RAILCARE COMPUTER COURSE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2012 :: RMTnews 15 Long serving member and branch secretary Yashventrai Makwana identified the need for computer skills training for his colleagues at Railcare in Wolverton as they entered into the new world of tablet technology for access to information and drawings. Within weeks the IT development needs of staff at Railcare were being supported by the RMT learning team. They engaged with the employer to look at how they could develop members’ functional IT skills both in the workplace and at home. Yashventrai spoke with his local trade union education provider, South Bedfordshire College, and they committed their teaching resources to come on site and deliver a 30 hour functional IT skills training course over 15 weeks in the old boardroom at the workshop. Importantly, paid release was given by a very forward thinking managing director and, with the support of the training manager, they facilitated the release and cover planning that has made this programme so successful. Incentives were agreed with the company to encourage staff to take advantage of this exciting opportunity and over 80 employees are going through the training as we speak. Yashventrai and the RMT Learning development worker, John Dougherty, worked together with the other reps to set the whole programme up. Resources were provided in the form of 10 laptops from RMT Learning so that the training could begin on-time. All this happened in a very short space of time and proves that by working and communicating effectively together we can achieve so much. Yashventrai said that the IT course had been a recruiting tool because it is run by the union. “Its success will help me to run more courses in the future and this course only happened with joint union effort and company cooperation,” he said. He said there had been some great feedback from those attending the course including David Phillips who said: The group has gelled extremely well and all members are enjoying every aspect of the training - we are all looking forward to progressing further!". “An excellent learning experience, the two hour sessions fly past,” said David Toogood. Everyone involved seemed very excited about the prospect of being able to access learning and development opportunities within the workplace to ensure the sustainability of their jobs and to help them with the ever changing challenges presented in the workplace. RMT Learning continuously supports members and union learning representatives (ULRs) in their learning endeavours. RAILCARE COMPUTER COURSE RMT Learning Development Worker John Dougherty reports how members at Railcare gain computer skills through the union’s learning team