Leeds City Council
John Clark JTUC ULR Co-ordinator
When Colin Kirkham (GMB Educational Officer) first asked would I like to be a ULR I must confess I really had no idea what a ULR did but Colin explained all about the post and sent me on a course to learn more. This was the kick start I needed, I discovered just how exciting learning can be so I enrolled on more courses, you see the thing I found more than any other was learning is addictive.
All this was three and a half years ago and I am still growing into the role of ULR. On the 20/04/11 I was given the chance to apply for a job with the JTUC working as the ULR Co-ordinator.
This role involves working with ULR’s from all the trade unions within Leeds City Council. I have many hopes and ideas to develop this post and hopefully build on the links and relationships. I liaise with learning providers, the GMB’s project team and the TUC’s Union Learn team. Working with all these different providers etc will help me in achieving my goals, some of which are to recruit more learning reps and help those we already have to encourage members into learning.
Within Leeds City Council we are facing cuts, as are all other councils, this of course raises major concerns around job security and may even mean individuals enter “managing workforce change”. However, through working with us many members can get new skills & qualifications to assist them in finding another role.
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New learning agreement in Leeds gives workforce welcome boost
On Learning at Work Day in May, Leeds City Council signed up to a learning agreement, supported by Unionlearn, with trade unions across the authority, including the GMB. The agreement will provide an open doorway for on the job training, learning, mentoring and coaching at trade union learning centres.
Commenting on the agreement, GMB’s Tim Roache, said: “I had no hesitation in signing up to this agreement on behalf of the GMB as it highlights the commitment of the council in helping develop the skills of over 30,000 employees and endorses the role of Union Learning Reps in increasing skills levels amongst the workforce.”