RMT EDUCATION OPEN DAY AT LINCOLN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2012 :: RMTnews 28 R MT Union Learning Rep and Lincolnshire Road Car branch secretary Dave Grant organised an educational open day last month for bus drivers at Stagecoach East Midlands and staff at East Midlands Trains. Dave was previously a successful Skills for Life (SfL) learner and he was keen to build up learning activity so he set about looking for a suitable location and other facilities. Stagecoach runs both the bus company and East Midlands Trains, he considered that the best way to move things forward was to undertake a joint venture with the rail staff and ULRs at Lincoln train station. After sourcing a good quality local training provider, Dave and RMT development worker John Dougherty met with them to decide on a strategy for the event. John said that it was always important to do the research regarding providers in order to ensure good-quality learning experiences for members. “A bad learning experience can have an equally negative impact on the work ULRs do in the workplace. “ULRs should look at developing Service Level Agreements with providers in order to maintain support and commitment for our members,” he said. Having seen how working in partnership has meant a successful result, Dave is now looking to work closely with the new RMT ULR at Lincoln station, with the intention of organising some classroom- based learning sessions for the members to attend on-site. The open day was well attended by many different grades of rail and bus workers, some of whom signed up for SfL literacy, numeracy and computer courses on the day. With the support of RMT regional organiser Dave Collinson he Six Book Challenge is also being taken up. Dave Collinson said that after being invited to the open day at Lincoln station, it was great to see the work that ULRs at Stagecoach and East Midlands Trains were doing. “Working in partnership with each other showed us that we can overcome some of the barriers to learning that our members face,” he said. CHALLENGE: RMT regional organiser Dave Collinson and Alan Cook from Union Learn promote the Six Book Challenge RMT EDUCATION OPEN DAY AT LINCOLN The Reading Agency launched the Six Book Challenge in 2008 and since then around 17,000 people have completed the scheme. The idea is to encourage less confident readers to read six books within a set period of time, usually over at least three months. Participants record their reading in a diary in order to receive a certificate, incentives and the chance to enter a national prize draw. Workplaces also have the chance to win a visit by a top author. Most participants read books, but the scheme can be used to introduce people to text in a variety of formats such as magazines, newspapers, websites and even digital games. This can be particularly effective if participants are at the start of their reading journey and need material that is both accessible and of interest to them. Union Learning Reps can register their workplaces to take part and negotiate with their employers to help out by purchasing packs of materials. These include reading diaries, certificates, participants’ leaflets, information flyers, posters and bookmarks. Most run the Challenge from early in the year until the summer but it can start and finish at any point during the year. THE SIX BOOK CHALLENGE