Education

RMT news – Education T HE main problem has been that RMT had more applications than the union had places. So this year it is offering more courses not only at the national education centre but also at regional level. Once again RMT will be running schools at the national education centre at Springbok. The schools will include public speaking which will help students to build confidence when speaking in public, whether it is at union meetings or conferences. Other schools will include advanced negotiating skills courses for reps that have done a basic TUC or RMT course. Other courses will deal with issues surrounding discipline at work. This is for members who already represent people at stage one hearings and for reps who wish to represent people at the appeal stage. NEW MEMBERS: New members who wish to get involved in union activities will be able to once again attend one of our induction courses. This will give them a feel of what the union can do for you and what you can do for the union. These courses are informal, friendly and easy going so please feel free to come along and do not worry if you do not know anything about the union, that is what the course is all about. BRANCH SECRETARIES: As branch secretaries will know, the accounts they have to do every year are changing, so RMT will be running workshops for secretaries to get a better understanding of how these work. also many branches have now been supplied with lap top computers. Later this 22 What can a course at Springbok do for you? What did education ever do for you? Well, helped you to read this magazine. Ok, what else? Well, made sure the bosses paid you the right wages, for instance. 2005 brings you a new education programme, with some old favourites, which many people have attended over the last few years. Below are the RMT residential education courses available at Springbok during 2005 May 2005 Public speaking May 8 9 10 This course will enable you to structure a speech for meetings and conferences; Examine techniques of delivery; Use appropriate language; Handle questions effectively. Who should attend? Members who have little experience in public speaking. Disciplinary appeals May 23 24 25 The course deals with disciplinary appeals which may lead to dismissal and will help you be more effective; understand the law; prepare cases effectively Who should attend? Members who deal with appeal hearings or who may anticipate doing appeals June 2005 Negotiation skills June 20 21 22 This course will give you an insight into the process of negotiations also interpreting information; lead and conclude negotiations; develop confidence; understand how to use figures. Who should attend? New members or members who have limited experience of negotiations. September 2005 Public speaking September 5 6 7 This course will enable you to structure a speech for meetings & Conferences; Examine techniques of delivery; Use appropriate language; Handle questions effectively. Who should attend? Members who have little experience in public speaking. October 2005 Disciplinary appeals October 3 4 5 The course deals with disciplinary appeals which may lead to dismissal and will help you be more effective; understand the law; prepare cases effectively Who should attend? Members who deal with appeal hearings or who may anticipate doing appeals Negotiation skills October 17 18 19 This course will give you an insight into the process of negotiations also interpreting information; lead and conclude negotiations; develop confidence; understand how to use figures. Who should attend? New members or members who have limited experience of negotiations. November 2005 Disciplinary appeals October 14 15 16 The course deals with disciplinary appeals which may lead to dismissal and will help you be more effective; understand the law; prepare cases effectively Who should attend? Members who deal with appeal hearings or who may anticipate doing appeals Further courses will also be running at various locations throughout the country - the dates and venues will be advertised in RMT news, on the union’s web site www.rmt.org.uk and information will also be sent to branches. year the union will be running workshops on making better use of these to improve the communication systems RMT has in place to keep you informed of what is going on in the union. ONE DAY COURSES FOR LOCAL REPS: This year the union has extended the number of regional courses. For reps that have not done a discipline hearing, a grievance or poor performance hearing RMT will be running courses at various regional locations. Please contact your Branch or Regional Council secretary about these one day schools. There are also other one day schools which you may be interested in such as recruitment and branch organisation, collective bargaining, harassment in the workplace, problem solving in the workplace (grade specific) many more schools are available please see the web site (www.rmt.org.uk) and click on the education section. You can also contact your branch secretary who will give you further details. NEW COURSES FOR BRANCH OFFICERS – BRANCH ADMINISTRATION COURSE: These courses are aimed at branch officers and will be held on a one day basis in a regional council area. The course will cover: - The role of branch officers and their responsibilities, branch financial responsibilities, elections - branch, regional and national, resolutions to - regional, national AGM grades, advisory, TUC, Trades Council and outside bodies’ conferences. BRANCH OFFICER’S COURSE: These courses will be held at various locations and include how to run an effective branch, recruitment, building up a branch, publicity and campaigning links to the wider labour movement. This will include sessions on the structure, rules and constitution of the union and how to make the union work for you. NEWLY APPOINTED REPS AND BRANCH OFFICERS: This one day course is for any newly-appointed rep or branch officer who has not yet had the opportunity to attend the 1x10 TUC reps course. There will be a brief overview of the following subjects: a brief history of the union, a brief outline of the structure of the RMT, making use of the rule book and web site and de-mystifying the rule book. LEARNER REPS: To assist with the integration of learner reps, RMT will develop a one-day course for learner reps on understanding how the union works and union policy on adult learning in the workplace. As you can see the union has a wide- ranging education programme over the coming year. So, get along to a course in order to get more out of your union. G Contact Education officer Ray Spry- Shute for more details on 020 7529 8820 or r.spry-shute@rmt.org.uk 23 RMT news – Education