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date: 27 October 2009

embargo: for immediate release

A new project to help and support unions and their members through the recession and redundancy situations.

The latest labour market figures show that unemployment has risen for 14 successive months (National figures) and will pass the 2.5 million total for the first time since 1997; this means it is more important than ever to look at ways possible to help trade union members through these uncertain times.

The Recession and Recovery project will set out to identify the needs of unions and their members during the current recession and provide information and resources to support them, and help unions maintain their strength in the recovery.

The project will be to bring together existing initiatives around supporting workers affected by the recession, including gathering knowledge and information relating to employability providers, funding streams and will seek to share this with Union officers, reps and ULRs in the North east and Cumbria to ensure that trade union members in the region are making the most of the opportunities that are available.

The project will also gather information on managing finance and debt, benefits advice and tax credits and welfare information and health related issues. This will help in working with existing projects and there will be a package of materials to aid reps in the workplace, providing knowledge of existing programmes and new initiatives on the horizon when dealing with redundancies or generally supporting workers.

There will also be a combination of briefings and workshops, publication, materials and support packages, providing trade unions an opportunity to both hear about and influence the direction of the Recovery from Recession work. This area of work will be most successful with the engagement of trade unions identifying unions and members' needs.

Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary, Northern TUC, said: 'There is a wide range of good quality services being provided for workers facing losing their jobs in the downturn and those who have been out of work a bit longer.

Experience of previous recessions shows us that these services will be needed for at least a few years after the downturn and that the sooner we enable workers to advice and guidance and support for filling any skills gaps, the more likely they are to be able to return to work and the quicker the region is likely to move into positive economic growth.

The Recovery from Recession project will help to ensure that more workers will be aware of what support is available and will really make a difference in helping workers to stay in employment.'

There are already very good support practices offered by unions, and the TUC/unionlearn would welcome discussions with individual unions to gain this knowledge, to enable trade unions to share good practice and maximise the continued support to trade union members.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Ken Gyles T: 0191 227 5552; M: 07876746867 E: kgyles@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 27 Oct 2009