a qualification at the end of my course?
In most regions and nations where we have accreditation for our courses, on completion, your work will be assessed by the tutor, and you will gain a nationally recognised certificate.
What is the Unite regional education programme?
All Unite health and safety and workplace reps are invited to attend their regional five day education courses stages 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b which provides 20 days of education.
These courses provide you with the core skills to act as a rep on behalf of members focusing on representation in grievance and disciplinaries, equalities, employment and collective trade union legal framework; organising membership, understanding how to get help from the union and understanding the union democratic structures.
There are further five-day courses for learner reps and environment reps, and a five-day equality and diversity course for all representatives. The regional education officers and tutors select activities that are relevant to the reps attending any one course.
What can I do once I have completed the regional programme?
There are further regional advanced, bespoke and specialised courses that you can attend, and there are national five day advanced residential courses set out in this brochure with an extensive range of equalities, organising and bargaining, pensions, health and safety, shop steward leadership skills as well as specific courses for your industrial sector that can help you develop your skills and understanding further.
Enrol for a Unite education course here.
Discover more about courses in your region here
WATCH FOR YOURSELF
See our course video extracts to get an idea
