Learn With Unite

As an elected Workplace Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. Your initial training consists of Module 1A and 1B. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course.

Workplace Reps Module 1A - 5 Day Residential

Course description:

This course is designed to be the core initial training for Unite workplace reps. The course covers the wide range of knowledge and skills needed by the new Rep including:

• Key skills for organising your workplace

• Handling discipline and grievance cases

• Communication skills

• Introduction to Employment Law Equality at Work

Workplace Reps Module 1B - 5 Day Residential

Course description:

For reps who have completed Module 1A.

This course covers:

• Evaluating and assessing your experience since the Stage 1 course

• Understanding the concept of ‘good work’

• Understanding and dealing with Issues around Dignity and Respect in the workplace

• Problem solving skills

As and elected Health & Safety Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. Your initial training consists of Module 1A and 1B. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course. 

Health & Safety 1A - 5 Day Residential

Course description:

This course is the essential course for all new Unite Health and Safety Representatives. It is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence to organise effectively in order to carry out your work as a Safety Rep as well as to create understanding of how economic and others aspects affect the working lives, health, safety and welfare of working people.

The course covers:

• Understanding the role of a Unite Safety Rep

• The legal framework of Health and Safety

• Rights of Safety Reps

• Involving the members in Health and Safety

• Accident Investigations – Risk Assessments

Health & Safety 1B - 5 Day Residential

Course description:

The course develops the skills and knowledge learnt in Module 1A:

• Examining your workplace risk assessment and evaluating them

• Understanding health & safety audits and company accident statistics

• Appreciate health & safety legislation including aspects of criminal and civil law

Supporting LGBT+ Members in the Workplace 

This course is part of the Unite the Union’s commitment to ensuring that underrepresented groups in our membership such LGBT+ members are encouraged to be more involved and active in the union; as workplace reps, committee members, senior negotiators, conference delegates, full time officers and learning organisers. 

This course is for workplace representatives and branch officials defining themselves as LGBT+. This course is also for workplace reps and branch officials who want to support LGBT+ equality in the workplace.

This course aims to make a positive contribution to Unite Strategy for Equality Agenda

• By raising awareness of key issues for LGBT+ workers
• Empowering and encouraging Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ individuals and groups to get involved in their union
• To supporting workplaces and communities through campaigns for equality and genuine opportunity of access for LGBT+ people.

Black, Asian Ethnic Minority [BAEM] Leadership Course

A course designed for Unite Black and Asian Ethnic Minority workplace representatives and branch officials, to fully understand the Trade Union and Labour Movement. This course will empower workplace reps to build their confidence and progress by identifying effective ways and methods to encourage Black and Asian Ethnic Minority members to get involved in Unite.

The course covers the skills needed in the workplace, in the union, at conference and in the wider Labour Movement, at all levels, to build involvement and take action for Race Equality.

This course positively encourages applications from black and Asian ethnic minority women.

Disabled Members' Equality At Work

This course is for Workplace and branch Equality Officers who want to take action for disability equality rights and challenge disability discrimination at the workplace.

This course covers:

• Key issues from the Unite Negotiators Guide.
• Disability Rights at Work
• The Social Model of Disability.
• Disability Equality: choices at work, in the union and in the community.
• Organising, representing and involving disabled members in Unite.

Understanding Your Union and Getting Involved

Course description:

This course is designed for less experienced Women Representatives who want to get more involved.

This course covers:

How the union works, promoting the Union in your workplace and community, and building confidence.

Women Organising in the Workplace

Course description:

This course for Women Representatives looks at strategic organising in the workplace, as well as the related legal challenges and workplace organising issues.

This course covers:

The skills for representing women at work. Women Campaigning at Work Course description: 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. 

Leadership Development for Unite Women

Course description:

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.

This course 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.

Organising for Equality in Today's Workplace - Understanding the Equality Act 2010

Course description:

This course will assist Workplace Representatives, Branch Officers and Organisers to understand the importance of equal opportunities for all, and why it is essential to organise, negotiate and campaign around equality in the workplace.

This course covers:

Issues for all underrepresented groups within our membership: Women, Black, Asian Ethnic Minorities, Disabled and LGBT+, Young members and Older workers.

LGBT+ Organising for Equality at Work

Course description:

This course is for Workplace Representatives and Branch Officials defining themselves as LGBT+ as well as for LGBT+ Lead Activists campaigning on LGBT+ equality issues in the workplace and community.

This course covers:

• Key issues and campaigns for LGBT+ equality at work 
• Provide opportunity to plan and organize actions to achieve LGBT+ equality in the workplace.
• Build on the representative's own experiences and union involvement to identify ways to encourage LGBT+ Activists and Reps to get involved in union structures.
• Raise awareness and understanding on UNITE equality rules, strategies, policies and campaigns.
• Examine the international issues for LGBT+ people

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Tans+ (LGBT+) people in Britain have seen many advances in the last two decades. As trade unionists, we can be proud of the part we played in those achievements. But serious problems remain and unions still have much work to do.

Dignity at Work - Challenging Workplace Harassment, Discrimination & Bullying

Course description:

This course is designed for Workplace Reps and Branch Equality Officials and looks at the key issue of Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying that leads to workplace stress.

This course covers:

The course examines ways to challenge inappropriate behaviors in the workplace by using effective strategies and methods to prevent workplace harassment and to promote Dignity at the Workplace.

Faith Workers - New Reps Induction

Course description:

Who should attend?  

This course is designed for new representatives or those who have not received training in the last five years. The course is the induction for all workplace representatives, health & safety representatives, learning representatives and equality representatives. 

What will I learn? 

The course covers a number of topics to prepare you for your role as a Unite representative.

• Roles and Responsibilities 

• ACAS and other legislation - know your rights

• Unite structures and where you fit in 

• Understanding risk assessment and why it’s every reps responsibility 

• Giving members information, advice and guidance 

• Why recruit members? 

• Understanding the Equality Act 2010 

• Knowing your agreements and the Unite Broad Industrial Strategy 

• Introduction to leadership 

• Our history - research and presentation skills 

• Note taking 

• Interviewing members 

• Dignity at work - Bullying and harassment 

• Barriers to learning and engagement for members 

• Understanding grievance and disciplinary policies - why all reps should know these! 

• Understanding negotiations 

• Developing a workplace project

How will this course run?

You will spend roughly half your time studying case studies about Faith Workers. These include case studies from a number of different religions as well as procedures from major Christian denominations.  The employment status of clergy and the relevance of Equality Law is a major theme of the course.

This course runs 9.30am to 11.30am one day a week, for 10 weeks, with support available by phone and email in the afternoons. It is taught by Faith Workers.

Course Aims

To prepare women for leadership roles in their workplace, branch, or wider union.

Overview

You will learn about democracy within Unite; you will learn how to realise your potential, aim for leadership positions and learn how to promote equality of opportunity within Unite.

1) Taster day for members of the Church of Scotland

This is for employees or clergy of the Church of Scotland. The course runs from 9.30am to 11.30am on Zoom and will introduce you to the work of a rep in Unite the Union.

You will have time to get to know other members of Unite who live and work of Scotland and this will help you work together to organise your workplace and support each other.

The tutors are experienced Unite tutors and reps from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite.

2 Taster day for members of the Church in Wales

This is for employees or clergy of the Church in Wales. The course runs from 9.30am to 11.30am on Zoom and will introduce you to the work of a rep in Unite the Union.

You will have time to get to know other members of Unite who live and work in Wales and this will help you work together to organise your workplace and support each other.

The tutors are experienced Unite tutors and reps from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite.

3 Taster day for members of the Methodist Church

This is for employees or clergy of the Methodist Church. The course runs from 9.30am to 11.30am on Zoom and will introduce you to the work of a rep in Unite the Union.

You will have time to get to know other members of Unite who work for the Methodist Church or who are ministers within it. This will help you work together to organise your workplace and support each other.

The tutors are experienced Unite tutors and reps from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite.

4) Taster day for members of the Church of England

This is for employees or clergy of the Church of England. The course runs from 9.30am to 11.30am on Zoom and will introduce you to the work of a rep in Unite the Union.

You will have time to get to know other members of Unite who are members of CEECA and this will help you work together to organise your workplace and support each other. Diocesan representatives are especially invited to participate.

The tutors are experienced Unite tutors and reps from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite.

5) Taster Day for employees

This session is for employees. Your employment rights are the same irrespective of your employer, though you may have contractual rights which differ. You may work in an office, in a youth club, as a minister of religion,  or as a verger or cleaner. The thing you have in common is that your employer is in the 'faith business' and that you are an employee.

The course runs from 9.30am to 11.30am on Zoom and will introduce you to the work of a rep in Unite the Union.

You will have time to get to know other members of Unite and what the role of the rep entails. You will learn how to train as an accredited representative and how to work with others to promote Unite membership in your workplace.

The tutors are experienced Unite tutors and reps from the Faith Workers Branch of Unite.

PLEASE NOTE: - Not all courses have enough students to run. We will contact you by post or email in advance of the course with joining instructions.

Aims

To review the operation of the branch helpline in the Faith Workers branch.

Course overview

You will share experiences and review policies and procedures

Please Note

To attend this course you Must be a Helpline coordinator in the Faith Workers branch – all applications will be vetted and attendance is by invitation only.

Aims

To prepare women as accredited representatives within the Faith Workers Branch.

Course Overview

You will learn the roles of a rep within Unite; you will practice the skills needed to be a rep; you will be encouraged to be self-actualised and to achieve your potential. You will learn about employment rights for ministers of religion and about the policies and procedures which affect faith workers. You will be taught by an experienced faith worker.

How the course will run

For 10 Tuesdays in the Spring; 2-3 hours per week of writing up is needed in addition (if you have facilities time the course work should be completed during facilities time, otherwise it can be done at your convenience). To assist with release or diary the course will be advertised from 09.30 - 16.30 each day and we suggest you complete the self guided study in the afternoon where possible.

Accredited Support Companion Training

Improve your skills in advising and representing members within the Faith Workers Branch.

Train to be an Accredited Support Companion so you can represent members outside your own workplace. All applications must be approved by Sarah Cook, the regional officer responsible for the Branch. [email protected]

This training uses case studies to help you understand the employment status of faith workers and will assist you in working for equality within the workplace, within Unite and within society.

It is a course for experienced reps, with at least 3 years experience within Unite.