Learning helps unions recruit

Unions promoting learning and training at work are increasing membership and also their standing in the workplace, says the TUC.

A TUC report released last month said that 59% of learning reps contacted said that "learning had had a positive impact on union membership" at their workplace. It also found that 69% said the perception of the union by staff had been enhanced and 74% said union-employer relations had improved.

The report gives case studies of union learning initiatives that have had an impact on membership, including one at Littlewoods catalogue distribution centre in Lancashire. An USDAW on-site learning centre had raised union membership from 54% to 99%.