Local heroes – the importance of ULRs

ULRs give their workmates the confidence to learn, and to progress – this is the message of a new six minute unionlearn DVD. The film “Local heroes – the importance of ULRs” is available.

News Item : Isle of Thanet Gazette

Learner drivers

Stagecoach has converted a 49-seat Plaxton Volvo B10M bus into a mobile learning centre packed with computers and donated it to bus drivers’ union Unite.

The aim is to give 850 drivers in East Kent the opportunity to improve their Information Technology (IT) skills.

Isle of Thanet Gazette, Jan 18

and on we go

By the end of today there should be posters and the learning questionairre on the forum. Please use the LNA form as soon as. We need new posters for courses so get in touch if you have ideas scams or anything else of use. We have completed a strategy document for discussion at the lifelong learning steering group,we also need to think about the forthcoming road shows and Adult Learners week.

slade green learning

I was so chuffed last week to be invited to visit Slade Green engineering depot with Andrew from Rail Union Learning. It seems like a different lifetime ago that I first met Tom Collins at a Connex company council meeting. Tom was quick to see the benefits of workplace learning and wrote me a letter inviting me to the depot and asking to be trained as a union learning rep. Eventually I was able to get down there with a tutor from Lewisham College and half a dozen lap tops and we met a lot of the lads including John Collns who also became a ULR.Since then, they pushed and pleaded, begged and blackmailed (In the time honoured tradition of RMT reps!) to get a learning room, computers, internet and courses to be where they are now. They have also recently managed to aquire four new lap tops from Rail Union Learning. So, what more can I say?Just look at the pix !

the return of Carlos

Well good morning, having just returned from Espana ...it become a bit of a shock. The first thing that hit me was the weather OUCH, from 27 degrees to 7 that was not a good experience.
And before I go any further a big thank you to Juan the Spanish tutor all his help with the Spanish it was worth( in more ways than one) it so I hope you all attend the next course at the Red Star Learning Centre.

The weather in Spain where I frequent is really warm this time of the year where you can walk and see the oranges and lemons on the trees, the sea is calm and you still see people sun bathing on the beach; I was very lucky to be in Spain to see the Three Kings Festival and New Years Eve wonderful traditions that are being kept alive by the Spanish people.

Anyway back to 2008 and the Red Star Learning Centre we hope to see a lot more of you all this year and to keep you eye on the blog for the latest developments and courses at the Centre.
Just remember this is your centre, use it for your future development, it could be languages or skills that you feel you may need to develop you railway career. So pop in and see us but please dont ask about the squirrel.


Carlos

New challenges

OK folks! Were back, and kicking off the new year with an e mail from Uncle Bob to say well done for our efforts during the last year. And that's not just for RMT reps but all of you involved with the Red Star Learning Centre so far. However, remember that our project is not just about the Chatham area, but the whole of Southeastern and we need all of you out there performing as agreed (No, not X factor!) the action plan decided at the recent forum. For those of you that need a reminder, or could not make it,
1) Speak with you manager formally about your role and get their support.
2) Do mapping your workplace exercise
3) Perform learning needs analysis (Form will be sent out soon)
Before I go I would just like to say what a blast it was at the last forum! Let's hope next year is as much of a "bonding exercise". I will post again soon and look forward to getting round to all of your work places, so start thinking about road shows as well! So not much to do then!
Tarrah!
Mike