MPs support legal rights on learning

Moves to give union learning reps the legal right to be consulted by employers have gained strong Parliamentary support.

In May, Labour MP Brian Jenkins initiated an Early Day Motion (EDM) - in effect, a petition for other MPs to sign - calling on the government to make statutory provision for workplace learning committees (WLCs). This would oblige employers to work with union learning reps, just as they have to work with safety reps.

The EDM has been signed by 196 MPs to date.

Retail union USDAW has included the proposal for statutory WLCs in its submission to the government's consultation on the white paper Skills - getting on in business, getting on in work.

Commenting on the EDM, USDAW general secretary John Hannett said: "Gaining the support of over a third of Labour's MPs is a very encouraging start."