Unions and Partnership: Union Learning Representatives and the Government's Skills Strategy

Unions and Partnership: Union Learning Representatives and the Government's Skills Strategy

This year saw over 23,000 union learning representatives (ULRs) trained since 1999, exceeding the target set for 2010. This working paper outlines the origins and development of ULRs in the context of government learning and skills policies. It examines how ULRs have been a central feature of government-supported union capacity building on learning and skill over the last decade. The paper summarises recent research on their profile, role and impact. The research found that ULR impact on training was positive but there needed to be far more employer support for their work. The paper concludes that a statutory framework is now required which increases union and ULR leverage on employers through collective bargaining.

Download Working Paper No. 1 [PDF, 250kb]