Connect – ULR Networking

Connect’s members operate in highly skilled industries where members are managers and professionals with learning needs that fall within the Continuing Professional Development area.

The first Union Learning Reps were trained in November 2006. For them to be able support each other and share information and ideas, tools were needed to keep them in contact with each other to help ensure that the role is sustainable in the long term.

Establishing the Learning Network

The ULR was a new activist within the union and this led to a proposal to the Connect Conference 2007 to approve the setting up of a Learning Network. The Learning Network became one of the members’ equality and professional networks that can send representation to Connect’s biannual conference and has the ability to put forward motions to conference. The Learning Network sent representatives to the BT Conference and Connect Forum 2008 and put a proposal to the BT Conference advocating paid time off for learning. This was accepted unanimously.

The Network also provides advice to Connect’s Members’ Careers and Skills Committee (an Executive Council sub-committee) on learning-related matters.

Benefits to ULRs

Kirsi Kekki, the ULF Project Manager, said,

“It was important for ULRs to be able to work within networking arrangements that were commonplace within the industry, and these were by e-mail and telephone conference calls. The Learning Network has a regular conference call, every two months, which is well attended. The discussion moves around topical issues or there is a particular theme for the call. The calls take an hour maximum and the notes are distributed to all Network members. This provides a knowledge base for the ULRs and the opportunity to discuss relevant member issues.”