It’s a winner!
Making learning accessible and affordable has proved to be a winning strategy in Usdaw’s national learning campaign for retail, “Check out Learning”. From January to December 2008, the Eastern Division of the union held 11 in-store promotions, recruited 130 new union members, identified 10 new shop stewards, 1 new Health & Safety rep as well as 15 new ulrs! More than 400 learning needs questionnaires were completed by members, and learning is now taking place in eight stores, including Tesco’s Harrow Store.
Check out Learning – National Campaign
Project Worker Phil Gander explained: “The Check out Learning campaign began 3 years ago and is up and running across 7 Usdaw divisions, with project workers like myself supporting the campaign. Many retail staff are barely paid more than the National Minimum Wage and are often working part-time hours and shifts, so the aim of the campaign is to bring accessible and affordable learning into retail stores”.
Working in Partnership
The campaign targets stores where the union has a partnership or recognition agreement with employers, such as Tesco, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s and where there is a reasonable level of membership. The campaign also aims to identify new potential new ulrs to work with shop stewards other reps to build and sustain learning there.
At Tesco’s Harrow store, the initiative kicked off with a promotional day involving the Check out Learning Road Show, complete with bespoke posters, leaflets and free gifts to encourage members to find out about the learning opportunities on offer and complete an initial learning assessment with tutors from Brent Adult Community Education and ulrs. The company gives paid release for staff to attend the promotional days and complete assessments, and the union brings in a team including experienced ulrs from other stores, people from its organising academy as well as regional officials to promote the value of learning and the benefits of union membership.
Keeping the momentum going
According to Phil, keeping the momentum going is a major key to success. “You are looking at people who have often been failed by the education system and don’t need to be failed again, so it’s important we deliver what we promise” he says. “A two sided questionnaire was used during the promotional day, so courses could be booked in advance on the day. I then sent out reminder letters to ensure everyone turned up and the courses ran”.
The workforce at Harrow includes many Asian workers and part time mothers. Although the level of spoken English is very high, people were keen to develop their general literacy skills. “A literacy course embedded with IT level 2 has recently been completed by 23 members of staff, 7 of who want to progress to the next level” adds Phil, “and a further 2 courses have already been set up”.
Ulrs are currently negotiating flexible working, under the “Time for You” agreement the union have with the Tesco. “This involves negotiating shift changes so members are able to attend” explains Phil. “Again, it’s about keeping the momentum going so people don’t lose interest and making sure there are no disruptions to the running of the courses”
The training is free and delivered on site in the workers own time, with the Employer providing a training room.
