UNISON learns valuable lessons in recruitment

Public services union UNISON is reaping the rewards of using workplace learning as a key to involving and recruiting workers.

Learning co-ordinator Carla Bruno told the union's annual conference last month that its "Organising for Learning" strategy is "providing a window of opportunity that we cannot afford to miss".

While acknowledging that branches are "overloaded by issues such as pay and pensions," Bruno noted that many employers want to promote skills development and are offering to devote facility time and staff to the issue - giving union reps the chance to open up learning and strengthen the union.

The conference called on UNISON branches and regions to recognise the importance of education in delivering the organising agenda, and urged reps to promote learning partnerships with employers.

Sarah Bradfield of UNISON's national executive committee listed the union's achievements to date - training more than 2,400 learning reps, establishing more than 270 learning agreements with employers and getting more than 20,000 members and potential members onto learning courses - and noted the vital role of its education resources in both developing a new generation of activists and opening up workplace learning opportunities.